The Detroit times., 1911-03-16

IS NEW ORLEANS. La. March los
There is noteworthy impression
among the ranks OF the veteran Tig
ers that the coming season is COINS
ITO prove an extremely good one Tor
Edgar willett, the Kansas Cyclone
ias we have termed him on those days
when he was demonstrating how
kmuch more stun he had at his dis
sposgi than almost any other twlrler'
home or hostile, who ever graced our
ball yard ....
Willett il due. In TACT, he Is over
due. But he is showing every symp-
ton of speedy arrival
Just now Willett is the furthest adj
vanced OF any OF the four regular
Tiger pitchers. The lame elbow
which bothered him last year appears
10 have entirely healed, with the rest
of the winter For the first time VIII
slett's muscular growth has caught up
with the tremendous frame which the
EKansan has always possessed, since
detroit has known him. He now
scales right at 1873 pounds and there
isn't an ounce of fat discernible in
tany OF that bulk.
Willett's career with the Tigers has
been in many ways curious one.
An Armour Selection.
He was one OF Bill Armour's selec-
tons and got brief trial in the fall
of 1906. Hughie Jennings naturally
fell heir to the big Kansan. That UNI
derhand ball and Willett's terrific
speed had Hughie raying with joy in
the spring of 1907. The little boss
believed that Edgar was the pitcher
for whom the world had long been
waiting.
y But there was cog loose in the
lWiIlett machine. Somehow Edgar
didn't seem able TO bring his goods
Ito market. One of his troubles was a
ldisposition which made light OF base
ball failures and successes alike. An
lother was surprising lack of vigil
ance when men were on base. Edgar
was brilliant but careless. 1t was
bad combination.
1T was a source of aggravation to
Jennings that Willett failed to realize
lhig opportunities. In fact, at one
time Hughie seriously tried TO get for
lWi1lett year of minorleague expert
sence for seasoning purposes. Chi
Icago, however, failed to waive.
y II took Willett another season to
find himself In 1908 he was better
pitcher In 1903 he suddenly develop
ed form which astounded those who
had failed to appreciate his possibiii-
ties before.
Tough Luck Last Year. !.
X Last season should have seen the
Willett arrival. but the fates willed
otherwise. though the pitcher did
stwirl many brilliant games. An AURA
hbcess put him out of the game just
when his team needed him most, AND
Kept him out until the pennant lead
had been irretrieyably lost 1t took
him several weeks TO get back into
form. When he did, he pitched uni
formly brilliant bail. Many of his
exploits are still fresh in the memory
III the bugs In all probability there
is not one OF them who can forget the
way Edgar tackled Walter Johnson
at his best, meeting speed with speed
and curve with curve in duel IN
which the gamer OF the two was the
Ipne who finally tfiumphed. Detroit
winning by score OF to 0.
Ii has taken long time for De
ltroiters to gain confidence In Willett.
In fact, that has also been true OF the
attitude OF his teammates But Edgar
rs now fully established Veteran al
1er veteran has assured the writer
that no pitcher should excel Willeti
This year. Manager Hughes conf /,
|sience has been won at last. In the |
writers Judgment, Willett is right |
now the logical choice for the openI
ing game OF the season, ri
Jennings Testimonial. II
st is my honest belief thAeTif Wy
lett had been well and in shape all I