The Detroit times., 1911-01-28

twenty years ago.<
Athletes OF the ATHLETIC
Bugs" Raymond, LONGEVITY
Larry" Mclean, A SCIENCE.
"Rube'' Waddell/
type are becoming increasingly scarce.
They are now the exception, rather
than the rule.
To retain his maximum athletic
ability to the absolute limit is now
the purpose Of nearly every player.
To accumulate enough In the way OF
earnings and investments, to provide
for s middle life and old age OF com
paritive leisure Is the general ambi-
ton. And 1t is an ambition that is
being quite generally realized.
To the attainment OF this end
methods differ In detail. Nearly ey-
cry player has his pet hobbies.
Every Detroiter whose days as a
fan date back TO the early days OF
the American league-and that Is by
no means a distant date-will remem-
Der Lew McAllister. the most versa
tile player beyond doubt, who ever
competed as member of the Bennett
Park defense. McAllister, In one
year, played every position on the De
tIOlt CIuD anu Qiu 80 With CTtuit W
himself. He still makes this city his
home and remains prominent figure
in the national game, though he dates
his start back into the very earliest
part OF the nineties, and won his big
league spurs with Patsy Tebeau on
the Cleveland Spiders many years
ago.
McAllister today looks and acts
exactly as he did when a member OF
the Tiger crew. The versatility stunt
has been abandoned on account OF the
fact that Lew is now one OF the best
catchers I'm the Eastern league. In
weight, speed and all-round baseball
ability, McAllister remains the same
capable player which Detroit remem-
bers.
Last year McAllister engineered \
trade which took him from Buffalo to
Newark. He did IL to further his
longevity In baseball. Just why he
believes Newark better for this pur-
pose Is a unique illustration OF the
| careful thought which players give
their work.
I've noticed by long observation"
said McAllister the other day, that
che of ball players biggest handi-
caps in the lake region Is the damp.
raw weather, which prevails In the
early spring and late fall. To catch
full game In such weather takes a
good deal more out Of man that the
same process does on the seaboard
where the influence OF the Atlantic
makes the climate lot milder.
know I'm not so young as / used to
be and I want to last as long as I
can. 1t took me two years to arrange
the trade the way wanted 1t, but
I kept plugging along and pulled II
of, though | had to serve for several
weeks In Toronto before I could make
the grade.
Il figure that the difference In elf.
mate ought to prolong my life In the
game at least five years and I'll send
lot Of promising youngsters back to
the bushes before go there myself
believe mel"
The talented Trolley league twirl
er, Clarence Finger claims the reward
for reporting the first robin. The har-
Finger OF spring confronted Mr.. Fin
ger when he emerged from his resi-
dence yesterday morning. The robin
said: "Yip, yip," and ducked. Finger
promptly dug up baseball and start
ed warming up.
Sympathetic bugs who hear that
Frank Bowerman is on the bargain
counter OF the minor leagues will do
we'll to withhold their pity for some
one who needs It. Frank Ia winter
Ing happily at Romeo with his auto
mobile, his dogs and his guns, taking
care OF bunch Of investments which
qualify him to buy and sell almost
any OF the baseball magnates.
Gentlemen intent on amending the
rules for the purpose of lowering the
pitchers mound are referred to that
section OF the code which sets forth
that the field shall be level. An en-.
forcement OF the existing laws would
do the trick.
When II comes to expanse OF bulk
and muscular development, Russian
Lions and Polish Wonders are all 10
the merry. But when the money Is
down, there's farmer out In Iowa
who can wrestle for us.
Topsy Hartsel played on the 1909
1905 and 1910 pennant winners OF the
Athletics. Quite a record.