The Washington herald., 1911-02-24
Bx WILLIAM PEET.


amateur, turn out to be another Jim
DeIehanty or a Tommy Leach?
Leach, Delehanty. and number of
others have graduated from the sand
lots of Cleveland, and made good in
fast company, and Keefe halls from
these selfsame sand lots -
Manager McAleer announced We'd
nesday that he had signed Keefe fora
trial. and all that he knew about the
roungster was that Bill Bradley, the
Maps old third baseman, told him the
boy was a wonder and sure to make
good.
The fact that Cleveland, more than
any other club in organized baseball,
has lost good ball players from its
own town just because these athletes
were never given a chance, augurs we'll
for the Nationals in the case of young
Keefe.
Who knows but what Manager Nc
AIeer has picked up another Jim Del
ehanty.
The Washington Herald's Cleveland
correspondent wires the following
about keefe:
Cleveland, Ohio, Feb. 2S--Harold Keefe,
the outfielder signed by Washington upon
the recommendation of Bill Bradley, for
mer Nap third baseman, has grown up
on the lots of Cleveland just like Brad
ley Tommy Leach, the famous Delehan-
tvs, Charley Smith, Jack Hardy, and a
score of other big leaguers.
Last season he played with the Cal
veys and Mapon & Kings OF the
Cleveland League, playing with the Ma
pom & Roths in 1909. Each year he
hit in the neighborhood of $50. The
manager of another team in the Cleve-
land League said tonight that were
he asked who was the best all-round man
in Cleveland amateur circles, he would
answer without hesitation Harold
heefe.'
In fact, Keefe should have gone out two
or three years ago, as he is as fast as
they make them and hits the ball on a
line. He is as much at home at third
base as he is in the Outield. The only
reason he has not become a professional
before is that he had a good position
here and did not care to go out at minor
league salary. He is twenty-five years
old and if he takes care of himself should
make good within a year.
All was quiet at baseball headquarters
yesterday Manager McAleer said he had
signed no new players and that he
hardly expected to do so before the
season opened. He has virtually COM
trip.
II Congress is called in extra session,
what a boost it will mean for the game
on the Florida avenue grounds.
NO player who doesn't keep close
watch of the catcher squatting down
there behind him will ever make a good
batter" remarked "Ty'' Cobb the other
lively the course of the ball: one must
listen to the chatter and watch the sig
nails before the pitcher and catcher on
the opposing team and see if he can gain
something by the operation of his eyes
and his ears"
The secret of becoming a good batter
will always remain unanswered" re-
marked Nap" Lajoie at tanning
bee in the Planters Hotel in St. Louis
one night. but in a general way
should say that # a batter wants to hit
Up around the 800 mark he must watch !
the opposing pitcher and catcher all the !
time
1t was during a series between the |
New York American League club and |
the Detroit team last season that Cobb !
fell for a real interview. The players |
were talking shop, usual. Ford had |
pitched against the Tigers and had been |
very successful, being particularly eff |
fective against Cobb until along toward |
the end of the game. Then the Georgia |
Peach had connected at a critical mo- |
ment and his hit had scored the run that |
had broken the Yankees back
How did you get that one to-day?' |
somebody asked.
Cobb smiled
Il outguessed him." he said. He'd |
hall all 4
afternoon which l had been missing by |
a foot He seldom uses anything else. |
For some reason Sweeney, who Is usu- |
ally reticent, said: Let's try him on
this one The small talk was evidently |
done for a bluff, but instantly 1 figured |
that he might be telling the truth, think |
ing that / would not believe him.
Says the Cleveland Plain Dealer: Jim |
Mcclure intends to be more of a bench |
warmer this year than he was last sea-
son, and although he probably will wear
a uniform just as he did in 1910, it is not |
expected that he will be seen on the |
coaching lines as much as in the past.
Instead. Jim intends to develop a cou-
pie of coachcers who will take of his |
hands the job of occupying the third |
base coaching box for the greater portion |
OF the games. 1t is hoped that a couple |
of men of the Bender -Coombs stripe may
be brought out from among the men
wearing Cleveland uniforms Coombs |
and Bender do not say very much. In
fact they are not of the Jennings style |
OF coachers at all, but their work has
been very effective just the same. Just
a word now and then to keep the bat
ter informed as to what the pitcher is |
expected to throw and TO keep the batter
posted as TO what is likely to happen.
The peerless leader has announced that 1
his charges win wear blue road uniforms
this year.
81 want change" said Chance Some /
of the fellows are tired OF wearing gray |
all the time, and always did like blue |
uniform. 1t looks better on the ball |
field than any color We will look about |
like the Chicago Americans look when /
they're on the road. only we will not have
the white stockings"
Chance also wishes to decorate the |
white of the home uniform with a blue |
stripe.
All the managers seem to desire new |
spring costumes for their teams. 1t /
might be well to adopt the suggestions /
advanced by various fans and let each |
nine wear garments of distinctive hue.
The Cubs could wear their blue; Pitts |
Always the Same. |