Evening star., 1911-08-20
FEW LEFT-HANDERS
Less Than Dozen Drawing
Big League Salaries.
RUCKER BEST OF ALL
Brooklyn Twirler Best Southpaw in
the Game Today-Marquard and
Gregg Doing Well.

NEW YORK. August le.-Less than a
dozen flrst-ciass left-handed pitchers are
drawing salaries In the big major base
ball leagues. AS matter OF record good
southpaws always have been scarce, no
matter how far back you may 90 in the
history Of the national game. There are
numerous left-handed throwers and bats
men. but comparatively few boxmen.
Napoleon Rucker of the Brooklyns 10
generally cnsidered the best modern left
handed curve artist. II Rucker was a
member OF the Giants. Cubs, Philadel-
phias. Athletics or Detroits he would
probably win as many games as the
best OF the right-handers. But handicap
ped by an inferior team. he is compelled
to plod along, doing his best against dis
couraging odds and losing games that
under other circumstances should be re-
corded victories.
Rucker has everything that makes a
star pitcher-speed, change OF pace sharp
curves. perfect control and wise head.
He is pitching wonderful ball this year.
and Is envied by all the rival owners.
Every team In the National League fears
him, and whenever he takes his place on
the mound Brooklyn's chances for VIC
tory are increased tenfold. Because OF
the tronclad agreement that governs ors
ganized base ball. Rucker is doomed to
devote his usefulness to the Brooklyn
club until he becomes ineffective, al
though there is no doubt that some club
owners would jump at the chance to buy
his release for at least $4,000 II Presi-
dent Ebbets would sell at that figure.
Mcoraw Has Veteran.
McGraw has a veteran left-hander In
George Wiltse, and a coming southpaw
In Rube MarQuard. Wiltse Is pitching
superbly this summer. but he is not SO
strong as Rucker in physical makeup,
and is not able to accomplish the results
that placed him in the front rank sew
eral years ago. Marquard is developing
effectiveness because of constant work.
and in the opinion OF many base ball
sharps he will rival some of the best
left-handers of former years. Slim
Sallee of the st. Louis Cardinals has been
groomed by Roger Bresnahan this year
with remarkable success. and Roger in
sists that the lanky finger will soon be
a star. The Pittsburghs have a good
southpaw in Leifield. while Bill Burns,
discarded by several big teams, has sud
denly displayed skill with Dooin's Quak-
ers. Another effective left-hander in the
National League is Mattern OF the Bos-
tons, whose services may be secured by
the Giants some fine day, and then -he
will have an opportunity to show his
true worth.
In the American League good left
handlers are even more scarce than in the
Ly0Cn CIRCUIT. ne 1NOsI ScnedllOHdi VIII
ner this year is Vean Gregg of the Cleve-
lands. He was secured in California last
winter and arrived in the Forest city an
unknown quantity. But once he received
a fair chance to display his wares, Gregg
made good with q vengeance. He Is the
mainstay Of the Clevelands. and to his
phenomenal pitching the teams rapid
climb is due. Gregg Is only a youngster.
but he pitches like a veteran and has
brilliant future
Athletics Well Fortified.
Connie Mack has three lefthanders-
Plank. Krause and Russell. The first
named made a name for himself several
years ago. He has not yet reached the
end OF the rope by any means, and has
pitched some great games this year. but
he is getting along In years, and cannot
of him when he was the star Of the
league. Krause was a new conner in 1909
and set the base ball world on fire with
his wonderful achievements. But it was
evident that he was overworked that sea-
son. for last year he was practically use
less. He has shown flashes of his old
form during the present campaign of the
Athletics, but he Is not the same. Rus
sell, who was bought from Baltimore for
$12, 600 last year. has been a failure so
far. but Mack still entertains the belief
that he will come up to the required
standard.
Big Jim Vaughn of the Highlanders il
q puzzle. He Is strong enough to be a
horse for work, and he possesses a delv-
cry that looks unbeatable. Yet his work
is Of the in and out variety and continu-
ally keeps the club guessing. III vaughn
would settle down to real hard, grueling
work It is believed that he would easily
earn the title Of the American Leagues
champion southpaw, but for some un-
known reason he has failed to deliver the
goods this year and is one of the most
orr IL (thaSa'S nifchiuR star
None Excel Waddell.
Conceding that all OF these left-handers
have merit, old-timers refuse to believe
that any OF them excel the celebrated
Rube Waddell when the latter allowed
himself to be led around by the nose by
Connie Mack. For the Athletics Waddelf
pitched peerless base ball for several
seasons. A disturber and q rule breaker
under other managers. the Rube was as
meek as a lamb under Mack, and with
out q word of complaint he did an enor-
nous amount OF work. Though painfully
eccentric Waddell showed headwork and
skill. He held the leagues strike-oui
record for a single season until 1T was
topped by Walter Johnson of the WASH
ingtons. His control was especially good
and he had the number OF practically
every batsman who faced him.
Tom Ramsey of the old Louisville club
was another left-handed world beater.
For many years he was rated as the
kingpin and his ability earned a big
salary until he fell by the wayside be-
cause of his habits. Kilroy of the Bal
timore American Association team OF
more than twenty years ago was a. Won
der. The Bostons in the old days had a
corker in Kid Madden. Then Pittsburgh
boasted of Ed Morris, and Detroit won
worlds championship chiefly through the
southpaw work Of Lady Baldwin.
Probably the first really great LETT
handler in the National League was Char
ley Burlington, who helped Boston win
pennant in 1883. Burlington had drop
ball that baffied the heaviest sluggers.
He used 1t necessarily together with
curves that finally wore out his pitching
arm. But as veterans remember him. he
was one of the greatest pitchers that
ever wore a toe plate. St Louis. IN
Won der Ahe's reign. had a star In Theo-
dore Breitenstein, a little sorreI-topped
fellow who never knew when he had
enough With great speed and beautiful
control Breitenstein did splendid work
and finally Won der Abe sold him TO
Cincinnati for $4,000. That was twenty
wears ago. yet Brett was playing ball last
wear I'm the Southern Association. He
pitched for the New Orleans team. win
ming nineteen out of twenty-nine games.
combining the control of a slow ball
with his usual supply Of gray matter.
Tannehill Was a Winner.
Jesse Tannehill was the. Pirates win
ming pitcher at one time. and no left
handler had anything on him. Another
big fellow with an arm of steel and lots
of vitality.
When the Baltimores won pennants
under Ned Hanlon Esper was a success