The Washington times., 1911-06-26
Nationals Boss Says He
Prefers to Try Minor
/ LeaguerS.
POINTS OUT SUCCESSES
AS EXCEPTION TO RULE
He Thinks Experience in the
Bushes Is More Valu-
able.
By SENATOR"
Only Washington Newspaper Man
With the Nationals.

NEW YORK, June 26-Though the
Nationals are badly in need of pitchers.
Jimmy McAleer is not likely to search
the colleges for promising performers
He prefers the lads in the bushes, the
boys who have been through the mill
rather than those who have mad moth
ing but the college coach 10 instruct
them.
Connie Mack goes out AMI gets this
fellow Lester Long, of Lafayette" says
McAleer, and l am waiting TO see
how the pitcher pans out For myself,
college pitchers fail to impress me, and
outside of John Coombs and Eddie Plank
Connie Mack has never fastened upon
a college man who amounted to any,
thing.
Last Year there was a college twirler
in Lafayette named Demott He was
touted as a wonder, and everybody was
after him. ! tried to get him myself.
Cleveland landed him and gave him n
fair trial. Where is he now, less than
a year after he was signed in Balti-
more-having his trouble with the
minor leaguers.
Weak Hitters.
Against college batters a man with
a good curve ball and nothing more
can be unhittable. College batters don't
know how to hit, but major leaguers
wink at a curve ball without anything
behind it.
When he was pitching for Harvard.
Walter ClaTkSon was the pitching wen
der Of the age. People expected him TO
outshine those other relatives of his
VINO had made their regulations And
what happened to him? New York got
him and he was useless. Cleveland took
a chance and again he failed to make
good. Then he retired. having some
common sense.
II m in need of good pitchers. that's
true, but I'm not going out and bid
against other teams for some young
colIeglan who has never been over the
road. The average minor league pitcher
would have CinCh fOOling college hit
tiers, and a college pitcher doesn't need
TO have more than a curve ball. Most
OF them have that and nothing more.
This chap from Lafayette may be a
winner, but it is much more likely that
Connie will have TO let him out to some
minor league team for a seasoning. NY
team wants pitchers, but I'm not going
into the colleges for them. I don't think
much of college pitchers"
Kahoe Was Shy.
Mike Kahoe spent some time this
spring looking over New England col
lege players, but he stayed away from
the pitchers, knowing how little faith
McAleer placed in them. He saw sew
eral good ones, too, notably Gonzel-
man, of Brown. but he did not recon-
mend him for trial. He is now watch
irg the minor league pitchers, with or
ders to pick up any promising young
ster that looks able to stand the pace
The Nationals had a dismal Sunday
in the big town. most of them remain
ing in bed till late in the afternoon,
when they took short strolls between
showers.
Kid ElberfeId and Mrs. Elberfeld
went up to Suffern, n Y. to visit
friends. not returning till evening.
Doc Gessler went over 10 Brooklyn to
arrange with a tailor for one more of
those made-to-order mOnstrosities he
calls suits.
Herman Schaefer visited friends in
the Bronx, taking Wild" Conroy along
with him to pay the fares.
Dixie Walker tried to pilot Red"
Walker and Steamboat Bill Otey to
Chinatown, and all three had to take
rubberneck cart in order to get back
to the hotel again.
Tonight "Gabby' Street plays "Zeb"
Milan at DOyles billiard parlor for the
championship Of something or other
Manager McAleer will engage in a bill
Hard match with John Henry, who
claims to be a regular cueist.