The Washington herald., 1911-12-31

In signing Joe Engle. the Washington
club gets probably the best looking
youngster ever developed on the Capital
sand lots.
EngIe has everything that goes 10
make a great twirler-speed, curves, and
good control. He is a siN-fOOtcr. and
lacks only experience. Engle will he
given thorough try-Out down in Char
lottesviIle this spring. and if he shows
promise at the start he will in all prob
ability be sent in against one of the
National League clubs in the exhibition
series.
Manager Frank Chance, of the Chicago
Cubs, pays an extraordinary compliment
to the ability of the worlds champions,
wing that it seems as if Connie Mack s
troupe was destined to win the pennant
in the American League for couple OF
years to come. Chances praise of the
Mackmen holds peculiar value of its
own, as the P. l.. is not only one of the
best managers in the game, but devel-
oped the greatest team that held su-
periority prior to the advent Of the Ath-
letics into the championship field
Mix. DonIin rushes to the front to say
Il good word for Red Murray, the right
fielder Of the New York Giants, who was
such a woeful disappointment in the re-
cent worlds series. The husband of Ma
bel Hite says that because man hap
pened to fall down so badly in a short
series like the battles for the world s
championship is no reason why he should
not have a chance to show his proper
mettle afterward. DOnlin calls attention
to the fact that some of the best stars
in the game have fallen down in vital
ctfT pphoHy HOllhtE their
ability or competence.
Statistics in baseball are Indispensable.
and every shrewd magnate refers to the
figures when trying to get line upon
some new player, but the dope sometimes
fails to show the very points which 80
to make certain athletes head and Shout
ders above the rest. Take Mike Kelly,
the king of catChers, for instance. One
season King Kelly fielded 81 behind the
bat and .727 in the right garden. AS a
matter of fact, he looked like a failure
when il came to footing up his errors.
However misplays and all, he was reCog
nized as a genius. He could keep his
team mates hriStling with courage. and at
the same moment he was able TO drive
the opposing side almost to distraction.
With Kelly on third and not more than
one out. the rival team was usually in a
tight place. Should the batSman drive
out an infield grounder. Mike would sud-
denly go tearing toward home, making
more noise than a shrieking express
train. but he wouldn't run far. About
ten feet from the cushion he would stop
suddenly and leap back upon the bag
This play seldom failed to draw a throw
TO the plate. letting the fellow who had
batted the ball reach first base safely.
When he was catching he also used his
brain effectively and by his bluffs at
throwing the ball, could hold the players
glued upon the pillows. Kelly was con-
sidered the greatest of them all The big
leagues now possess another Kelly This
IS Billy Kelly, the promising battery
mate Of Marty O'ToOle. Billy promises
to prove a valuable addition TO the Buc-
cancer backstop squad and he shows
strong signs Or becoming another King
Kelly. Few youngsters possess such a
marked degree of baseball instinct as
hoes the former St. Paul catcher.
Many persons believe that the peerless
Christy Mathewson, of the New York
Giants, will nevsr. again be able to fool
the batsmen as he has done in days of
yore. Matty made a showing during the
recent worlds series that was unsatis-
factory, and there Is hardly any doubt
that he had passed the high spot OF his
sensational career, but he Is not yet all
in. Big Six has been unquestionably
overworked by McGraw, but he is still
good for several more seasons with the
big show. All stars must sooner or later.
however. cease to shine, and Matty's day
will come ere many years but he will
leave a bright trail of baseball history
behind him that will be talked about as
long as baseball is played.
When it became necessary for Fred
Clarke to fill Hans Wagners place with
substitute, the Pirate chieftain prompt
ly put Alexander Mccarthy on the job. |
and the little infelder put up brilliant
game in short field. The boss Buccaneer
thus accidentally discorered Just what
little Mac could do. That is the way
many bright stars have been brought out. |
Jack McInnis, Of the Philadelphia Ath- |
letics, broke into the limelight in the |
national game in much the same way. |
Stuffy was secured by Connie Mack from !
the Haverhill team in the New England |
League. That was in the fan of 1909 |
Mclunis made good. He got more work |
last year, and VIII nave still more oppor-
tunity pAEt summer. Jack Is the young ]