Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-07

+. Harry Niles release by Cleveland 10
Toledo marks the passing from major
league company of one OF the most
spectacular youngsters that ever broke
into base ball. and one who. after ne came
70 the Browns was, for a while. a payer
not TO be had for any price. But about all
the starring Niles did in base pail was
done i'm ST Louis and his work since ne
was traded by McAleer has never oeeh
consistent In fact, he has been steaoiiy
on the down grade since then. Win
fash or two of fast work. just enough 10
Keep him from being allowed to get out OF
big league company. From 81. LOUIS Mics
nas traded 10 the New York Americans
m a combination deal which resulted III
..Hobe.' Ferris and Jimmy Williams conf
ing 10 st. Louis. Later he was SOLD 10
boston. and last year was passed along
j. cleveland. Now Mcclure has probably
but a close 10 his major league career LOT
good by sending him to Toledo.
Niles had quite history before he pc
came a star in major league COMPANY
and his passing from the pig SNOW We.
caused by an accident which sent nm
hack into the minor league class as d
PLAYER i'm a jiffy. True, he stayed IN tne
big league for some years after the az
cident. but the latter stopped ms aete,Gpr
stars of the majors. and made certain his
ultimate failure. Niles is one OF the rev
player Connie Mack was ever mls.aken
about Harry was with the Cotton states
League when Connie got string on him
and farmed him to Birmingham III lhe
Southern League. Niles failed 10 come up
IN Mack's idea of ball player ana NC
Aleer was finally successful In securing
him for the Browns He had his troubles
getting started with the ST Louis teani
hut showed so much speed and sameness
and landed on the ball so hard tnat NC
Aleer kept trying To find p9sitlon 10,
him on the infield. He wound up at second
base and proved whirlwind. NOT ON!
could he field there in brilliant style, put
he became a 800 hitter as soon as ne
learned TO bunt. owing to his great speed
AT this time he was considered the fast
est man in the big leagues, ana Heuses
at one time offered to back him against
an one at sprint distance
What virtually stopped Niles big
league career was collision with Brad
lev of the Cleveland club Niles went
over to cover first base on bunt play
and Tom Jones made toss which was
a bit wide Niles reached out for the
ball and Bradley ran into his EXTENDED
arm in such a way as to tear the hga-
ments i'm the shoulder After that Niles
lost the free use of the arm In Throwing,
and, try as he would. could never get II
back again. This resulted In his railing
at second base and being forced out of
the infield. He ubsequently went 90
right field, where his throwing would
not prove so much Of handicap. out
the injury appeared TO have hurt MS
batting as we'll as his fielding Niles was
a heavily built and heavily muscled man.
and he appeared to lose the ambition TO
work hard enough to keep down his
weight after he was injured. Since theh
he has been slowing down, and with the
loss of ability to beat out infield hits his
hat
his release by Cleveland will not come
in the nature of surprise. In the
American Association Harry should sun
he good enough to star for some years
to come if he takes proper care of him
self.
Niles had an interesting history pre-
vious 10 getting into professional pase
bau. While at school he was cham
pion sprinter in the amateur line. After
that he had to begin earning his living
and broke TITO the public limelight oy
becoming balloonist. Harry went up
in hot-air bag and did parachute
iump for the benefit of the crowds at
country fairs until he began to get too
heavy for the business and came near
killing himself. Then he started to play
ing base bal. and was a sensation III the
Cotton States and Southern leagues. he
shone with equal brilliancy for whlle
with the Browns, but misfortune over
look him just at the time when his pros
poets We're brightest. But for the mix
I'm with Bradley the chances are that
he would. still be one of the stars or the
game
President Somers of the Cleveland club
received a letter from Grover Land IN
which the premier backstop or the Maps
told his side OF the shooting scrape IN
which he was a participant on the nignt
OF December 26. Land says he was act
ing as peacemaker in the ARRAY when
the shot was fired. He also informed
Somers that the victim of the shooting
was well on the way to recovery
Somers has written 10 Lands attorney.
wishing 10 ascertain the legal facts OF
the case and the likelihood of Land be-
ing prevented from going to Hot Springs
10 get into condition in the near future.
If Land j. required to remain in Frank
fort for an indefinite period. Sid Smith
viii be called upon TO 20 TO Hot Springs
80 assist Addie JOSS and Cy Young in pre-
tArin2 for the campaign. lnasmuch as
Smith carries even more weight than
Land a trip TO the springs ma. not inJure
him to any great extent.
'-Mstty'' Mcintyre of the Detroit I'll
gers is obtainable, according to advices
from the City of Straits. Col. Hedges
had practically traded the luckless and
winIess Bill Bailey for the veteran Me-
Intyre previous to arranging to sell out.
Now. Hughie Jennings is angling with
Cleveland for Stovall- McIntyre swap.
The Detroit skipper has come to the con-
clusion that Tom Jones is an average
first baseman at best-rather, that the