New-York tribune., 1912-02-18
TIMELY BITS Of SPORT
DruCke Will Be Great Pitcher,
Says WiIbert Robinson.
NEEDS MORE EXPERIENCE
Ban Johnson Thinks Red Sox and
Maps Will Make Great
Fight for Pennant.

Fight for Pennant.
Wilhert Robinson one time catcher OF
the Giants, and I'm recent years coach OIL
the young pitchers at the Southern train
ing camp says without reservation that
Louis Drucke will settle down and prove
himself great pitcher Robinson ought
tn know, as he has been instrumental with
Matty in developing the young player from
Texas who gave such high promise with
the Giants in 1910
Drucke was handicapped last season by
an injury TO his arm which he suffered IN
the subway and for which he brought suit
for t25,000. He pitched part Of fifteen games
and his record was 4 won and lost In
1910, however, he did better. uinning IL
games and losing TO- Indications AT that
time pointed to his being one OF the lsadlng
pitchers for the New York team last sea
son. His style is much like that cf Christy
Mathewson. who took fancy 10 the
youngster and coached him carefully In
throwing the famous "fadeaway, with
which Big Six" has been so effective.
Robertson says that in his opinion Drncke
needs only a little more experience to hold
up his end with the best.
Rube Marauard. who led the Naonal
League pitchers last season, owes mUch 10
Wilbert Robinson not only for his coach
ing but for the fact that he encoufagel
McGraw 10 give the big lefthandsr rlenty
Of work and leave him in q game. even II
an opposing team began to hammer his
curves in the first or second inning. Rob-
inson insisted that all Marquard needed
vas confidence, and his judgment was Jus
/ titled
BYRON Bancroft Johnson. president Of the
American League who said a few days ago
that practically every team in his orgam-
zation had been strengthened and woulo
make a brave fight for the pennant this
year. is now out with another statement IN
which he is more specific. This time ne
picks the Boston Red Sox and the CieVe'
land Maps as the ones most likely to De
tho real contenders with the Philadelphia
Athletics for the championship. President
Johnson also has an idea that the Chicago
Wnie Sox will make a great fight, but he
/ fails 20 say anything about the YANKEES
who. under tho leadership Of Harry Wolver-
ton. are likely 10 make bold bid, whlie
| the Detroit Tigers also are overlooked-
! that is In this particular statement IN
speaking OF the Red Sox, Mr. Johnson says
Jake Stahl will give a great boost 10
the Boston Club. When he decided 10 give
up baseball a year ago his departure Ieft
4 hole in the defence Of the Red Sox not
easy TO fll. He will now plug up that gap
himself at first base. while his leadership
ought 10 ho a big factor Jim McAleer is
4 wise baseball man and Is making no mis-
take and losing no opportunity 10 build UP
his club The Red SoX have strong out
/ field. Stahl has made the in1eld strong
where IL was weak and the team has one
Of the best pitching STATS in the league
Mr.. johnson bases his ideas about Cleve-
land on the fact that Harry Davis, fresh
from the school OF Connie Mack, where ne
had no small share in directing the attack
and handling the defence of the world $
champions, viii prove an able manager. He
noints out also that Davis does not lack
for Young. strong players with which 10
begin his career as a leader and insists That
the Maps wifi keep the other teams In the
league working hard TO beat them
william, Quinn. coach Of the weight men
and hurdlers of Harvard. has Joined the
ranks OF 10OSf WHO btu'Nt '''oN wv ''''N'
collegiate Association OF Amateur Athletes
Of America should bar throwing the 10
pound hammer from the list OF events as
being too dangerous. lie goes further
however, and by offering remedy does
away IA a large extent with tho chief OBJ
iections raised heretofore 10 action OF this
Kind. He suggests that a 35-pound weight
with l6-inch handle he substituted for
tho l6-pound hammer, which would still
provide competition for tho big heavy men,
who because OF their size are practically
barred from running and jumping.
Mr. Quinn points ont that the 35-pound
hammer could he hurled inside OF quar-
ter mile track without being a menace. as
is the ls-pound hammer. 10 officials, ath-
letes who may be competing In race. and
oven spectators He points out that the
heavier hammer could be thrown In the
same style. and yet forty feet would be
about the limit of performance. The
suggestion looks like good one. and may
bear fruit.
Sportsman. writing for The Boston
Globe" speaks In high terms OF "Peebo'
Gardner. OF Harvard. He says: