The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-06-09

ocre 1908 array. Greatest marvel
of his art is "Rube" Marquard.
one of the most wonderful south
paws that ever stepped into the
center of diamond. "Rube," pur-
chased from Indianapolis in the fall
of 1908, was for two years regard
ed as an "eleven thousand dollar
lemon In practice he was a
lion; under fire a lamb.
A terrible trouncing before a rec
ord crowd in 1908 at the Polo
grounds had completely destroyed
Marquard's confidence. McGraw
had despaired of the big fellows
recovery and would have turned
him back to the minor league had
he been able to secure waivers.
I N the spring of 1911 Robinson
devoted his sole time TO Mar.
guard. He talked with him on
and off the field, encouraged him
and schooled him. He told the
southpaw TO 60 ahead and pitch in
fast company Just the way he had
always hurled in the "brush. He
started him off in bis old manner
and gradually trimmed out the
minor league faults.
When the bell rang Marauard
was not only physically fit. but
morally sure of himself. Right from
the start be proved the league s
greatest sensation. And he has
steadily continued so to this day.
But for Robinson it is doubtful if
Marquard would ever have amount
ed to row of pins as a major
league asset The ''Rube'' showed
his hearty appreciation by winning
a championship for McGraw.
In the opinion of every New
Yorker Chief Meyers is the great
est catcher in the game today.
When he Joined the club in 1909
he was about as awkward and un.
finished a product as could be
imagined. A great deal of the won
derful improvement attaches-to the
studious and observant Indian,
there is catcher who will improve
steadily for some years to come, be-
cause he uses his brains. Yet Chief
Meyers will tell you that he has
picked up no small amount Of in
formation from Wilbsrt Robin
son. Indeed, he attributes his won
derful improvement of last season
to this venerable coach.
THEN there is cred" Ames.
This tough-luck fellow, who
never had really good sea-
son with New York, because when
not wild as hawk his mates had
such utter lack Of confidence in
his ability that they usually kicked
the games away, is showing such
remarkable effectiveness that he is
likely to be among the leagues
leading pitchers in 1919
Robinson specialized on Leon
Ames this spring. Southpaw
George Wiltse is travelling at
faster clip right now than he has
shown any other time in the past
four or five seasons, Robinson is
the answer, Then there is Big
Jeff Tesreau.
He's one of the very few pitch
ers John McGraw has ever used
regularly in first major league
term, Tesreau is making good, but 4
Robinson promises to have him 100
per cent better year hence. Hell
make good, for Wilbert is no hraf
gart,
wilbert Robinson is really ole
of the patriarchs of the game. ie
antcdates Cy Young by four yems-
The Giant coach Joined the ltn-
lctics in 1856. Young Joined Ctve-
land in 1890. In point of s9Fiee
Robinson is the dean of ever one
in major league uniform II was
a veteran when McGraw, lettings,
keeler and Joe Kelley-lar his
associates on tho famous O,oles-
were playing on the lots. Unlike
CIV Young, the grand old pitcher
who has recently retired Robin.
son Is diamond career washot con-
fined to the big leaguesonce he
broke into the select eires-
When McGraw bclted ne Amer
lean league to take cnEe OF the
Baltimore' For numb ofsyears
- .s.,~hx ..<s,J hall Fnxho CrioIos