Omaha daily bee., 1912-06-09
ROBINSON COACHES PITCHERS
Veteran Catcher is Great Help to
Muggsy McGraw.
HANDLES THE BATTERY MEN
Sticking to Marquard Until He
is the Best In National
League.
BY w. J. MACBETH.

NEW YORK, June S.-Wilbert Robin
son, veteran catcher and coach of Nc
Graw's champion New York Giants, en-
joys most unique distinction In major
league base ball. In the law and spirit
of organization, he Is as much an active
athlete as when, twenty-six years ago,
he broke into the limelight with the old
Athletics. Signed to a playing contract
which entitled him to all the privileges
Of the youngsters who are making base
ball history, Robinson Is also subjected
to that stern discipline which controls
the fraternity. Yet In the true sense OF
the word. Robinson Is not player any
more than he Is manager. Perhaps he Is
more manager than player. for IL John
J. McGraw, the little Napoleon of the
Polo grounds, would take advice from
any man 1t would naturally be from the
one expert In the country who has quail
filed for such confidence.
Whether he be chief adviser or simply
Of the ranks following implicitly the
theless entitled to a great deal of the
credit that belongs to such sensational
championship array as tho Giants have
proved and are proving to be, None is
more willing to concede this point than
John j. McGraw. Because OF 1t and of
the intrinsic value Of the old time cam
paigner as steady asset, the manager
of the local title-holders has prevailed
upon Wilbert Robinson TO remain In New
York in his capacity of coach throughout
the entire season. For a number of
years Robinson has helped train New
York's youngsters In the south, but In
variably he quit the team when the
championship was we'll under way. That
he is to remain as one of them. In view
OF the runaway race the club Is making,
Is indeed a strong tribute to Wilbert's
ability,
Tunes His Men.
The champion Giants boast one of the
strongest battery departments in the
major leagues. For which no one but
Robinson Is responsible. No manager
before the public can better tune up all
aggregation, outside of battery men, than
John ]. McGraw. The speed and power
OF his forces, both on offense and de-
fense, have invariably proven that from
year to year. Today he pilots the fastest
array of base ball talent ever seen to-
gether in recent years. But until Robin
son took hold, the strength Of the outer
and inner bulwarks were handicapped by
mediocre battery material New York
lost pennant In 1908 because the great
Mathewson had no assistance from the
rest OF the pitching staff.
| Robinson, for McGraw, has made one
of the greatest box departments of the
game from this same mediocre 1908 array.
| Greatest marvel of his art is 'Rube"
Marquard. one of the most wonderful
southpaws that ever stepped into the
center Of diamond "Rube," purchased
from Indianapolis In the fall of 1905, was
for two years regarded as an 900
lemon" In practice he was a lion, under
fire lamb. A terrible trouncing before
record crowd In 1908 at the Polo grounds
| had completely destroyed Marauard's 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.
| Works ON Marquard.
| In the sprng of ls1i Robinson devoted
his sole time to Marquard. He talked with
him on and off the field. encouraged him
and schooled him. He told the southpaw
TO go ahead and pitch in fast company
L Just the way he had always hurled in the
brush" He started him off in his old
manner and gradually trimmed out the
minor league faults. When the bell rang
Marquard was not only physically fit,
but morally sure of himself. Right from
the start he proved the leagues greatest
sensation And he has steadily continued
! so TO this day, But for Robinson 1t is
doubtful II Marquard would ever have
amounted to row of pins as a major
league asset. The "Rube" showed his
hearty appreciation by winning a. cham
Ipionship for McGraw.
i In the opinion of every New Yorker.
Chief Meyers is the greatest catcher in
the game today. When he Joined the
club In 1909 he was about as awkward
and unfinished product as could be
Imagined. A great deal OF the wonderful
Improvement attaches to the studious
and observant Indian. There is a catcher
who will improve steadily for some years
to come. because he uses his brains. Yet
Chief Meyers will tell YOU that he has
picked up no small amount of nforma-
ton from witbert Robinson. Indeed he
attributes his wonderful improvement OF
last season 10 this venerable coach.
Then there is Red Ames. This tough.