New-York tribune., 1912-01-21
LOOKING FOR BOX STARS
Eyes Of Baseball Astronomers
Fixed on Young Pitchers.
LAST YEAR PROVED FERTILE
Many Recruits Made Good
Heavy Batters Drawn from
the Minor Leagues.


of beauties was developed last year, and ii
is doubtful whether the coming campaign
will he able TO introduce such a large mum
hcr Of exceptionally brilliant twirlers. Sew
cral Of those who came into prominence
during the last race did not have an oppor-
tunty TO build up sparkling record
These include Marty O'Toole OF the Pirates
Danforth, OF the Athletics, and O Brien, OF
the Boston Red Sox. They showed enough
however. to lead the most unobservant tc
suspect that they will ba near the top when
the curtain falls next October, and they
may form the nucleus OF the next contribu-
ton OF mound artists.
The last season was more fertile than
that Of 1910. when King Cole. Of the Cubs
and Russ Ford, of the Yankees. startled
the baseball world, and 1912 will have to be
q hummer to show something better.
Grover Cleveland Alexander and George
Chalmers, Of the Phillies; Nean Gregg, OF
the Cleveland Maps and Roy Caldwell, of
the Yankees. not to mention Bill Steel, OF
the Cardinals. and Robbie Keefe, OF the
Cincinnati Reds, set a mark for their hrst
year in fast company which in the aggre-
gate is likely TO stand the assaults OF time
without falling. Rube Marquard's name
may properly be added to the list Al
though he came 10 the Giants In 1908. he
did not hit his stride until last season ana
may be regarded as one Of the develop
nents OF 1911 Other pitchers who got
start last year and showed signs Of promise
are Rube Benton Of the Cincinnati Reds,
and George Tyler. Of the Boston Braves.
Although the work Of Marquard was
about the most spectacular of the season
since he helped the Giants TO win pen
nant, yet his previous service in the league.
although somewhat limited, precludes him
from being called the find Of the year This
honor is about equally divided between
Alexander and Gregg. The Cleveland
twirler had a better record than Alexander,
winning % games and losing I, which was
nearly Identical with Marquard's. which
was q won and lost. But Rube was twirl-
ing for pennant winner, while Gregg was
on team which finished with an average
OF SO, therefore the palm must be award
ed to Vean. Alexander won five more
games than Gregg and suffered six more
defeats. being the fourth In the list Of
leading twirlers. Alexander came 10 the
Phillies with Chalmers from the New York
State League. The latter was the star of
that organization. and Grover was taken
along as worth a trial. When Doom pitted
him against the Athletics in the ante-sea-
son series, he discovered that he had a real
twirler in tow. Almost any one would ar
rive AT this decision after seeing Connie
Mack's crew consistently beaten by a
twirler. Alexander therefore promptly at
tracted more attention than Chalmers The
latter was troubled by lame arm for a
greater part Of the season, but he won 10
games out of % and is looked upon TO be
as effective as Alexander this year.
Caldwell of the Yankees. while his record
in games won and lost was not exceptional
stul displayed fine assortment of curves
which earned the respect of all the players
in the league. Bill Steel, of the Cardinals
hacked up Harmon and Sallee in keeping
ST Louis in the pennant race for time
while Bobbie Keefe pitched great ball for
the Reds. being particularly effective
against the Giants Tyler, of the Boston
Braves showed the earmarks of a good
southpaw, winning seven out of seventeen
games with tail-end nine behind him.
OToole. Benton and O'Brien did very
little work last year, just managing 10
break into fast company and show their
worth. O'Toole, the $4,000 wonder of the
Pirates, won three games and lost two. He
was troubled with lame arm and was not
at his best O'Brien Joined the Red Sox
late in the season. winning four games out
of FIVE starts. He earned the distinction of
being one Of four pitchers TO shut out the
aO6 his work will he
watched with interest this year. Danforth,
another promising youngster, joined the
Athletics in September and won three
games out of four, doing his best work as
a relief pitcher. Knapp, Of the Maps, was
wild but revealed marked ability.
Outside of the pitching department. there
were a number of finds in 1911. Joe Jack
son, Of the Cleveland Maps. was easily the
biggest of the year, but "Stuffy" McInnis,
of the Athletics, was development Of last
season. Gainor. of the Detroit Tigers;
Carey, of the Pittsburg Pirates; Ping Bodie,
of the Chicago White SOS; George Jack
son, Jay Kirke and Scotty Ingerton, of the
Boston Braves, all won laurels. Another
such invasion of star talent this year will
crowd some Of the veterans into the minor
leagues.
Batting champions Of the minor leagues
attracted considerable attention from the
big league scouts last year. and as a result
many of them have been signed up to be
tried out this spring. The Giants corralled
two champions in Bues, OF the Northwest
ern League, and johnson, of the Three
League. Cleveland got Ryan, the star
hitter Of the Pacific Coast League, while
Cravath. the leading batter of the Ameri-
can Association. will wear the uniform Of
the Phillies. Smith, of Nashville, and
Pratt. Of Montgomery, were practically tied
for the batting honors of the Southern
League Brooklyn captured Smith, while
the St Louis Browns got Pratt. Holy
Cross. Of the Central Association. was
signed by the White Sex, while the Cardi-
nails got Block, OF the Virginia League.
As far as champion pitchers go, Cleve-
land captured two, in Steen, Of the Pacific
Coast League, and Swindell. from the pen
nant winning nine of the Carolina Associa-
ton. The Browns gathered In Wolfgang
who led the twirlers of the New England
League. The New York Yankees corraled
the star of the lot I'm Mcconnell of the
International League, while Hovlik, the
Three ! League star wonder, has already
been tried out by the White SoX The Ma
tional League did rot fare very well in
Gathering I'm champion twirlers. The Chi
cago Cubs took NOrthrop. OF the Tri-State
League: Dresser. Of the Union Association,
and SlapnclIa. of UIe Wisconsin-Illinols
H.. 49,. coufborp I ul,a