The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-23
WESTERN BRANCH OF 4. $. LEAGUE
INvADEs EAST FOR
FIRST TINE.
RAYMOND TO PITCHs
FAMOUS rigs FORMERLY MN
IONAL LEAGUE STAR. NOW
WITH PRETZEL TEAM
FROM OHIO.

What sort of teams make up th4sS
Western division of the United States Il
League will be seen today. for the
West has invaded the East The
Chicago Filipinos tackle the Reading 4
Corsairs. The Fittsburg Stogies villa
in The Bronx. The Cleveland Indians
will tackle the Washington BroMnfem
and the Cincinnati Pretzels will try
to round up the Richmond Rebels.
In the latter game 1t is said thnS
Mir. "Bugs' Raymond will appear.
Mr.. Raymond. who was christensdE1
Arthur. II the knowledge of !. ian
may be taken as a guarantee, IL one
of the eccentric genfuses of the great
game. When he is at his best
Christy Mathewson, Big Chief Benz.
der. Walter johnson. Russell Fore.
Ed. Walsh, or any of the stars Oh
the big leagues. admit that Mr.. Ray
nond il some pitcher. When he Is an
his worst he is about as much use to-
a team as an automobile horn.
Harder He Falls. IN
Every year Mr.. Raymond makes a8
solemn promise to take seat high
On the water wagon. but the higher
he climbs the harder he falls ff03
took thirst cure. something more
than year ago and then reported
with the Giants at Marlin Springs
Mr. Raymond was never in better
condition His desire for anything
other than milk and water, or ten
an cnffsa hat v.fu 49,
He was going to pitch tho game a.
his life.
Then came reports from the train-A
ing camp that Mr.. Raymond was be-
coming doubtful Of his ability to-
pitch as we'll as he did formerly. ItN
was said that he gravely debated if9
a pitcher who had formerly did his
best work with & lot IF liquid fe~s
fieshments under his belt could work
as Well without this exhiliarating in-s
fiuence. 1t was said that Mr.. Ray-
mond doubted II.
Doing His Best Work.
Following these important dis
patches were talks with Mr.. Ray
mond in which he told of the
triumphs of his former days when
he pitched and won double headers,
after having been up the night be-
fore and with only four or Ave eye-s
openers, a mornings morning and
a mug or two of mild March or brown
October between each inning
On top of these stories came the
statement that Mr.. Raymond's doubt
had triumphed over his resolution to
stay on team with the crystal foun-
tain insignia. He had fallen, nor
with a dull. sickening thud. but with
a series OF wild bounds, leaps and
1ollings that would have made a sens
sation on a moving picture film.
Manager McGraw wot1ld have moth
ing to do with him after that faJkS
from grace. He might be reformed.
Mr. McGraw admitted, but the re-
formation would lead to serious con-
sequences for both the reformer and
the reformed. 1t would be fatal. MA
McGraw said.
Back to the Giants.
Raymond joined the semi profess
sional ranks and earned livelihoods
in this manner the greater part 0G%
last season. This year he started with
the United States League. He join-S
ed the Giants. but McGraw w0ue6S
not consider him at all. RaymondE3
went back to the United Stato1a
League. SSss
When not playing ball RaymOnGS
is a newspaper pressman. and rect
one it is said. In his pious mom0ntM
which come upon him frequently. h@3
Is great pitcher, but the happX&
go-tucky spirit prevails and he f0lS
gets everything else in beirg sociabtQ
Raymond is one of the kind W1E&
makes a intimate friend out OF H.
acquaintance of the moment. He N
one of those genial souls hailed ~
brotber by all, mankind He Is &6S
he,eNaI4 Al saboGas In tire - days n +
D'Artagnan he would have been III
ideal musketeer. In the days A.
Robin Hood ne would have beAn
Friar Tuck. AS II is, he is a gunmG~
for the Cincinnati United StM46
League. baseball team. and booM
companion to conviviai fans.