The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-08
SAM LEVER IS
Peer Of EN- ALL
tContinued From First Page

bal dutch clock, granting one pas
per game and not making a Wild pitei
Along toward the last of Angus
Pittsburgh took him on. let him hol
down & nice soft seat on a hard benc
for q few weeks studying how tn
big leaguers'' played the game. HOY
the big fellows swatted the ball an
how the big hurlers" stopped them
sometimes.
On the eth day OF October. 1898
samuel W Lever pitched his ars
full game in the National League
Twas more than a full game. II de-
veloped and devolved into fierce
eleven inning affair, ending Ve with
to score. The Louisville team
was his opponent. securing but fvt
scattering hits OF the Indiana school
master. He came through the crucial
test with flying colors.
His next game was against Cleye-
land, then one Of the twelve clubs
that made Up the big National that
year. Lever held his foe down TO
three singles and one run. completely
aaif!ng its very best h.tters After
this clever exhibition of his skill. ex-
pert critics and fans alike pronounced
samuel W Lever a pitcher with all
the qualifications and symptoms OF a
coming great
1899 saw Lever right IN the thick
Of the battle. working in thirty-six
regulation games. and landing a win
ner In over half Of them. His twirling,
generally speaking. was good. at times
brilliant
From 1900 until he closed his long
career. with the Pittsburgh club. he
ranked high in his percentage OF
wins His record made in 1903 goes
faT n
the best. not losing game in the
last thirteen
He pitched three shutout games in
succession. and by leading ali pitchers
n the National in games won, he had
his name inscribed in the mythical
Hall Of Fame. Again in 1905 he added
another niche in that misty. may
fairyland hal of yesterday.
Perhaps Levers percentage of wins
Cor all time IS a worlds record. His
percentage o. wins stands 6s2 for his
entire career. This has anything
eat IN the major leagues since the
modern game has come into vogue.
It IS a proud distinction OF course.
records show where a few hurlers that
have worked Just a few years have
this topped, but none has worked five
years or over with a better record
ways. his exhibitions OF wildness that
would put most wild men to shame.
stands out with a total percentage OF
wins that almost equals the only |
Levers For eight seasons Reu-
oach's wins stand 6s7. Samuel has put
Ia thirteen seasons
When Samuel began his work for
in 1898. on the pitching
staff were two gents who had been
pitching ball when Samuel was In
clothes-when he was |
mere infant These chaps were pitch
Ing. or at least one of them, was
nurling fint-pointed :avelins away
back in the stone ages"
Sam wss a good listener. and the |
stories OF past experiences told by
these two grizzled warriors were
solemnly swallowed and slowly d.
gested. but the fine points OF their ex-
periences were not lost on Sam. "Bii-
lie" Hart and Billy" Rhines We're the
ancients OF the ancients. and Samuel
Lever was a guileless youth, a strip
ling compared TO those two.
But as time rolled by. Samuel w.
was the veteran and historian Of the
team-thS dean Of the pitching staff
This role he shared with his sombre
partner, Deacon" Phillip These two
taaunch old oaks saw the coming and
going Of many an aspirant for honors
IN the pitching line. saw them sweep
in. hailed as world heaters, as stars OF
tho first magnitude. These two grim
warriors stood silently by and saw the
young phenoms explode. collapse and
chased to the timbers. TO be buried IN
the svale hole OF the bush leagues.
Entire Record.