Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-11
By J. ED oRILLo.

Just how valuable an experienced
catcher is in deve'oping q pitcher wal
proven by RUDE Marquard last season
when he led the pitchers Of his League
after having been handled all spring b,
wilbert Robinson. Under Robinson Mar
guard became a star. For two years hi
had been q failure. but after receiving
daily Instructions from Robinson dur
Ing the training period Marquard rap
idly developed and proved one Of the
most valuable pitchers last season.
The chances are that Morquard had
every bit as much stun the first day he
reported In New York as he showed Al
any time last season. but he could not
win. simply because he did not know
what to do with what he possessed
Under Robinson's tuition Marquart
learned the art Of pitching. and from q
rather. ordinary twirler he jumped into
fame In a single season.
A capable instructor for young pitch.
ers means much The Nationals may not
have catcher Of -Robinson's experience
or ability to teach pitchers. but In Grit
fifth the team has a man who knows the
catching art from A to z. and he should
be able to be OF great assistance to thu
twirlers on the local list.
There is no team In the American
League better fortified behind the ba
than the Nationals. = In fact, Street
Henry and Ainsmith are perhaps the bes
Oscar Stanage and Ira Thomas. are per
haps better catchers than any Of the
local hackstops. but neither Detroit no.
Philadelphia has three catchers as goot
There isn't any question about Thoma.
being the best catcher in this circuit. HI
has proven that in the last two seasons
and yet there was time when he wa!
let out by Detroit when he did not ap
pear to have class enough to hold his owr
wonderful forward strides since playing
for Mack From an ordinary backstop HI
has developed into the best in the league
all things taken into consideration.
There isn't any great danger OF fistit
clash between Jim Corbett and JACK
Johnson should they happen to meet In
Chicago shortly. These wordy wars be-
tween fighters usually enc as they start
stonal pugilists hook up there 10 usually q
purse hung up. for they do not seem Il
relish the idea Of giving free public e..
.hibitions.
Battling Nelson u making = SUCCESSFUL
tour Of the south. meeting all corners and
incidentally proving that none Of the sec
ond raters stands much Of . chance with
him. Teddy Murphy. who handled Mel
son years ago on the coast, saw him
fight In New Orleans the other night, and
he has this to say Of the former cham
pion:
Il was inclined myself to pity him until
I saw him battle in New Orleans against
Redmond. But quickly lost that feeling
after the battle had been on for about ten
rounds It looked to me In the seventh
and eighth rounds like Redmond had .
chance to put Nelson down for the count,
but. like all the rsst OF the spectators,
was badly fooled. The Battier came hack
IN the ninth and tenth and fe0Ght like q
wtirlwind making the fght moro than
even and finally winning out by anothef
squirt toward the end.
Nov, wouldn't exactly like to say
that Nelson is as good az ever he was,
but this / am sure Of. He is just as tough
as ever and Is in no danger Of having any
OF the present day second-raters kill him
In the ring.
.sThere is one thing that helps Nelson
a whole lot in his present cAmpaien. He
doesn't bother his head abcut making