Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-04-28
by w. j. MACBETH.

NEW YORK, April N.-No pitcher OF
greater promise than Russell Ford ever
bid for public favor. The star of Harry
law unto himself. A youth with the most
brilliant part OF his career still ahead Of
him, this wonderful tosser has already
established a record of which the great
est might reasonably be proud.
Let US analyze his case quite briefly.
Ford has been in the big show but two
seasons. In that time he has won forty
eight games and lost only seventeen. He
came to the club at time when II was
hard up for pitching talent. In his first
year out he set the most glowing record
ever established by a green tosser. that
OF winning twenty-six out Of thirty-two
pitched, His average In 1910 battered
/ the 800 mark Of winning percentage, a
| notch reached only by one other recruit.
king" Cole of the Cubs the same year,
and surpassed by veteran tossers such
A. q. spalding and wild Biz Dono-
van but four times in history.
Ford is no flash in the pan. king"
| Cole may or may not be. So may "Rube"
Marquard, the champion southpaw OF
professional base ball last year. Lots Of
tossers have doomed upon the horizon
for one fitting season OF superhuman
endeavor only to sink back 10 oblivion.
Ktause, the portslder OF the Athletics.
flashed out like comet in base balls
ken In 1909 lie has made little noise or
trouble since. Cole went away back In
1911. Marquard must this year live up to
his 1911 form to justify his claims to
lasting fame. Ford had a great deal bet
ter season in 1910. his first start, than he
4 did last season. but only insofar as
winning percentage Is concerned. In 1910
he established one OF the most flattering
records OF all times with club that
finished second In the strife for Ben
Johnson's pennant He was with a sixth
position agsregation-a very. very badly
mismanaged sixth position aggregation
last season. Yet he came out of the fray
with record Of victories in two-thlrds
OF the games In which he worked. This,
In spite Of the fact that he had very III.
lie announcement from his hackers.
More than half the games he lost las,
season we're kicked away from him.
More than half were lost by one run. He
was no sineclre. From the time he first
reported to the Hlghlanders. Ford ha,
had to work for every victory. Tho
various managers. realizing that he wa
the main dependence OF the tossing corps
have always handed him the toughest as
sgnments. IL is Ford who invarlabl,
catches the star contemporaries OF III,
opposition. He has been forced to figh
his way TO the top over such brillIan
rivals a. Walter Johnson. Ed Walsh
George Muilin. Joe Wood, yean Gregg
and Chief Tender. But for an unfortu
nate accident last season his work, even
with sixth position array. might hav,
proved quite as brilliant as that OF bill
debut. He lost about half OF his game
while he was physically unfit for duty
Early In the season he 'beaned" Corhai
OF tho white sox. For days II looked al
II the Chiesgoan would not recover, Ford
who Is highly sensitive young man
was completely unstrung from the &C
cident. In two weeks he lost ten pounds
He wac on the verge Of physical collaps
when the injured athlete finally recoy
cred.
Ford 10 a pitcher bound 10 so dow
!, through history as one OF tho brightes
: stars Of the game. His work In the tw
years OF service has instifled a claim /
one OF the highest inches Of fame. III
|, viii so on to greater achievements Il
the future u no III luck befalls. 70
/, Russ Is pitcher blessed with an un
usual amount OF gray matter. He i
, nobody's fool. He will last many ear
lie has not jumped to the top Of hi
/ profession because Of any unusual phys
/ icai qualifications. In fact he is bu