New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-09
SHUTOUT RECORD OF
BROWN A LONG ONE
Three Fingers of MordeCai
Have BIighted Hopes of
Many a Team.
DIDN'T START AS PITCHER
For Years the Mainstay of
Cubs, Goes to the Reds to
Help Tinker with
His Task.

Copyright. 1913. by Maclean Kennedv)
Less than five years ago, If the question
were asked WHO is the greatest pitcher
in active service?" six out Of ten West
ern fans" would have said "Mordecai
Brown" In the East six out of ten
would have shouted 'Matty" Be that
as il may. the three-fingered wonder of
the Chicago Cubs was a mighty hurler
At Nyesville Ind. on October 10, 1876
this pitching prodigy was born. Coming
from English and Welsh parentage. he
inherited many of the commendable traits
that characterize those races.
When a child he playfully put his hand
in a cutting box; when he withdrew II the
index finger was amputated below the
second joint. the second finger broken
and the thumb and small finger crushed.
When he grew TO be a stout lad he took
20 baseball. the accident in no way prov
ing handicap; in fact. the way the hand
formed In healing made II possible 10
grasp tie ball in a viselike grip and
later proved 10 be of great assistance in
imparting 10 the ball an extra rotary
motion that made his curves and shoots
so famous
Mordecai Brown did not start out as q
hurler: he cavorted around third base
for q few seasons in his amateur days.
owing to the peculiar twist he could i'm
Fart 70 the ball, he was advised to prac-
tse pitching In throwing across the dia-
mond the ball would take the most aston
ishing loops. and this pointed the way.
He became so proficient in pitching that
al. oil, ~ ~ Thrpa
League gave him a trial. So on May ),
1901, Brown hurled his first game Of pro-
fessional baseball The Rockford cluo
was the one 10 fall before his deceptive
benders In fact. this raw recruit right
from the mines was practically the whole
works the first three innings of that
game: he struck out five men and had a
hand in retiring three more. He won the
game, and by his pitching that season the
"Hottentots' won the pennant.
The Omaha club Of the Western League
had him in 1902, but the next year lie
landed with the st. Louis Cardinals. He
was their star-if there could be star
on a team that was down at the bottom
Of second division.
Chicago secured Brown in trade the
following season. While with ST. Louis
Brown always pitched gilt edge ball
against the Cubs. and they had respect
for the husky miner. Frank Seelee, the
manager, did not realize for minute
what prize he had landed when he made
the trade.
In his nine seasons as a member of the
Cubs he pitched "a games, winning Ill
giving him d percentage of .10l In
game against cincinnati. on September j.
1909. he retired twenty-seven of the RED
land batsmen in order. Three men raced
Brown in each inning. Although one hit
was made. before the chap that MADE
the drive got settled at first he was re-
tired on a double play.
This great twirler with the manned
wing has BANKED more teams than any
other man in baseball. Considering the
number Of games pitched, about every
fifth contest he has registered shutout
In PITCHES he is a worker OF wonders
This hurer laboring under the Scripturai
name is the prince Of relief slabmen' ana
never failed 10 rise 10 the occasion.
In that memorable game on October .,
1908. when the Cubs were forced to go all
the way to New York TO play on the Tie
caused BY Merkle failing 10 touch second
before a host OF 5000 maddened rams
and after Jack Pfeister, the Giant
Killer" failed at the very outstart TO STOP
the confident Giants. with one run over
and two men on. he put the quietus on
Arthur Devlin. the next batter up. After
that the Giants were as mere infants De-
fore Mordecai Brown. This game. CON
the miners greatest achievement.
The Detroit Tigers will always regard
Mr.. Brown with nothing save the greatest
reverence. His parting gifts 10 the IL
gers I'm the worlds series games OF 1917
's were shutout affairs. and the fine
points OF the pitching game were ex-
eronIieed in a most beautiful manner 10
Hughie Jennings and his band OF slug
gers.
History tells OF the many thrilling
pitching deals engaged in BY Mordecai
and the great Mathewson. History also
gives figures where the man from the
West had the advantage over the pitch
ing marvel OF the East In some Of the
hardest fought battles on the diamond.
Brown could play baseball; as fielding
playing his position the Nyesvile wonder
excelled in $780, in forty-four games ne
had a perfect fielding average-l'"p
This season Mordecai is going to De
with the Cincinnati club, under the man
agement of his old teammate. Joe tinker
Many fierce battles have these two foush'
together Perhaps they Will inspire tne
Reds TO great deeds; perhaps the mere
81. ,gtrbt
Ing line for them. and not against them;
Will infuse the Reds with the spirit OF
the Cubs OF lS0-0S
Mordecai Brown, at the age OF thirty
six. Is by no means ready for the chioro
form route: no DR. Osler treatment TOT
this sturdy Welshman. Many FAMOUS
pitchers did their greatest work when
past thrty-hve. Bobby Matthews nao
the greatest year of his career when Vers-
ing forty. So Mordecsi should take In.
sp!ration from the grand old masters OF
the past. and make a record for himseH
and help Tinker overcome the time-WOrn
hoodoo that has squelched the efforts OF
so many managers. and give old "Cincy'
q winning team and perhaps pennant.