The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-27

ready to step In and receive the title of
Bender's successor. The man prepared
and eager to I'LL the shoes of the chief
Is Leslie J. Bush. sbetter known in the
American league as BULLET joe"
Bush was the only one of Mack's
youngsters to break into the battles
against the Giants. He pitched the third
game at the Polo grounds, and the ac-
count he gave of himself will long be
rem EN- bered.
Scores n Vfctory--8 to 3.
Bush defeated the National league
champions, to 8, with Ave hits. In
that contest he exhibited so much grit
and skill that the Athletics COM
mander became firmly convinced he
aid more than materially in assisting
the team to win the championship OF
Ban Johnson's organization next
year.
Bush is the best young pitcher I
have had on my club In years." said
Mack, after that third worlds series
game. He has a bright future be-
fore him. and I believe now he will
be one OF the men upon whom I will
depend next season. He has sand.
The situation of a game does not dis
The situation of a game does not dis
turb him bit. and he Is not worried
when the batter has him in a hole.
II he has three balls he has the
nerve to stick over the next three
and curve them. too. That Is what
/ like about him. Another thing, he
is not afraid of lot Of work"
Players on the Athletic team say
Bush has as much speed as Walter
johnson. of Washington. Those who
know of the tremendous speed of the
Senator hurler doubt it, but young
ster. who ha ga fast ball with a jump
on 1t Is usually credited with that dis
tinction. There is no denying that
Bush's fast ball is dandy, and he Is
Just wild enough with 1t to be effec-
tive.
Chances Estimate Not Well Founded.
Frank Chance, before the worlds
series. said Bush was exceedingly wild
and Indispensable. ~ he is erratic he
did not display 1t against McGraw's
men. 1t Is true his control was not
perfect in that game. but he demon
strated for the benefit of his admirers
that he could locate the center and
corners of the plate when compelled
to do so. This was proved by the num-
Der of balls and strikes he pitched at
the Polo grounds. He found the plate
for more strikes than he did balls. He
pitched fifty strikes. some of which, of
course, were fouls, and forty five balls
| These figures show what he can do
when pressed.
Speed Is not all he has upon which
to rely. 1t was his principal asset
| when he Joined the Athletics in Chi
cago September Is. 1912, but Manager
Mack saw the folly OF letting him waste
his strength and drilled him on a
change of pace. He practiced II ardu-
ously all this season and has nearly
perfected 1t. as he gave the Giants and
their followers to understand In the
worlds series game. In that battle he
used about a dozen slow curves, and
every one completely fooled the New
Workers and sailed over the plate fer
a called strike.
His Experience Valuable.
Mack's promising prospect has had
a fine season In the American league
He was sent to the hill often enough
| to get valuable experience. The
records show he took part in thirty
| nine games and gave him a mark of
/ thirteen won and seven lost, for an
average OF $50. A total of 1913 hits
| were made off him. which Is an aver
| age of trifie more than Ave raps a
game He struck out seventy light
men and issued sixty-six passes.
Bush has not yet reached the vot-
! ing age.-and- will-not- until Noyem-
Der 27th He was born in Brainard
| Mimi. in 1898, and started to play
/ ball for a. high school team. In 1912
he Joined the Union association ciut
! of Missoula, Mont, and in the fall
| OF that year was secured by Mack
! who believed he saw in him stat
twirler. Just what confidence Mack
had in him was shown when he Sc.
lected him In preference to Shawkel
or Browr-both of whom have hat
| more experience--to face McGraw't
! men.