The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-02-01

ROSTER OF FIRST TIGER
SQUAD INCLUDES 23 MEN
Score of Players, Two Coaches
and Manager to Report
Feb. "a



Jim Thorpe. the greatest athlete,
who confessed professionalism ana
returned all his Olympic trophies, Is
the poorest baseball player ever emr
ployed at a salary of $4,000 q year.
Moreover, at that price. he may still
prove 10 be a financial failure for
the New York Giants, who signed
him yesterday for q salary reported
to te the amount mentioned. II -
known that Cincinnati offered Thorpe
$500. which makes II appear tnat
New York raised when 1t obtained
him.
Thorpe must still prove that he IL
q ball player. McGraw evidently
realizes that he Is not as yet. but he
thinks that the big Indian has po-
tertialities. He Is quoted as saying
that he doesn't care whether Thorpe
can play ball now or not as long a.
he has the physique and brains re.
quired
II Is well that Muggsy Isn't particu-
lar about the Indians ability, for
looking over his record with the East
ern Carolina league I'm which he
played In 1909 and 1910. we find that
he excelled In only one thing stolen
| bases.
/ Thorpe stole more bases than did
Ty Cobb In proportion to the number
OF times he was at bat; and he got on
the bases only about half the time
that Ty did In proportion to the times
at bat He didn't have major league
catchers to peg him out. nor major
league inhelders to touch him with
the leather; but neither did he have
Il any knowledge OF how 10 get away
or the failaway or hooking the bag
Il or anything Of that sort which Nc
iGraw may be able TO teach him.
His ability In grabbing sacks indt
Gates his speed. Otherwise there Is
nothing in his record that shows up
well.
Thorpe tried to be pitcher In the
, summer OF 1909. He won nine games
and lost 10, with a club that finished
last In the league He hit pa.
Thorpe tried to be a first baseman
in the summer of 1910. He was last
in bis league In hclding and hit for
Il $50.
! Now II that is the sort of game
that Thorpe put up In Class ID
league, what chance Ii there for him
In the majors?
or course, II Is conceded that
Thorpe has been signed because OF
his Olympic victories. The best adj
vertised athlete In the world, he will
attract attention and coin to the Polo
/ grounds In New York. and other Ma
tional league fisids at first at least.
But baseball freaks who don't win
games are mot continuous money
makers!
Unless Thorpe shows that he can
make good as a player and increase
his value constantly, he won't last
long. Unless he participates In games
| fans won't turn out to see him. at
least not more tlan once. You ana
III dent care about paying money 20
see the greatest athlete gracefully
floss ball to a second string catcher
for few moments before the game
and then retire to the bench. never
to be seen again.
What he will play for McGraw II
problematical He will probably be
directed toward pitching at first II
he doesn't make good there. he may
be made an fnfielder.
The official roster Of the Tiger
squad that is expected TO report at
Gulsport February "a has been an
nounced. It contains the names OF
20 players. two coaches and Manager
Jennings.
| NOT ali Of these men VIII leave De-
| troit on Feb. %. Many OF them will
report direct to Gulfport from their
homes. Others will join the squad on
its special car as II proceeds south.
In the squad are Coaches Mcclure
and Sugden. who were south last year.
The only veteran Is Gainer. who goes
south early 70 get his wrist into shape.
/ Four or FIVE others are partly grown
Tigers. The rest are all new men.
Pitcher Hall, OF the Omaha club IN
the Western league, has sent his sign
ed contract into the baseball once.
He won 25 games and lost nine iast
season with q club that finished third.
The contract OF Albert Clauss. tho
only left-handed pitcher the Tigers
possess. was received this mornins
Ciauss won l2 and lost Is games for
Saginaw and Jackson last year In the
South Michigan .esgue His home Is
In New Haven. Conn.