Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-09
RED SOX BELIEVED TO BE
STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE
Champions Should Win Flag More Easily,
Says Tim Murnane = Experience
and Confidence Added.

Today will see the return of the Bos-
ton Red Sox to Fenway Park. Their
last look at the new battle ground was
after the most strenuous series ever
played in base ball. Now practically
the same team returns. hoping to fol-
low its hand and win the double honors
for the second time, says Tim Murnane
in the Boston Globe.
Hugh Bradley and Larry Pape will, be
missing from the squad. and in their
places will be found Dutch" Leonard,
Fresno, Cal, left-handed pitcher;
George Foster. another pitcher, from
Arkansas. who made a great record in
the Texas League last year. and Harold
Janvrin. our own Boston High School
BOY, who. although practically under con-
troll of the club last season, will this
year. for the first time, be used as sub
stitute infielder
Last year the team Went through the
season with twenty-one men, using six
pitchers. This season the Red Sox wifi
larry an extra pitcher making twenty
two men for the team
FOR the number of men carried on the
pay roll the Red Sox are the highest
STARRED team in base ball, and from the
showing that the boys have made and the
length OF time they have been in the
game. with the promise of future finan-
clal success, the men are only getting
what they are fully entitled to. :
Inc players. to a man. honestly believe
that they can repeat and win the Ameri-
thlnk much, easier task would be the
winning or the post-season series with
the Giants or Pirates, both of which
teams they have met within the last
year.
Best Boston Team of All Time.
Ihe Red Sox are the seventeenth cham
pion ship team wearing the Boston col,rs
In major league base ball. They have
won the. worlds championship twice and
We're never defeated for the title All
other clubs that have won this great title
were also forced to take the bitter medi-
cine of defeat.
Boston can boast of several wonderful
teams, but none that ever wore Boston"
on their shirt fronts can fully compare
with the Red SoX in all-around ability,
with extra men for all positions and for
titled in a way to smile at misfortunes
In the way of injuries to players.
There is no danger of these players
wavering under fire this year. Last sea-
son was trying one Tor nearly all these
men, and the way they forced the enemy
and fought every game to the last ditch
was a signal to all corners that the Bos-
ton Red Sox We're there to fight from the
drop of the hat until the winning run
crossed the home plate.
With Manager Stahl in hearty SYM
pathy with his players. cooperating with
President McAleer, the team will be di-
rected by no theorists. but by generals
who have fought their way up from the
ranks and who today have no superiors
mo
seem to be cut out for the very work
on hand. having a thorough knowledge
of the game the right temperament and
a keen ambition to be at the head of
ball team.
President McAleer has shown excep-
tional interest. He watched carefully the
work of his boys at Hot
Springs. He was at the ball park inorn-
ing and afternoon, and while he took
notes from the bleachers Manager Stahl
was taking mental notes on the field.
Later these two met and decided on the
men they would keep for the coming
fight. So the selection Of the twenty
two men now on hand was based on the
combined judgment of Messrs. McAleer
and Stahl.
son. and the Boston fans may rest as
sured that the Red Sox will be handled
this year as well as If not better than
the first year of the McAleer and Stahl
regime.
Pitching Staff in Great Form.
The training at Hot Springs was an
absolute success. for the men left there
in perfect condition, especially the pitch
ers who went a week ahead of the other
players and had the good fortune to find
ideal weather conditions. which all took
advantage Of
I doubt il there is any corps of pitch
ers In the country today that is within y
per cent of being SO we'll on edge as are
the seven men of the Boston pitching
staff Smoky Joe Wood is in much
better form than he ever started a sea-
son before, and from careful observa-
ton l would say that he is stronger
knows more about pitching,
is more satisfied with his surroundings
and is determined to do the greatest
pitching of his career.
Hugh Bedient seems to be starting
out where he left off last year. Bedient
Is an intelligent pitcher. who has made
a fine study of the game. and saves
himself great deal of trouble by us
Ing his brains. Possessing excellent
skill. we all know that Bedient also
has the nerve. and nerve counts in
the pitchers box more than in any
other position.
Buck" O'Brien is working smoother
than at any time last season and is in
much better physical condition than
for years. I look for O'Brien to win
4 much larger percentage Of his games
than last year. and prove big factor
in the success of the Red SoX.
Ray Collins did splendid work last
year after July, but was of little value