The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-02-23
MANAGER OF THE EARLY PACE-SETTING
REDS MAY PUT STAMINA INTO THE CLUB
Frank Chance and his crew
of thirteen battery men ,
accompanied by Scribss
but no Phariisees. sail for
sun-lissed Bermuda.
By w. j. MACBETH.

N loNhs S- 1iih
~ Chances thirteen battery men
sailed this morning aboard the
steamship Arcadian for Bermuda
The superstitious need have no fear
about the ''hoodoo" number. for a
party OF newspaper men, including
the writer. went along TO swell the
crowd far beyond the spell OF any
jinx.
Aboard the tossing boat Is the
main hope OF the Peerless Leader for
better things in the local American
league situation. Chance has always
believed that ~ championship team
must be built up around good pitch
ers and catchers. His policy has al
ways been TO hold the score Of the
opposing teams to a minimum. One
of the oldest maxims OF baseball
says that 1t takes runs to win ball
games.
Chance will have ten pitchers and
three catchers under his watchfuI
eye on the little British island. Save
by records none Of these is known
to him He has seen none OF them
I'm uniform except Ed Sweeney. who
practiced a bit with the Cubs last
spring when he was holding out for
more money from Wolverton,
Il did not see much OF Sweeney"
said Chance some time ago, .but
what did see impressed me- He is
big, strong fellow and from what
everyone says is a finished catcher,
or the pitchers ] know little, save
what has been tipped to me since 1
signed with Mr.. Farrell. Russell
Ford told me while he was visiting In
California that the fiinging corps
should equal anything In the major
leagues II properly handled. II his
representations are correct I will
nave no cause to worry. Will
guarantee that I will get all out OF
The tossers that there is In them,'s
THANCE has veterans to begin
with All of them are right hand
ders- Russell Ford is recognized
the class OF the lot despite his disap-
pointing form In 1912 He was the
sensation OF the league In 1910. his
first season. winning twenty-six
games and losing only six. He
sIumped little the following sea-
son, but won two-tfirds OF his games.
His record last year was much batter
than that OF his club Ford was handi-
capped from the start Of last year. He
rounded into condition very slowly
and had to go along for nearly two
months without Sweeney, his only re-
liable battery mate.
Toward the end OF the season Russ
seemed to have regaIned all his old
time effectiveness He pitched a
game against the Giants near the end
OF the season that called forth un-
stinted praise from McGrsw.
Ford is the only pitcher before the
public who can break his spitbaIl to
either right or left, at will.
The other veteran pitchers are Ray
Fisher, Ray Caldwell, Jack Warhop
and George Mcconnell. warhop Is
the gamest little fellow you can pos
sioly imagine. He has an under
handed delivery that Is the most puz-
zling since the days Of Joe McGIn-
nifty. Warhop never was a bad
pitcher. but he should be a cracker
jack this year. Formerly he weighed
only 145 pounds in fighting trim. He
mas taken on nearly twenty-five
pounds since the close of the season.
yet he Is not fat. His extra flesb Ia
good muscle and Jack is sure that he
Will give the best Of his competitors a
run for pitching honors.
Fisher. Caldwell and MCDONNELL Az.
all big fellows Mcconnell stands six
feet three inches In height and though
slim is wiry and tough. Both ne and
Fisher are spitbaIl pitchers. McCon-
nell is possessed OF terrific speea
which he mixes nicely with a puz-
zliug change OF pace. He starts his
delivery away UP over his head. TINS
putting the batter at a distinct disad-
vantage.
Fay Caldwell. Ianky six-footer. Is
one of the best curve pitchers In the
circuit. His tea inmates declare that
Ms fast ball Is as wicked as that NJ
smoky" Joe Wood. Caldwell would
nave been grand pitcher the past
two seasons had he taken proper cars
Of himself t'"''' eare
THE five recruit pitchers are Ches-
ter Hon. AL Schulz. Paddy
Green. RaysKeating and George
Davis. All but Green have had
trial on the hilltop Hoff pitched his
first professional ball last season.
He did not have much OF a fast ball
and was turned over to Hartford,