The Washington herald., 1913-01-19

of gravitation. Also that the faster
anything shoots UP, just SO much the
faster must II fall before il finally hits
earth or water.
In fact as a baseball illustration, We
have to 60 no farther from home than
the Hilltop to arrive at one of the best
possible Illustrations for reversal of
baseball form. The young gentleman in
question is Russell Ford, one OF the most
marvellous tossers who ever broke into
The game as a first-year man.
Briefly We shall discuss Russell Ford's
limited major league career. He broke
into fast company with George Staliings'
Yankees in 1919-the season the ktlues
finished second to the Athletics. That
was the year OF the trouble between
Stallings and Chase. in which the Big
Chier' lost out. That year Ford won
twenty-six victories and met defeat but
six times. He had the fine average Of
sl3 But for the fact that King"
Cole. of the Cubs. had an equally fine
record. Russell Ford would have proven
himself the greatest recruit that ever
jimmied his way into fast company. As
IL was, his performance was better than
that of Cole. for his team did not win
nearly the same percentage of games,
while Ford worked far oftener than did
Frank Chances flashy southpaw-
that he was unable to cope with the
great Mathewson in a city series be-
tween the rival major league clubs.
Ford was generally accredited one OF
the most startling phenoms OF all
times The following year, however,
he began to show slight evidences OF
mortality. In 1911 Ford had fine year
a wonderful year and with team that
finished sixth was stfll able to win two
- Iii E4n M
year with twenty-five wins, and but
eleven defeats for the handsome average
of .667. Considering the fact that his
team failed to break even for the sched-
ule of 154 games this performance was al
most as creditable-though not quite-as
that of Ford's inaugural
But Ford's big tumble came last year
under the Inflated star of Harry VOL
verton. 1t is quite true that he did as
well in a winning way as his club, but
very little better. which Is quite shy
the mark for a fellow who the two previ-
Gus years had displayed such phenomenal
class In 1872 Ford scored but thirteen
triumphs as against twenty-one defeats
He was knocked out of the box repeat
edly, very seldom went to the rescue OF
a pal and was hammered harder than
any other pitcher on the hill. on Fords
delivery ten home runs were rung up,
more than allowed by any other tosser
in the two major leagues
Ford's work last season was disappoint-
ing to his most enthusiastic admirers lie
did not look anything like the the pitcher
OF the previous two years. But there Is
not a club in either league that would
let this fellow drift back to the minors
without further trial. He is still REGARDED
as one of the very best hurlers In the
country. No less a parsonage than
John J. McGraw declared as late as last
fall that Ford was one Of the most won
derful performers he ever watched. ii
was. after an exhibition game between
the rivals. played as a sort of prep, for
the Giants. previous to the opening OF
the big clash with the Red Sox. McGraw
started the game with his fun strength
but he soon jammed in substitutes for
he realized that Ford was too good to be
beaten. After the. game he said:
McGraw Praises Ford.
zone of the greatest pitchers In the
business. I never saw more stun than
this fellow showed us to-day. Taik OF
speed! If Wood or johnson mas oetter
fast bali than this fellow, L want to see
it."
Now as to Ford's work last season. In
the first place he was overweight three
quarters of the season. 1t Is pretty wei
known that he was not entirely satisfed-
Previously he had insisted upon working
every fifth day and working regularly.
II was this plan that returned him such
q brilliant winner on his first time out.
Ford got O bad start IN the spring. too.
Like the rest OF woiverton's men. ne
found absolutely no benent from the
training at Atlanta. His big battery
mate. Ed Sweeney, was late In report
ing. No other catcher seems able to
handle Ford rs can the boy from the