The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-03-07
MEN WHO PLAYED WITH INDIAN
IN THE BRUSH SAY THAT
HE is GOOD.
A GOOD THROWING ARM
OutfieIder Tells of Pretty Throw Big
Athlete Made One Day-Is Confident
That With Good Coaching Indian
Will Be Star.

New York, March G-Will Jim
Thorpe, the indian athlete now signed
up with the Giants, make good as a
major league ban player is a queS-
ton the fans all over the country are
asking. Thorpe will probably be
watched more closely Than any of the
other youngsters with the Giants.
Since Thorpe attached his name to
a New York contract many fans have
questioned the Indians ability as a
national pastimcr. Some think he will
travel the same route as many hun
dreds Of other rockies have done,
while others look to Thorpe to develop
into a valuable man. With Thorpe's
experience as an athlete there is no
reason why he should not make good,
for he is said to have all the require
ments of Il ball player. What he
lacks is major league knowledge of
the game, but under the Watchfnl eye
of John McGraw and Wilbert Robin
son, Thorpe will have the advantage
Of some valuable instruction.
That McCiraW made no mistake
when he signed the Indian up is Veri-
fled by reports from the south, where
Thorpe played in the Eastern Caro-
lima league with the Rocky Mount
and Fayetteville clubs, which affili-
alton eventually resulted in the in
v~estigation that cost Thorpe his anna
teur standing and his Olympic honors.
Men who played with Thorpe declare
the indian has all the ear marks"
Of a major Lacquer and only needs
developing. IN player who is sure
of this is Jack O'Brien, who played
on the Cumberland team as an out
fielder. O'Brion has seen Thorpe play
many times and declares that the new
Giant will come up to expectations.
In a letter TO a friend here O'Brien
writes:
A Good Man.
Thorpe is a natural ball player. He
has the markings of a star and if he
don't make good I'll be very much dis
appointed. When he played in our
league | had a good chance to watch
MN work. He is quick to learn and
even now knoWs many fine points of
the game. If he devotes his entire
time to the game there is no reason
why he won't stick in fast company.
''F' ~ iitiS q INK arm.
zone day while Raleigh was PLAYING
ROCKY Mount, at Raleigh. on the fair
grounds, Mccormick of the Raleigh
team was on third when the man at
bat, | cannot for the remem-
Der just who he was. knocked one out
to deep right. Thorpe made a bcauti-
full backward run, catching the ball,
and without a seconds delay to BAL
ancc, shot it. like a bullet out of n
gun, to home plate, just in time to
catch Mccormick. I will admit that
tn" manager of Raleigh, Kelly, who
was on the coaching line, did not get
Mc'ormlck started as quickly as he
might ''"r, but still Mccormick was
waiting for the bail to be caught or
missed, ready for a dash for home.
This will give a slight idea OF the
throwing ability of the man Thorpe,
whom II of the scouts for one of
the big league teams now saws he does
not thlhK VIII make good. I want to
say TOO, that Thorpe is an excellent
batter. His one weak point is that
ne wants to knock the ball out of he
lot all the time, but with training like
ne will have under McGraw I do not
think there is a doubt thai he could
ne taught to bat scientifically, wait for
ms style of balls, and bunt or sacri-
lice when it was necessary. T do not
mean that he had a poor batting aver
age, but he always tried to make a
o"'hefHn instead of doing what would
POSSIBLY be safer at the time.
Ihorpe will learn all the moe
quickly because he is not a bit swell
headed. He learns fast, and under an
'i'lcleht manager like McGraW should
become a cracking good ~all-around
bail player"