Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1913-02-26
DECLARES THORPE
WILL MAKE GOOD
Jack O'Brien Predicts In
dian VIII star in Big
League Company

NEW YORK, Feb 25.-Will Jim
Thorpe. the Indian athlete now
signed up with the Giants, make
good as major league ball player?
Is question the fans 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
10 a New York contract. many fans
have questioned the Indians ability
as a national pastimer Some think
he Niii travel the same route as
many other rockies have done. while
others look tor 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 the re-
quirements OF ball player What
be lacks is major league knowledge
of the game. but under the watch
full eye OF John McGraw and Will
bert Robinson. Thorpe will have the
advantage OF some valuable instruc-
ton
That MCGraW made no mistake
rE'u Do signed the Indian up rs
yp- ! by reports from the south,
.Nirir Thorpe paved in the Eastern
Carolina league with the Rocky
MoGg+ and Fayetteville clubs. which
af:iliation eventually resulted in
the Investigation that cost Thorpe
his amateur standing and his Olym-
pic houors Alien who have played
with Thorpe declare the Indian has
all the ear marks" OF "A major
Lacquer and only needs developing
one player who is sure of this Is
Jack O'Brien. who played ON the
Cumberland team as an outfielder.
OBrien declares that the new Giant
Will come up TO the expectations.
In a letter to a friend, O'Brien
writes
Thorpe is naturall ball player,
lie has the markings OF a star, and
II ne don't make good | will be very
much disappointed When he was
playing in our league | had good
chance 10 watch him work He Is
quick 10 learn and even knows many
7 fine points Of the game II he de
votes his entire time TO the game
/ there is no reason why he won't
stick iu fast company
Thorpe has "a great throwing
arm
"One day while Raleigh was play
j Ing Rocky Mount on the fair ground,
/ Mccormick. OF the Raleigh team,
was OF third, when the man al bat,
/ ! cannot for the moment remcm-
Ger just who Il was. knocked out a
/ deep right Thorpe made a beauti-
ful backward run. catching the ball
and without seconds delay to bal
ancc shot D.. like a bullet out of "a
gun 10 the home plate, just IN time
i 10 catch Mccormick | will admit
that the manager OF Raleigh, Kelly,
who vas on the coaching lire. did
not get Mccormick started as soon
as he might have. but still McCor-
mick was waiting for the ball a. be
caught or missed. ready for q dash
! home.
This will give one a slight idea
o. the throwing ability OF the man
! Thorpe. whom one of the scouts Tor
one OF the big league teams now
SAYS be- does not think will .ako
good want 20 say, too. that be
b an excellent batter His one weak
. point is that hc wants TO knock the
tau out OF the Tor all the time but
with training Iiks ho viii have under
+ NcGraW. ] do NOT think there is q
doubt that hf could bc taught 10 bat
. scientifically. wait for his style OF
] balls. and hunt for "a sacrifice when
/ 90 vas necessary do not mean
/ that be- htf "a poor batting aver
age. but be- always tried 10 make a
home run instead OF doing wha'
would possibly be- safer at the
time
Thorpe will learn all the NOR,
quickly because he is not a bi
swell-headed He learns fast an,
under an efficient manager like Nc
raw should become a crackinl
good all-around ball player
HOTEL COMFORTS. board AM
room 81 per week and upwards. a
the Oriental Auto livery Ia con
Injection 9f-6
Want Ia ruy 500 gallon steel tan