Rock Island Argus., 1913-04-04

from the inside corner OF the plate TO
the outside, eight times out of ten.
After three successful seasons with
Milwaukee. "Grif'' made a dasl for tte
big show" He demanded an en0r-
nous advance in salary from the Brew
ers, a. the same time figuring with
Comiskey Of the s.. Louis Browns for
a berth. Milwaukee came back with
the usual line OF stuff that they had
three great hurlers. including "Centri-
iugal' CiauEon, and though, they
could get along without "Grif The
fans and management of Milwaukee
were very sore. accusing Clark OF ev-
erythinE under the sun. saying his
great record OF 1890 was due 10 his
foxiness in selecting easy teams 10 go
against
However, "Grif'' was foxy enough 10
size UP the situation, although reserv-
ed by the Milwaukee people, he knew
that the majors didn't respect the re-
servatiOn list OF the minors. So when
he couldn't get mis- price from the
Brewers he signed up with Comisk -
He pitched great bail for "Commy."
winning 12 ont Of Is games. but Clark.
for reasons only known 10 himself.
was mighty stingy about pitching out
Of mis- turn, also very Chary OF over
work. This didn't appeal 10 Manager
Comiskey. so he ct him out 70 the Bos-
ton club Of the American association.
The complete dissolution Of the fam
Gus American association after the
season Of 1891 cast an oversupply OF
seasoned timber on the market. so
many Youngsters. including Griffith,
were given their absolute freedom
Crit" betook himself westward for
the season Of 1872. signing with the
Tacoma club Of the Pacific Northwest
league. The following year he signed
with the Oakland club OF the Califor-
mia league. He mad great success with
both western clubs, in fact. his work
was Of such order that the Chicago
club signed him
In 1894 Clark c Griffith began a
10 nv lOl lfuEhtE lLdI
brought him into real fame. The mas
ter Of strategy that Boston and many
other towns let slip away in order to
hold onto old stars that had nothing
but dead arms and long list OF by
gone achievements 70 recommend
them. proved a magnificent asset to the
Chicago organization for seven years
Griiiiths work during that period
cIassed him with the great hurlers Of
the times Nichols. Rusie. Hutchison
His percentage OF wins while with An
son stood .G2i
In 1901 Clark Griffith cast his lot
with the White Sox Of Ban johnson 5
organization. For veal or woe he sign
ed a contract with Charles Comiskey
and was the old Romans" manager
as well as mainstay in the box. Per
haps no hurler or player ever contrib
uted more, single-hauded. towards win
ming a pennant than did "Grif" that
season. AS p commander of the crew
he was sublime. as a batter The hit
over .3o0D and fielder he was a power
In the pitchers position he led all 9th
ers. Adding 10 his great string Of vic
tories credited 10 him in the yearly
averages. the many times hr stepued
,u and pulled the game out Of The fire.
the many times ne turned impending
rour into victory. When Zatol. Harvey
end Skopec. the colt firing squad. we're
waver'nE and ready 10 run. "Grif'
would step in and, as If by magic. re
stor" confidence and put his team
mates in the winning groove Adding
these games 10 his list gives "Grif'
the remarkable percentage Of .S12.
Today one of the games greatest
huriers is showing evident signs in his
work Of Manager GriHths master
hand Walter Johnson. during last sea
son. displayed in almost every game
the coaching he received from his
great teacher The fine points of the
art Of pitching handed down from the
great Radbourne 70 the willy Griffith.
and from Crit the crafty" 70 the phe-
nomenal Johnson-the one great hurl.
or that is ever looking for more knowL
edge Johnson is due by his maguif.
cent natural ability, combined with
rhis wisdom impaired 10 him by the
recognized master OF strategy-to win
for his manager a penuant. and the
handwriting on the wall hiszons forth
1913
Clark had another great year with