The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-09
BASEBALL GOSSIP

New York. February SIN little more
than a week now the preliminary work
| of the baseball season will be under way.
McGraws recruits will begin to timber
up in Marlin, Tex, first of the big
leaguers, and within the next week or %
days all the youngsters will be hard at
it and before the month is out spring
training will be in full blast.
| Mirabile lectul as our old friend Nir-
| gil was wont to remark. Jim Thorpe, the
worlds greatest athlete, will be one OF
the early birds at Marlin and McGraw
may be able before the season is out to
give the American public a first-class big
league battery, all the component parts
of which an original American already
he has in the person of John Tories Mey-
ers. Missions Indian. one of the very best
backstops in the business and there is
reason to believe that Thorpe, Sac and
Fox. has the making of rop-notch pitch-
er. He certainly has the physique and
stamina and with two such mentors as
Wilbert Robinson and Chief Meyers, if
he has the other attributes of pitcher
it soon will be demonstrated.
Even If he cannot pitch big league ball
Thorpe will be a valuable man on the
team after he becomes seasoned. Think
of a battery where the catcher bats near
the 400 mark and the pitcher can do the
100 in close to 10 seconds and who report
says is likely TO bat above $50.
McGraw is certainly wise bird. While
others were talking of signing up Thorpe,
Muggsy went over to Pittsburg and
turned the trick.
He very truthfully says that even If
Thorpe does not turn out to be a great
player he will earn his salary as a draw
ing card. Experts are very confident
though that Thorpe can play ball about
as we'll as he can do pretty much every
thing else on the athlete line and that is
going some.
As time passes and the days grow
longer and the grass grows greener In
Flatbush and all that sort of thing, there
develops stronger and stronger hunch
that "Tilly'' Sliafer is in a receptive
mood; that the young man might be
tempted back into professional baseball
If properly approached
1t seems that he does not stand in per-
petual fear of perfumed notes after all
That dread was given out as his original
reason for leaving the Giants PROSTATE
next season, but he has since revised it.
His crouch is now directed against the
action of certain of the athletes when
Snodgrass-well, when Snodgrass did it,
snow didn't and doesn't seem to mind
what the boys may have said on that
ever-to-be- lamented occasion. but Shafec
did and does He says the boys treated
Fred most shamefully, criticising him
harshly. etc. even going so far as to ac-
cuse him of lack of gameness.
I hope Filly gets over his crouch. He
is a great little ball player and with
every prospect of becoming greater
Chris Won der Abe, who Is Ill at his
home in ST. Louis, was one of the most
eccentric characters in baseball during
the height of his career. He was the
Weber and Fields of the national game
for years. and innumerable stories are
told of his early years and the odd rul-
ings and tactics he used when he con-
trolIed the st. Louis club.
Claud Martin was at one time MEM
ber of Chris's board of directors. Martin
and some other men on the board thought
that they were there to do something.
Chris brought up the f1ning of player.
Dowd, a friend of Martins. and put it to
vote There were four votes upholding
Dowd and one. Won der Ahe's, for fining
him.
der ayes haf i'd declared Won der
Abe. who was in the chair. 'Dowt Is
fined $3.50. 1t is ordeerd. Mr.. Secretary.
Hold on. Mr. President interposed Mar
tin .slet us see about this. There were
four votes no and but one vote ave- |
submit that the noes have it and de-
mand rising vote
.-Ordter, ordter." cried Chris, who was
presiding. You are oudt Of ordter. Mar
din Der Avos four votes no. but who
voted dem. You. Mardin, und Gott leb
Gruen und Peck John w. Peckinetof)
und Chewlius Lehman. You feilers holi
Won share each. vich l give you NIT a
season bass. Now. | own 1886 shares.
declare Dowt fined $3.50. Any direktor
who Wished to vote mo- will blease handt
in his share of stock und also his season
bass. !, Chris Won der Abe, am running
dis Club und don't you forged it. Mar
din"