Evening journal., 1914-12-28
DAVIS'S FEAT WAS
MOST Remarkable
Young Hurler OF the Braves
Turned Trick in First
Start in League
JOE BENZ HERO IN
JOHNSON CIRCUIT

There were several new entries. 10
the No-Hit Hall of Fame during the
1914 major league races, while several
famous no-hit heroes of the past fell
our of the big leagues last season or
collapsed after wonderful careers.
Perhaps the most remarkable mo-
hit game of the year was the one
pitched by George Davis. the former
Yankee pitcher and now member of
George Stallnes' World Champion
Braves. On September 4, making his
first National League start, Davis lei
down the Phillies without a hit on
run.
The sensational part of this feat is
that Davis had been "a bench-warmer
all season, merely finishing a game
here and there. while the Phillics.
though a second division team, con-
sisted of some of the greatest hittcrs
in the league, with Magee, Cravath,
Lobert Bryne and Becker in their
| hattie array.
In the American League the no-hit
hero was Joe Benz Of the White SoX,
who worked his no-hit games against
the Cleveland Maps carly in the year.
jim Scott also of the White SoN,
pitched nine hitless innings yet
missed getting into the no-hit class
because Washington succeeded in
beating him in the eleventh inning.
Ames the Unfortunate.
1 However, Wichita Jim is not the
/ first pitcher TO suffer such hard luck.
/ Leon Ames. the unfortunate, worked
nine hitless innings against Brooklyn
/ in the Giants opening day in 1909
/ but Kaiser Wilhelm beat him, 3 to o,
in thirteen innings
The Federal League also produced
its nO-hit performer last season, Dr.
Edward Lafitte of the Brooklyn Tip
| Tops pitching a hitless victory against
Kansas City Whether Jeans per-
Torrance Will go down in history as
a major league no-hit game future
. generations must decide.
When Nap lajorie hit over 400 in
the American League in 1901 the Ma
tional League refused to accept such
figures. coming from what they term
ed an outlaw minor league. But La
poles average of 422 with the Ath-
letics in 1901 stands as the beacon
]
ord, and is the high-water mark fer
American League batting. Cobb fell
two points under it in 1911. when he
hit .42O.
However, these newcomers to the
no-hit ranks can hardly take the
places of declining no-hitters. George
Wiltse. in his day one of the best
left-handers in the game and pro
prietor of ten-inning no-hit game
against the Phillies. was recently un-
conditionally released by the Giants.
Then our old friend Chief Bender,
who owns a no-hit victory over Cleve-
land. has flopped to the Feds. Ac-
cording of Organized Baseball the
former Athletic star is no longer in
the major leagues. but if you were
TO tell Gilmore that you would get in
TO lot of trouble So the fans may
decide for themselves whether Bender
still is a big Lacquer.
Two wonderful old-no-hitters hit
the down grade for fair last season
and while both are hopeful of COM
ing back they seem to have completed
their worthy careers They arc ed
Walsh. the former spitball king OF
the White SoX. and Nap Rucker
Brooklyn S former wizard southpaw
Walsh tried hard to come back last
season after his arm started to be-
come obstinate in 1918, but after
working himself to such a pitch where
he hurled a shut-out over the Yanks
Walsh failed to do any further com.
ing back
AS TO Rucker. he has been havins
trouble with his former great lef
"souper' for the last two seasons, and
though Nap is still a young man, hi,
great career is probably near its end
1t would be regrettable if old Nal
should pass out of the National Leagu,
with never a chance to pitch Tor {
first division club.
All together. ii was not much of /;
season for members of the select no
hit society. Christy Mathewson, on,
of the few men with two nO-hit vic
tories, was pounded harder than evei
before in his career. while Joe Wood
another no-hit hero, did little worl
last season as a result of having hi
appendix clipped out in the spring.
TeSreau In Select Circle.
Earl Hamilton, of the Browns. th,
ST. Louis membLr of the circle, tried L,
jump 10 the Feds. but was hauled back
and then tried to jump over an EN-
. bankment with an automobile full o
young ladies', with very sad conse
quences. Very recently they permit
ted Earl TO leave the hospital.
The remaining no-hitter now il
harness is Jeff Bear-hunting Tesreal
, of the Giants. Jeff pitched a no-hi
, game against the Phllies in his firs
year out, 1912, a ough il was slight,
tainted by a scratchy hit, which wa
later scored an as an error. Jeff wal
one of the few no-hitters who hurle,
with great success in 1914.
In addition TO Lafitte. the Fedora
League contained two famous no
hitters of former days. and neither o
, them was extra lucky. Frank Smith
i who. like Matty. pitched two no-hi
, games during his career. tried 4
/ jump back from the Federals to Mon
, treal. but Ed Barrow refused to stan
/ for it. while George Mullin, tn
, former Tiger, pitched on the cham
\ pionship Indianapolis team, withou
4 getting any worlds series none,
! which was not like the old days whe
, the Detroits won pennants.