The Washington herald., 1914-09-14

the Phils finish their fielding practice
when Boss Dooln casts his eye dow
the bench and locates the Indian. ''Gues
it'll be you today IL your arm feels o
/ K. Ben" says the boss. Alright" re
/ piles Tincup. as he slowly unburien
himself of his sweater, get the baseball
which Sam Payne probably has waitiul
for him, and begins to show a catcher hi
mastery OF the fast one, curve and
| ioater.
That Is not downright laziness on Tin
cups part, fans. II is his temperament
He carries that care-free air with him
when the game starts and he Is hurlinl
the sphere at the enemy. For that rea,
son, and because he Is showing genuine
ability with his coolness under fire, Ber
Tincup is picked as the Indian who
will take Bender's place at the top
when Mack's marvel retires.
The Two Greatest Indians.
There are and have been Indians galore
in baseball. Today, Bender is by far the
most famous, and the best bali player.
Chief Meyers was a good catcher. but
his work has been uncertain this season.
Jim Thorpe Is a bench-warmer with the
Giants; he may become a regular out
fielder some day. George johnson, who
jumped from the Cincinnati Reds to the
Federal League, had a bright outlook as
a major league tvirler, but he was not
to be classed with Bender; neither was
he a prospect like Tincup.
Ben lineup is a Cherokee. He was
born in Oklahoma, twenty-one years ago,
and got his schooling at Muskogee and
Tahlequah in that State. Ben played
some ball as bow around his home in
Adair. but his first real test was with
the Muskogee team in the Oklahoma
State League in 1872 The organization
died in July of that year, and lineup
was sent to the Sherman Club Of the
TsHas-Oklahoma League. It was In the
midst Of the 1913 season that one OF
Dooin's scouts, John Callahan by name.
wired to Philadelphia: Grab that Indian
Tincup, with the Sherman team; he isn't
great pitcher. but take It from me,
he's going to be a great player some
day." .
Doom looked up Tincup's record and
found that he had won seventeen out OF
twenty-five games and had hit the ball
for an average of y36s. Possibly II was
the batting average, as much as the
twirling percentage, that Influenced
Doom. Anyhow, he sent for the Indian.
lineup, after he Joined the Phillies, In
the fall of 1913, did not show big-league
class at first. He had q crude delivery
and did not baffle the trained batsmen
Of the big leagues. But Boss Doom and
Coach Moran believed the Indian could
be developed. and they assumed the task.
Today, Tincup Is a pitcher. He has not
won so many games, but he has dis
played flashes Of skfl which have
dazzled the players and fans. Several
games in which he has figured would
have been victories had his support been
better.
'T believe that next season, or the year
following, the PhAlies will have a second
Bender in Ben Tincup." Manager Doom
said. The Indian is learning
a style of delivery that viii make him
almost unbeatable when right. I did not
look for a whole lot from him this sea
son. But he has done even better than
1 expected, and I am sure he will de-
velop into a star; q wonder, In other
words"
So that Philadelphia today has the two
leading Indians in the national pastime-
one a star at the height of his career.
and the other a luminary yet to shine.
And it is possible that lineup will reach
the pinnacle of fame while Bender still
Is occupying it-Philadelphians earnestly
hope so.