The Washington herald., 1914-09-08
POWELL WEARER
| OF MANY SHIRTS
Famous Veteran Hurler Of St.
Louis Browns Has Record
for Changing Clubs.
HE IS AGAIN LET OUT
Venice. CAL. Team Gives Finger His
Unconditional Release-Was
Hoodoo for the Macks.
HE IS AGAIN LET OUT

II
Jack Powell. veteran Of twenty seasons
has been given his unconditional release
| by Venice. Cal.
This Is the first time in his career that
the big fellow has gazed upon blue
envelope"
There is tragedy in the release Of q
player, especially when the player has
been national figure.
Releases Veteran.
PoweIFs release was concurrent with
the lifting OF Frank Decanniere from the
suspended list. The return OF Decanniere
to the game brought the club up TO
twenty-one, or above the limit.
This made II necessary to sacrifice one
man, and IL became the unpleasant duty
of Hogan to cast aside the famous vet
eran-the man who, in the estimation Of
no less an authority than Eddie Collins,
should be ranked among the great pitch
| ers Of all time, and not far below John
son and Mathewson.
The release of Powell came as some
thing OF a surprise. He quit the Tigers
with FIVE wins and five defeats, but has
pitched far better ball than this would
| indicate.
Has Two Shutouts.
Among his victories were two shut
outs. while majority of his defeats were
| in close games and were of the hard-luck
variety. Two runs were sufficient to beat
Powell in a couple of games, the club
failing to do any hitting back of him.
But when 1t came to pruning down, the
club was inclined to give the younger
pitchers the preference.
Powell came TO Venice from Louisville
IN exchange for Patsy O'Rourke and
Charley Sterrett O'Rourke was later
turned over to Wichita, in the Western
League, and Sterrett is not being used
regularly by Louisville.
Powell I'm YounE's CInss.
Jack is now in his twentieth year of
professional baseball. Among pitchers,
his record for active service is exceeded
only by that Of "Cy' Young. who was
in harness for twenty-five years.
Eighteen OF the twenty years Powell
passed in the big league He broke in
with Fort Wayne in 1885, and was picked
up by Cleveland, then in the National
League. the following year. He contln-
ued with Cleveland until 1889, when he
was sold to the ST. Louis Cardinals He
Jumped to the ST. Louis Browns in 1902,
or the second year Of the American
League, and remained with that team
until last season, when he was sent to
Louisville.
Any man who can pitch in St Louis
for twelve years and still win games is
deserving of much credit. That is an
experience which would kill the average
human being.
St Louis is one Of the hottest places
in the world in which to play ball Dur
ing the twelve years II is estimated that
Jack exuded enough perspiTation TO irri-
gate a twenty-five acre orange ranch.
Jack also probably enjoys the distinc-
ton OF having changed his shirt more
=.
history OF the world.
He always took two shirts with MIN
TO the bah park. From inning to inning
he would alternate between these.
After the first inning he would yank
OF his shirt, wiring out the perspiratton,
and hang il in the pit to dry. inserting
himself, OF course. into the extra shirt.
At the end OF the next inning he would
change. and so on throughout the game.
As Jack worked an average Of forty
games a season during the twelve years
that he was in St Louis. 1t is estimated
that he changed his shirt no less than
3,320 times. This estimate is conservative,
not taking into account the changes ne
cessitated by extra-inning games nor
those made at home in the general course
of civilization.
Powell has a deceptive delivery. he
sends the ball up with a movement that
reouceS tne IAN on tne arm 10 iAlllt-
mum. This doubtless has been a big
factor in prolonging the years OF his ef-
fecttveness. He has a hop on the Dall
which Is hardly perceptible to those in
the stands, but which keeps the batters
guessing.
When in the big league the Athletics
were his particular meat. All that he
had to do was to heave his glove into the
ring and the Mackmen were beaten.
Pretty soft for you," remarked Con-
ME one day after Powell had retired the
Athletics without a run.
Sure thing" laughed Jack. 1T is
your club that enables me to hold my
job"