Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-02-13
SETBACK Often
real help To
ABALL PLAYER

lust because a baseball player has
the y. G. sign pinned upon him and
is turned back TO the minors il does
not mean that he has no chance TO
become one of the topnotchers in
the grand old pastime. Just to the
contrary. The sudden descent into
smaller league, where the semi.
monthly check will not buy as many
autos as that received in the majors,
often inspires the youngster TO cor
rect faults that were responsible foI
his departure from select company.
Big league scouts pay strict after.
ton to the tin an brigade, particu-
larry those who had previously shown
promise. but who lacked that some
thing which goes to make a real big
Lacquer. If the failure manifests a
desire to overcome his faults. he is
given another chance at the top.
Thus 1t is that the season of 1914
will witness the endeavor of a score
or more of ambitious ball tossers to
make good in the company where
they once failed. the crop is larger
lHdH the ouICCSSluI
backs" of Pitchers Falkenberg and
McQuillin being responsible to a great
degree. Prior to a year ago the big
league managers were not so keen
to add to their rosters players who
had been marked as has-beens or
never-wuzZers.
Hushey Leads Rivals.
Hughey Jennings leads all his rivals
in the exploitation of come-backs
Chief among them is Harry Coveles-
kie, the miner southpaw, who acquir.
ed national renown in 1908 by pitching
and winning three games from the
New York Giants in five days. The
title of Giant Killer" was then voted
him. but Cove has failed to live up
TO his reputation. He was Of no &c.
count to the Phillies the following
spring, and went to the minors Gin
cinnati took him up two years ago
and again he failed. -.
Back to the Southern League he
went. He is phenom in that COM
pany. and Hughey Jennings believes
he can be the same in the American
League. Also from the Southern
League comes Pitcher Cayet Cavet
has been twice tried out by Jennings,
but neither time did he show A third
comeback hurler is Mains, once given
a trial by Boston An infield veteran
who served in the big leagues several
years is Billy PurtelI, while sDemmitt,
once of the Yankees, will try for
Veach's job in left field.
Chance Has Share.
Frank Chance will have his share
of come-backs, the most famous of
whom is Dode .Criss. the wonderful
pinch hitter. Criss was a poor pitch.
er when with the Browns. and a
worse fielder, but as long as he could
hit the Browns kept him. Then he
lost his batting eye and to the bush
leagues he went. -.54 -E.. ~. 49,. i
Last year he learned to pitch more
effectively and also regained his bit.
ting prowess. Incidentally, Criss is
one of the numerous individuals who
helped knock Cleveland out of the
pennant in 1908. 1t was in the decid.
ing game at st. Louis on October 5.
With two on and one out, Criss lean
ed against one of Liebhart's spitters
and drove it to the left field corner
for three bases, giving the Browns
victory.
Outfielder Gilhooly is another come
back. The Cardinals had him two
years ago, but Bresnahan sold him
for $500, about $1,000 less than New
Work paid for him.
Lena Blackburne and Catcher
Maher are White Sox comebacks
Blackburne failed before because Of
under press-agenting followed by in
juries. Now he wifi battle with Fer.
ger for the second-sacking job. The
Cubs will have a few former Amerf.
can Leaguers in Pitcher Koestner and
Herman Bronkie, both ex-Naps.