The Washington times., 1914-03-22

se ason and share In the worlds series
| money without getting a chance to do
some work. Mack was doubtful and
| wrote back. asking Coombs whether ne
was sure he was strong enough to beg:n
to work out with the club again. John
! replied that there was no doubt about
| it.
For a time. IL seemed as II the great
pitcher had been correct in his opinion
about his strength. for he took easy
his old ability. ! saw him shortly after
| he had reJoined his club.
How do you feel, John?' I asked
him. after shaking hands and telling
! him how glad was too see him back In
uniform.
Zine from the waist up he an
! swered. My legs are still n little weak
| from being In bed SO long
you look heavier, John. tltan the
last last time ! saw you' l told coombs'
Coombs took his Gaily workouts, go.
| ing little bit harder each day until il
| looked as II he would surely be able
, to make good on his promise to Con
| ME- to pitch In the series.
"Coombs Is going TO be right for the
series?" Evans, the umpire. told me
| several weeks after John had reported
| had not seen Coombs for some time
| myself then and was asking about his
| progress.
Then, one morning, I picked up the
| newspaper and saw that the Iron Man
/ of the Athletics was back I'm tho hos.
| pital because ne had overdone things
again. The worlds series had been
| again able to leave the hospital. And
he was n fraction of an inch shorter in
| his heighth this time. When he once
more went to his Maine farm. he stout
, ly declared he would yet he pitching
| for the Athletics. and as good as ever
7 That hic Aaupflesc nvt-
| ing Itself again. And IL any man can
| make it. John Coombs can, becau5e he
| has a heart Df iron. But 1 doubt II he
ever pitches again. And 40 John
| Coombs' career furnishes another real
, tragedy Of the diamond.
Have Best and Worst.
/ II seems as though the Athletics have
had some of the best and worst luc X
! in our league The consistent winnins
J the club and players. but there Is still
| another tragedy Of the club that comes
! to my mind It WAS not very many
I years ago that there was a catcher on
! the team with all the earmarks of a
/ coming star. His name was Doc
/ Powers, and he was n popular man not
! only with the players on his own club,
but with those on the opposing teams
, Of the league. While still young
man and In his baseball prime. he was
'ut u'"b- bSoth put th' tcStil III
! mourning and took the spirit out OF
! several Of the players for some time.
! They played ball In 4 hang-dog sort
| Of way.
Although the Athletics appear to have
| been the biggest sufferers in cur
| league in this respect, all teams have
J their tragedies. Few fans realize that
! ''Bilr' Donovan, once the star with the
Detroit club. and now the manager of
a minor league team. that Of Provi-
dence. pitched the last two years he
was with the Tigers with his arm pain
! ing him every time he made a move to
| throw the ball wild Bill would
vince with each delivery toward the
| end of "a hard game In those days, yet
he had more stuff than ever
! 'BilI' hurt the wing one day. and il
never came back to it's true shape.
| Still. he did not admit its condition TO
] jennings or any OF the players on the
| team until he could no longer conceal
his suffering from the watchful gaze of
Jennings. Then he made light of the
! injury.
! Its never been right" he told Jen-
nings. "since ! pitched IT out that day.
but ! guess a little work will put Il
/ right
The little work did not fix 1t, but
| Donovan stayed in fast company for
| two years with the arm aching him like
| a toOthache. and I never heard him
murnur or try to dodge an assignment
| to pitch on the plea that his wing was
' in no condition TO work. Finally. he