Omaha daily bee., 1914-07-19
WORLD TOUR DID THEM GOOD
Ball Players Benefited Despite
Hughey Jennings Prediction.
ALL BUT TWO ARE IMPROVING
Every Man on Trip Has shown
Better Form This Year, with Pos
stble Exception of EEan
ana Leverens.
ny FRANK G. SIENKE.

by their jaunt through foreign lands, in
stead OF harmed by the continuous ball
playing.
Hushie, early in the spring. felt sure
that the continuous playing would put
the dlnger on the efforts Of the stars
during the regular 1914 season. And early
in the season IL did look as II Hughis
was right because some Of the players
who were on the tour were far below
their normal form. But they have
rounded to and now are breeEing along
at even a faster clip than in other years.
iris Speaker Of the Red Sox got away
10 bad start this year in the batting
line. but about a month ago he began
clubbing them out with all his old time
skill. and iris now 10 we'll over the 800
mark The same IL true OF Larry Doyle
Of the Giants. Larry floundered along for
the first six weeks, but since then has
been hitting 'em to all sections Of the
field and fielding and running in a sen
sational manner.
''wahoo Sam Crawford. who labors for
Hughie is batting over his 1913 mark, is
fielding in brilliant style and running
bases like ten second athlete. To date
the husky Samuel has pifered something
like 90 sacks. against 16 or so for the
entire 1913 season. Sam mas been around
the $40 mark in batting all season,
against an average OF .Sls for last year.
Evans Is n surprise.
Probably the most surprising improve
ment has been shown by Steve Evans, the
comedian outfielder. When Steve left
with the tourists It was reported that
the st. Louis Cardinal would shunt him
off 70 a minor league when he got back.
Steve can't hit worth a darn. and he's
slowing up" they said about Steve.
When Steve returned these reports
reached him and without waiting to find
out II they were true. Steve leaped into
the waiting arms of tho Federal Leaguers.
Just as soon az they pried the
lid off the Federal league season, Steve.
in a Brooklyn uniform, began 10 hit like
fiend and he hasn't stopped. steve II
polxing them for an average that fluctu-
ates between 80 and 40 and nearly
all OF his drives have been solid hits.
many OF them homers. triples and two
baggerH.
Some there arc who may try TO be-
little stovss batting record by claiming
that in going up against the Federal
league pitchers he is hitting only minor
league pitching" But such an argument
scores OF other former stars OF tho two
organized leagues now in the Federal
lineups and they are not batting any
better. II as we'll. a. they did last year.
Mickey Doolan, who was with the
Phillies last year and who Jumped 20
the Feds after his return from the trip
around the world, is fielding and batting
In fine style Buck" Weaver OF the
L.
fielding in more brilliant fashion than
ho did in 1918, although his batting
average IL about % points under that
OF 1913
wingo and MAGee Picking Up.
Ivy wingo and Leo Magee OF the
Cardinals are performing better than
last year wingo diouting for a 800 aver
age against "a for last year. while
Magee, who hit 967 last year. has been
lowering around the 800 mark since the
season opened.
Death Valley Jim" Scott. Joe Faber
and Joe Benz. the White sox pitchers,
have been doing wonderful work. Faber
was a recruit when he Joined the tour
ists. and was taken along as a sort OF
a substitute. Faber. however. got some
fine experience during the tour and
came back a seasoned pitcher. and one
who has proved one Of tho 1914 American
league finds"
Fred Merkle OF the Giants. who batted
.Ssi last year is hitting around the .2S5
mark and fielding we'll. Hans Lobert OF
the Phillies. another OF tho tourists, is
hitting and fielding as we'll II not better
than last year. Bunny Hearne who
was on the Giants roster when he made
the worlds tour ana who was let out
early in the season to Toronto. for more
seasoning. IL doing good work In the In
ternational league. while 'Hooks'' wlltso.
the Giants relief pitcher, shows no Ill
effects OF the trip.
BEan and LeverenE Fading.
Dick Egan OF the Dodgers and Lefty
leverenz, the st. Louis Browns pitcher.
are the only two players who have gone
back since touring. Leverenz seems to
have lost his last years effectiveness in
the box. Whether this Is due TO the ef-
tects OF the trip or il just a natural slump
that comes sooner or later TO every
pitcher. IL a question. Leverenz believes
II is the latter and that before the season
Is much older he will be pitching winning
ball
EEan seems about through as a major
league perfomer-but he isn't worried
much about II. Charley Ebbets, owner OF
the Dodgers. Is the one who Is doing the
worrying.
When Egan got back with the tourists
the Feds made him a nice offer. Ebbets
learned about II and went the Feds about
5000 a year better. Bbbets, having pen
nant hopes. needed a seasoned shortstop.
Isgan finally signed three-year contract
10 play with Brooklyn at a salary almost
double that which he Eot from Cincin-
natl last year. And Dick had the con-
tract 20 worded that II was ironclad, az
far as the DOdEor management was con-
cerned.
Egan played fair bah for about a month
and then cracked He doesn't seem %
be able 10 do come back and probably
will spend the major portion OF the next
two and a half years on the Dodgers
bench, unlees the Dodger owners get tired
OF seeing him wearing out the benches
and give him the balance OF the three
years salary due and let Dick retire from
baseball
Rodgers IL Released.
The Pittsburgh club has given Goodlov
II. Rodgers, the Michigan Universitl
catohera who is a fast runner
was q promising yOungster, but too mex