El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-06-03
Alexander Pitches Ahead of His Teams
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Works Under Bonus System of Payment
Nv EARNEST J. IANTGAN.
CLEVELAND a

NROVER CLEVELAND ALEXAN-
- DER, rightfulIy considered by
- many the greatest pitcher in the
country, never has been associated
with pennant winning combination.
but nearly every club he has been with
would have won the gonfalon had the
other hurlers done as well as he did
for his teams cause. Aleck the Great
may be called the advance agent Of
the Box Bridge. as he always is ahead
OF his club. In 1903. for example. when
AIeck was with the Galesburg team
Of the nlinois-A Missouri league, his
club had percentage OF victories Of
1867 and he had a winning record OF
.652-a differnce Of merely -2S5-
The Nebraskan never has piled up
clubs record and his own since then,
but year after year he goes along, beat
ing his teams average. His percentage
OF wins this year IS now far superior
TO the Phillies' average of victories.
When Alexander was with Syracuse Of
the New York State league in 1910. he
pitched as better brand Of ball than
his team played-and yet almost MI
the big league scouts passed him up
because ii was said that he had a sore
arm.
He did have sore arm that year.
or else he never would have been with
the Nebraskan plainsman was working
for Charley Carr in Indianapolis and
his wing was in such shape that Char
ley gave up hoping that it would come
round and tried to make an outfielder
out OF him. As a suburbanite, Alexan-
der was as much Of a frost as when
Alfonso ('Lefty'D Davis was one Of
the Yankees meadowmen or as was c.
Branch Hickey when he did duty in the
suburbs under Clark Calvin Griffith
on the old Hilltop lot. Soon the future
Phillie pitching star was on his way
10 the salt City, where he fingered
Just one year.
When Alexander got into the Nation
al league he brought with him his
minor league habit Of pitching ahead
Of his club. IN 1911 the Phinies played
at $50 gait and Alexander pitched
at $50 speed The next year the
Nebraskan's record was .O48 better than
his clubs, the figures being .52s and
;4So; In 1913 AleclS. dubbed The Great
by James c. Isaminger Of the Philadel-
phia North American soon after he
reached oUakerdom. hurled $50 points
better than his club played. the vital
statistics being -733 and -5S3. Last year
gait and Alexander came through with
record Of Sta difference in the
pitchers favor Of 1872.
Goodness knows how far Alexander
will better his teams record in 1918
If he continues going along as he is
now. In his six seasons Of professional
ball the Quaker marvel has a record OF
almost 1000 more points than the
teams he has been with. The exact
figures are 1925.
Worked Under Bonus Contract.
Alexander in 1914 and also the year
before. worked under a bonus contract.
Whether he is doing SO this year only
he and the Philadelphia club officials
can tell-and they probably won't.
Prexy Tener OF the National league
considers Alexander a great person in
other ways than simply as a pitcher.
Tom Lynch's successor says the Nebrls-
kan is always interested in things that
count, that without wishing TO appear
inQuisitive Aleck wishes to know what
is going on. that he Is a distinct and
positive credit TO the national pastime,
and one whose example fl would be
good for other able athletes to pattern
by.
He's No Kicker.
Alexander is no kicker and works
out OF his turn without murmurinE.
Two OF his best games IA the minors
came close together. On July 22,19Oe,
St Paul. Neb's. best known son. pitch
ing for GalesburE, abated the Cantons
without hit or run. this contest result
ing to O. Three days later Aleck was
showed in against MacOmb and the vic
tory was his on the basis OF 1 to 0. but
not until he had traversed a strtch OF
IS innings and whitfield 10 men.
Alexander started the present cam
paign owing two teams-Giants and
Cubs-some beatinEs. IN his first four
years in the National the Quaker won
eight games from New York and
dropped nine. The Cubs have even a
better edge on him for from 1911 to
1914, inclusive, they licked him II times
and they were conquered by him on s
occasions. The other five teams have
not any chance TO even their scores with
Alexander until he hits the road to yes
terday with tremendous speed.
Has WRIIOPed Reds.
Aleck, against the Reds, for example,
owns a four year notch OF 500 In the
last two seasns the Rhinelanders have
dealt him only one defeat and he has
handed them dozen trouncings His
record against Cincinnati is 20 wins and
five losses regular Mathewson per-
fNrunarra Tha OH7na-1 afT