Evening journal., 1915-01-25
DONOVAN A Great
ball player, sure
Wild Bill Was One Of Best
Right-Hand Pitchers in
National Game
ALWAYS ONE OF
FASTEST RUNNERS

wild Bill Donovan. formerly one or
tho greatest rght-handed pitchers or
the game and very successful leader
Al Providence for the last three years,
win now get his chance TO make good
as big league leader, as manager OF
the Yankees. The new owners could
scarcely have made a better choice
for their team leader. for Donovan
was wonderful player in his day.
man of magnetic personality and
much executive ability and already q
proved leader.
When Donovan began his career as
a professional baseball pitcher he was
the possessor of a wide smile and a
verv wide curve. The smile brought
him the sobriQuet Of "The Smiler,
and, the broad curve gained for him
the appellation of wild BILL
In his earlier days as a hcrler, VIII
liam was very wild in his delivery,
having little or no control of his very
wide curve; in fact. he didn't nave
much control Of his straight pail
Donovan played his first ball as pro
fessional with the Waverly Clu0 OF the
New York State League in 1896.
he also played with Sunbury' OF the
Central Pennsylvania League that
same season. In the year 1891 nc
was with Pawtucket of the New Eng
land League. and Waterbury of the
Connecticut League.
In the year 1908 Donovan received
his first trial in the big league. Wash
ington. then a member of the Ma
tional League. gave him a good trial
holding him on the pay roll all season.
In 1899 Donovan was farmed out to
the Richmond Club, of the Atlantic
League.
He showed much promise. but had
the batsmen of that circuit almost
scared to death with his terrific speed
and fast breaking curves. Conster-
nation reigned supreme in the ranks
Of all teams when Bill faced them.
However, he mastered that one
weakness and during 190l-l9O2, while
with Brooklyn. in his effective pitch
ing stamped him as one OF the lead
ing hurlers of the game.
Donovan always had the habit o
cutting into the sensational II wa
with Brooklyn that he was one of tn
principals of the famous eighteen-ln
hing game against the St Louis Card'
Bill famed thirteen men, most
them coming in the latter part OF I'll
contest.
In 1908. he made his initial bow b'
fore an assembly of American Leagu
fans as hurler for the Detroit Tigeri
Bill made good at once. beating ClevC
land in a very decisive manner. Wit
n broad smile, accompanied by
broader curve. he made a profoun
impression on the fans Of old Detroi
Donovan was a marked man while
the American League. Every manage
trotted out his best hurler when Bi
was due to pitch.
Boston always had Cy Young read
and fit TO give battle to the Tiger
when Jennings had Bill up. Conni
Mack would cage Rube Waddell fo
three days previous to the coming {
Detroit and Donovan. This made Bi
work for victory, and accounts for th
many sensational games in which h
was one of the principals and som'
times the hero. Perhaps Bill ha
more Of these nerve-racking, closl
score battles during his time than an
other pitcher in the game.
In 1907 the lad from the banks ,
the Schuylkill had the best year Of n
long career. BY leading the leagu
and the country in games won 4
placed his name with the great one
in the Hall Of Fame. His percental
in games won that season is the thin
highest in the annals of baseball hi
Tory. Spalding and Joe Wood. wit
marks of .SS9 and .S72. are the on
ones which are better than the maI
OF .S62 made by Donovan in 1907.
In 1908. 'Wild Bill was strictly
the limelight. and again stood hig
being second TO the great Walsh in q
matter OF winning games, and he iii
nred in many hard contests. TT
grandest exhibition Of hurting evl
pulled off by Donovan was the gan
which decided the American Leagl
pennant in 1909.
He worked under high pressure an
terrible strain; a game had to he We
Or a pennant lost. and il was up
wild Bill" to turn the trick. J
team ever existed that could ha,
won from Donovan on that memorial
day in October. With millions ava
ed through the land Detroit Z. Cl
cago 0, old Michigan and part OF Ca
ada were hurled into delirium of era
delight. Donovan's hurting in n
game was alhmost perfect The b,
the Sox could do was two weak's S
giles. and ten Of them famed
There may be pitchers who hs
had better records on paper and hu
ers who have been hailed as the gre
est ever. but Bill Donovan has pitcl
more games with crisis hinging
Il, has hurled more games where
cry effort was brought forth 20 b
him and his team than any other hi
er the game ever had.
The season of 1911 saw the pass
Of Donovan, "The Cyclone Of
Schuylkillr from the ranks OF
major leagues. The big Show"
something, for no greater draw
card ever graced the lineup of
team. and no more pouular pla
ever walked on tie diamond AZ ht
9r abroad than wild Bnr' DonON
William Donovan was born in l.
renee, Mass. i'm 1867. His pare
moved TO Philadelphia when he
a youngster. and in and around
Quakertown he learned to play
game Of baseball
ln his fhree seasons as manage
The Providence team he went into
pitchers box occasionally just 10
certain II the once great whip
nything left in it or not"