Evening star., 1915-11-28

in the opening game of the season al
ways made Bill Donovan regard the
seasons outlook a most gloomy. Evil
IDENTIFY Grover Cleveland Alexander,
leading twirler of the National League.
has no such feelings on the subject.
The bright star of the Philly pitch
ing. staff opened the season against the
world champions, the Boston Braves.
The big fellow was in good form on
opening day, and Boston was shut
out. 3 to 0. That whitewash started
Alexander on his big year, and was one
of the twelve blanks he handed out to
different teams in the National League.
Every Club in that league, with the ex-
ception of Pittsburgh, suffered shut-out
at the hands of Alexander.
August Pittsburgh came its closest
to being blanked. going runless for
eight innings, only to win out in the
ninth, when an error allowed the
Pirates to score the only run of the
game. New York was the easiest club
for Alexander to goose se-egg, the Giants
suffering three reverses in which they
failed to score. Chicago, Cincinnati,
Boston and St. Louis each drew a pair
of blanks at the bidding OF Alexan-
once. In that game Brooklyn had
little chance to make a showing, for
Alexander suppressed Robinson's PEN
nant contenders with only one hit.
'Cubs Win Twice.
Each National League club, with the ex-
ception of Chicago, managed to beat Alex
ander once during the entire season, while
the Cubs had the honor of turning the
trick tn-ice. In the eight games he lost
the PhiI'ies made a total of only eleven
runs. In two Of the games Morans team
was whitewashed. In the game of Sep
tember 6. which Alexander lost to
Brooklyn to 3. he suffered his worst in
ming of the season in the eighth session OF
that game. Leading the Dodgers to !,
Brooklyn on four hits, two bases on balls
and an error scored five runs, enough to
defeat Alexander and rob him Of VIC
tory that seemed already in the games
won column OF his record. The following
pitchers were the twirlers lucky enough to
make Alexander take the count: Stroud
of New York. Dale OF Cincinnati, Tyler of
Boston, Cheney OF Chicago, Adams of
Chicago, Doak Of st. Louis, Adams OF
Pittsburgh. while Brooklyn had to call
on three pitchers in one game, Cheney,
Coombs and Marquard.
1t is rather strange coincidence
that the two pitchers who figured most
prominently in the two most spectac-
ular shut-out games OF the year should
be shunted around among three diff
ferent clubs E.afore the close OF the
season. Douglas, who started the sea-
son with Cincinnati and was regarded
rs most promising twirler, for some
reason was sent to Brooklyn. Shortly
after joining the Brooklyn team he
came through with one of the most
brilliant pitching efforts of the year,
although the best he got out OF it was
q tie. For sixteen innings he held the
Boston Braves runless, allowed only
four hits, and struck out eight men.
In the meantime his teammates, al
though g.ettirg three times as many
hits off James and Davis. found it just
IS difficult to score a run. 1t looked as
il Cincinnati had made big mistake
in parting with Douglas, but a month
or SO later see him in Chicago
uniform, breaking into the limelight
with some fine bits of work, proving
his great ability. and falling to explain
his shifting from one club to another.
.Rube Ranton. while with Cincinnati,
was credited with one of the best feats OF
pitching OF the season, when. on June II.
he beat Brooklyn to Q in fifteen innings
OF play. Benton allowed only eight hits
and struck out fourteen men, some
pitching. Later Benton was disposed
OF to Pittsburgh. pitched one game for