The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-03
CLUBS IMPORTANT MOSTLY CASTOFFS
DOdger "Has Beens" Have
Played Great Ball.
Robinson Picked Up Stars From
the DeadwOOd Pile.
BY FRANK MENKE

New York, Oct. 3.-Teams ma lie up
of castoffs seem to be the only ones
able to win National league pennants
in this present day and age.
The 1914 Braves were composed
largely of players who weren't con-
sidered good enough by other clubs.
yet that combination swept thru to the
championship of the world. Last sea-
son it was the misfit Phillies that
shared the Tener bunting. And now
the only clubs that remain in the ra ee
are two clubs where castoffs prevail.
The Dodgers seem to have the rail
position in the race to the wire. II
they win, it will be due largely to the
great work accomplished by the play
ers who were cast aside by other
clubs.
The Cubs didn't think very well of
Larry Cheney and turned him over to
the Dodgers for little or nothing. To-
day he ranks near the top of the Ma
tional league moundsmen. "Rube"
Marquard was labelled thru a year
ago by John McGraw. The Giant asked
for waivers upon him and Wilbert
Robinson took the erratic southpaw,
paying $1,000. When McGraw col
lected he felt very much like a man
does who gets money under false pre-
lenses.
And that very same 'all in Mar
guard is pitching for an average close
to 200.
Other Starring Castoffs.
Connie Mack let out Jack Coombs
because Jack was old and his arm was
bad. Jack has pitched a grand game
for the Dodgers this year. Further
more, he has been invaluable to the
Dodger leader in the role of adviser.
CHER Meyers was turned over to the
Dodgers by the Giants because the
New Workers figured the Indian had
slowed up so much that he was use
less. That same Meyers. has been one
of the bulwarks in the defense of the
Dodgers.
Mike Mowrey was released by the
Pirates two seasons ago because the
red topped infielder had aged too
much to be of further value in the big
leagues" Mike caught on with the
Feds and played with the Pittsburg
club. When the league turned up it's
toes and went to baseball heaven Mike
was jobless-and also older. Every
body thought Charles Hercules Ebbets
was suffering from infantile ailments
when he signed Mike.
Mike now is called 1.-The brains of
the Dodger infield." His fielding has
been on a par with that of any third
sacker in the game and Mike has been
hitting with startling consistency.
Even Jacobus Daubert ranks among
the castoffs. He first based for
y
found wanting. He was chased to the
minors and reclaimed by Ebbets To-
day he matches up with the greatest
first basemen in the game
Bouquets for Cutshaw.
George Cutshaw isn't mentioned in
the same breath with Eddie Collins.
Johnny Evers and the other second
basing stars. but Wilbert Robinson
wouldn't swap him for a half dozen
ball players. And Wilbert ought to
know something about Georgia, OF
boy, because he has been managing
him for two years.
''Cutshaw is one of those quiet, UNI
assuming players. who plays a won
derful game of baseball without Civ
ing the impression that he really is
pulling something remarkable" de-
c1ared Robinson. There is nothing
flashy about Cutshaw's style. yet he
plays brand of baseball that is super
ior to about nine-tenths of the second
basemen in the game"
Cutshaw has been one of the might
lest factors in the uplift of the Dodg-
ers this year. He has been almost I'M
canny in his pinch-hitting. On only
rare few occasions ha~ he been
called upon to exude a safe swat that
he hasn't delivered. And his fielding.
especially in the tight moments of
combat. has been dazzling