Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-28
IRA THOMAS PASSED UP BARNES
FOR ATHLETICS AFTER SEEING
BRAVES MOUND STAR OFF FORM
Mack's Scout Couldn't See Him With Field
Glasses" or Else Stallings' Kid Would Have
Been Bill Myers Battery Mate
By CHANDLER d. RICHTER


THE sensational pitching Of Jess Barnes,
4 n the Braves. against the Phlllies In the
FIRST and last game OF the past series, re-
calls to mind conversation overheard Mt
Miami, Fla, during the spring training
series between the Mackmen and Boston.
Barnes was with Davenport, of the Cen.
tral Association, last season, and no was
Bill Meyer Mack's brilliant recruit catcher,
who has been on the injured list for two
weeks, and the former teammates met for
the first time since Barnes left Davenport
to join the Braves last September.
The latter had made great start with
the Braves last season, having won out Of
games pitched and naturally WAS enthu-
siastic over his prospects, but he told Meyer
that he wished they were both with the
same team as he never pitched to a better
catcher than his chum.
Meyer replied well, Jess, wish we
were together, too, and we might have been
II Ira Thomas had waited around TO look
you over when you were right. When l
heard that he was In town looking over
Gould Ga pitcher Mack sent Thomas to
look over, but Ira took Meyer instead) told
him that you were the best pitcher In the
league. He saw you once when you we're
on form and told n friend of mine that
no could not see you with pair Of field
glasses.
Believe me, II l had known him better,
and was more certain that I would make
good myself. I would have been able to
convince him that he was making n mis-.
take and you might be with us now"
Which shows how the Mackmen passed
up great pitcher 1t IL not often that
Thomas judgment goes a,hr1y, particularly
on pitchers and II 10 raSdsN odd that Ira
also passed up Art Nehf the sensational
young southpaw, who also was purchased
by Stallinss with these two youngsters
ha ba nh
now have the foundation for the greatest
stan In the country, with Myers, Bush,
Nabors and sheehan showing splendid form.
A Great Pitcher
II is hard to conceive how "A scout could
pass Barnes UP after seeing him in action.
When one considers that Manager Mack
is 30 particularly impressed with straight
overland pitchers and Barnes Is hurler
Of this type II Is odd that Thomas did
not look the young star over more care
fully.
Barnes work in the last series was a
revelation. He has wonderful speed. a
great break on his fast ball and better
control than any young pitcher In the
game. At the present time Barnes curve
ball is only fair. but 1t is better than II
was year ago. and he has so much
stuff" on his fast ball that he seldom uses
the curve excepting as waste pitch.
Yesterday he made one OF the most re-
marknDle records OF recent years Wnen ne
famed Stock, Cravath, Luderus and Cooper
in succession, with not one of these players
swinging at the last strike and only two
of the l2 strikes were swung at, with only
one fouled.
Barnes fast ball was breaking 80 sharply
that the four Philly players believed the
ball would pass several inches beyond the
plate and they never made an effort to
swing though they realized after the ball
broke that II split the centre Of the plate.
After the game Hank Gowdy. the Boston
catcher. told the writer that several fast
balls pitched by Barnes yesterday broke
almost two feet. while throughout the game
his fast one had break of at least foot.
The Philles made only Ave hits, and they