The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-09
ny r. I. Rocen..)

by r. 7. Rocene.)
Will the Boston Red Sox. holders OF
the worlds championship for the past
two years, repeat in 1917 under the
leadership of Jack Barry, who suc-
ceeds Bill Carrigan as pilot of the good
ship Boston in the American league
race? Will Barry, with an, average
catching staff, one Of the premier
pitching corps in the country, a fair
infield, and an outfield which is only
8 reminder of the once famous Speed
Boys outfield, produce another PEN
nant winner?
II the Red Sox win the pennant this
year for the third successive time. it
will be the second time in the history
OF the American league that a team
1907, 1908 and 1909, the Detroit Tigers
under the leadership of Hughey Jen-
nings, won the flag. but lost every
time in the title series. In 1903 and
1904 the Red Soy. under Jimmy Col
Inns. won the title. while in 1910 and
1911, anu dSilIl HI 1910 tou.
ME Mack's White Elephants won out.
Jake Stahl won a pennant for the
Red SOx in 1912, and the following
season was succeeded by Bill Carri-
gam who landed the Speed Boys in
fourth place that year. In 1914, the
red-hosed athletes finished second to
Connie Mack, and in 1915 and 1916
they won the flag without much trou-
BILE.
Veterans Descended On.
The Boston team will depend exclu-
sively this year on the veterans who
have won three flags for the club, and
incidentally earned the name of speed
Boys. But the Speed Boys are get
ting old and are slowing up, and iris
Speaker terrific batter. or rather
slugger. and a marvel in the gardens,
is gone, and so is Joe Wood, one of the
best twirlers who ever worked in the
American league
Barry Himself Slower.
Barry himself Is nearly through as
an active player in" the major leagues,
as his batting eye is dmmed, and he
has never fully recovered from in
juries which materially affected his
playing ability while he was with the
Athletics. Barry is only 80 years old.
and has played in the American league
since 1908, when he came direct to the
Athletics from Holy Cross college.
He played shortstop until last year,
when he moved over to the keystone
bag. Always a marvellous fielder,
Black Jack was never a heavy hitter,
but while with the Athletics was
famed for his ability to hit the ball
with men on bases. He was one of
the chief cogs of the renowned $780,
900 infield of the Philadelphia team.
Three Good Receivers.
The catching staff at present con-
sists of Chester Thomas, Sam Agnew,
and Forest Cady All three of the men
are classy backstops and good throw
ers. but none of them can hit con-
sistently. For the last two years, Bill
Carrigan has caught only one man,
Hub Leonard. and it is said that Bill
made Leonard the great pitcher that
he undoubtedly is. Thomas will, it is
believed, be the first string backstop
of the Red SoX. while Cady and Agnew
will divide the work of warming up
the pitchers and relieving Thomas.
Two youngsters, Wilder and Devine,
neither of whom will stick in the big
league, are receiving tryouts on the
spring ira ming trip.
Fine Pitching Staff.
The excellent pitching staff pos
sessed by the Red Sox won them the
flag last year, and rs all of the hurlers
are back, the team is we'll fortified on
the mound. The star of the pitching
corps in 1917 was George Babe
Ruth, who won % of the 81 games that
he pitched. Ruth is left handler, only
Fl years old, and has many good sea-
sons ahead of him. If George Fosters
arm is back in shape, the Bokoshe
farmer can be depended upon to win
his share of victories for the Red SOy
Though his arm was sore all last year
as the result Of over work in 1915, he
won IA games and lost only seven
Hub Leonard. the giant left handle,
who did remarkable work when Bill
Carrigan was behind the log, and who
is a mediocre twrer with some Other
backstop doing the receiving, won Is
and lost II games last year, and now
that Bill Carrigan is gone there ar,
many who say that Leonard's ligh
will be hid under a bushel. Erni,
Shore, another big youngster, won /.
and lost nine last year Carl Mays
the lanky Portland boy. has not as ye
signed a contract, but will undoubted
ly fall in line soon. Mays won II ani
lost 10 games last year. One or tw,
youngsters will receive ,tryouts will
the Red Sox but the veterans name,