The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-27
Big League Gossip
CHRISTY MATHEWSON
the Cincinnati Feds

, CINCINNATI. o.. April ga fsllo"
must be getting along when he admirHs
ITO see the old timers come through.
even against his alma mater. but ii did
me good TO read of John Coombs' defeat
of the Giants for the first toss they re-
ceived this season. The Giants nave
never been beaten by John.
There is a game workers. lot OF
them would have been riding in Il wheel
chair today after what H. went through
instead Of maintaining his record
against the, hardest hitting ball cluo in
baseball. Coombs hurt himself in the
fifth game OF the Worlds Series IN
letics at the Polo Grounds. He snap
ped something at the base of his spine
and heSitatcd for L minute. Ira Thomas
trottipg out from the bench 70 see what
Including myself knotted around the
box.
Connie wants 10 put some one else
m said Ira. the official message BEAR
..Tn 20 ahead" announced Coombs.
lie did. until the ninth inning when.
suffering great pain. ne CAV" way to a
pinch hitter and went to a nosptai. lie
didn't want to quit even them II was
more than two years he was laid out
with weights strapped ito his feet and
even the optimistic Connie Mack
thought John would never work again.
cord against the Giants. You've got TO
admire man who can do mat ana
cheer him when he wins.
II is nv distinct Impression that the
Reds will not finish last this season. at
least. OF course. privately. | figure
them to finish much higher III the scale:
But. after looking at the Pirates. |
.k@l, IL. RI m
them 10 Of til" cellar. The team IS just
a skeleton Of lis old understanding
a Big League club about as much as a
chassis resembles an automobile with
old motor. IS gone. Maybe he will have
a change OF heart and come back. put
ting some life into the chassis.
Jimmie Callahan carries tough job
on his hands, for the Pirates remind me
OF the pride Of another day. like the
Masonic Temple in Chicago. a sort OF
local relic. A story l heard reminds
me Of the ball team-an Irish story
that one about Mike and and
therefore worthy OF passing constdera-
: This 1rishman had been away from
heard of the revolution and came hack
TO And .he place quite Il wreck with
most Of the post office and other bur IL
ings full Of open work where the win,
around and then commcnt"d:
We'll. | see we got home rule while
I was gone.
The Pirates are all shot to pieces
and stranger coming back after n
long absence. and giving them the Up
and down. would just naturally remark:
well. see you lost Wagner since
went away.
AS usual Pittsburgh needs Il first
baseman. Hickman, Is an outfielder
and plays the bag like one He has no
affection for that sack when O wild
throw comes along and does not tell
the ball. but his foot and the bag are
generally seventeen different things on
Even in the days of it's glory. the
Pittsburgh club was always looking
for a nrst baseman like Dlogenes and
his honest man. One OF the best they
ever possessed was Jack Miller. and
they traded him. Miller Is Il smart
BAIL player. But Callahan will make q
team Of It. because he knows baseball
and will build from the bottom up.
The Pirates Of to-day are onlyl shells
OF the proud times OF Fred Clarke.