New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-21
GIANTS IVORY
CROP PROMISES
HELP TO TEAM
John McGraw Pleased
with Material the Scouts
Dragged In
BY ". ]. MACDETH

The threatened baseball strike IL
one Of the least worries OF John J.
McGrsw. a baseball manager who
usually has as few worries CT the bcs.
Of them.
"I'm ready for this strike" said Mac
yesterday, "either coming or going
To me it's huge joke. The players
are wising up. Sometimes sheep get
next to the shepherd.
"A strike,- McGraw continued.
could not affect me greatly one way
or the other. The Giants, which
startled the baseball world Last fall By
reeling on twenty-ei1 consecutive vic.
tories, have perhaps exceptional rea-
son TO place individual opportunity be-
fore misguided cause. However that
may be, the fact remains that my boys
are eager and waiting for the word
that will send them out 10 a possible
championship with the rich worlds
series spoils entailed.
"Only three players vital to the sue
cess OF the Giants remain unsigned or
unpledged," continued the Little Ma
poleon.
These are Dsvey Robertson, Ferdie
Schupp and Walter Holke. I'd 20
broke on the loyalty of any or ell OF
the three.
Pleased with Ivory
McGraw IL content with the super
abundance Of talent already committed
20 him, 20 rest his case on the colt
division OF the Giants. It is a wealth
Of young talent Of which less illus
trious campaigner than Mac nigh, be
proud. Because he himself says that
pitching can be his only possible source
Of worry We will disseet the means CT
remedy taken toward this end.
James Middleton. from Louisville, OF
the American Association, is perhaps
the most widely advertised pitching
prospect coming up for trial with the
1917 Giants. Almost single-handed last
year he pitched Bill Clymer's team into
q championship. Clymer, wonderful
judge Of players, says that he is ready,
and Bill ought to know. Middleton Is
not giant, nor is he .pygmy. He is
slightly under average size, but put up
on the lines Of a little giant. II is said
he is a counterpart Of Bob Shawkey.
the Yankee star, in style and action.
Perhaps next in Importance Is Waite
Hoyt, the Brooklyn schoolboy Of no-hit
fame, Just awarded 70 New York by the
Nationa! Commission. L. A. Jaynes, OF
MCrgantown, 5. c., il a big right
handler who set the Eastern League
afre last season. He is only a kid and
may need further seasoning
There is George Smith, OF Columbia
University, who dallied around with the
Giants after the close OF the college
season. Smith was green when Me
Graw took him, but he picked up
whole lot Of pointers while decorating
the bench. He was given a chance TO
finish several games, and some OF them
he finished in most masterful fashion
Andy Coakley, the Columbia coach, be-
lieves Smith the greatest youngsttl
since the advent Of Alexander. In size
study OF the Christy Mathewson that
was when McGraw came 10 New York.
Texan Is Promising
There are several others, any one OF
whom just possibly might pan out. {.
A. Causey is a big, raw-boned south
paw from the Texas league, who Is an
enigma whenever he happens to have
control A portsider is always a gam
bic; experience under competent in
struction may bring out Causey in
starter. Pie Way, the Yale pitcher, is
going back to Marlin. He hasn't set the
world afre yet as professional. Some
times it takes an amateur season or
two to find his bearings. Way has the
physical qualifications. As a collegisn
he appeared to have the necessary poise
also.
William Morrisette is a right-handed
pitcher bought from Baltimore. jack
Dunn thinks highly Of him. So did Con-
ME Mack, when the 1916 campaign
began. In bringing Morrisette back TO
fast company McGraw got even with
Mack for taking RUDE Schauer from
Louisville. Schauer finally crossed Nc.
Graw after the Giant boss had held
on to him for many years-almost as
long as he stuck by Ferd Sehupp, as
a matter of fact S. S. Stryker is
semi-pro from Atlantic Highlands, y. J.
Like most semi-pros, he 10 at best
long gamble.
OF McGraw's other new men perhaps
the most highly touted is p. j. Kilduf,
shortstop of the Omaha champions OF
the Western League. There is Ross
Young, Of the Sherman, Tex, Western
League club. Young Is versatile 10 a
degree and should develop into as fine
a utility man as Artie Shafer. He Ia
said TO possess Skaters speed. He ht
above $50 in the double championship
last year, and appeared 10 equal sd-
vantage at third, short and second and
in the outfeld.
Two New Infielders
Speaking OF infielders, a couple OF
boys who have had the advantage Of
McGraw schooling in the South will
be back again for further observation.
The pair toiled with Walter Holke. IN
Rochester. One is Joe w. Schepner
recalled when Holke came back; the
other, Rodriguez, the Cuban right
handed first baseman, as fine fielder
as can be found anywhere, though
triAe shy with the stick
OF the four new outheders, two are
we'll known 20 Giant fans-Jack Red
Murray and Indian Jim Thorpe. hur-
raw had good season IN Toronto.
Thorpe. with Milwaukee, proved a ter
ror to southpaw pitching. y. ]. Josef
son. from Dallas, Tex, is one Colt
gardener Out in the Lone Star State
they think this fellow a possible see
ond iris Speaker. The other sod
buster is Leo Witter- or Witterstaeter
with Newark, Of the international
( League, in 1916. This fellow vas sup
posed 20 be about the very best thing
I in the outhelding line seen in the Bar
( row circuit last year
McGraw will have three additional
catchers to those that campaigned with
/ him through 1916, provided, Of course,
+ that the Pirate veteran, George Gibson,
comes 20 terms with him. q. +. Sand
berg. the semi-pro. baekstop, fsrmed
out to Albany. is back in the Giant
+ fold. Sandberg broke a leg early last
! vear Ard haS llttle opnortlnitY for