The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-20

George Stallings will, it seems. de-
pend on his pitchers to win the Ma
tional league pennant for the Boston
Braves in 1911. The infield has so far
failed to show any terrific batting alb
ilty, though Maranville, at least, is
without a peer as a. shortstop. The
outfield was rather weak last year,
but may show improved form this sea-
son. as a Guartette of fast gardeners
will try for berths. The Boston Braves
that won the pennant in 1914 were not
the best team of players in the league,
but won through the tremendous driN-
ing power of Manager Stallings and
the killing pace set by Pitchers Bill
James and Dick Rudolph. James has
not pitched a league game in two
wears, the extra work he did in 1914
putting him on the bench with sore
arm.
George Stallings is an old timer, who
has been managing teams in the majors
and minors for the past 30 years with
varying degrees of success. George
was a catcher in his playing days.
though never a wonder and had a
trial as National league manager late
in the nineties. The big Chief was
buffetcd around by various teams until
he finally landed in the old Eastern
league, where he stayed for several
years. Some seven years ago he took
the management of the New York
American league team, and landed it
in second place. Hal Chase and sew
eral other players Were unable to get
along with Stallngs and he resigned
at the end Of the sea son. George then
went to Newark in the International
league, being signed by the Boston Ma
tional league team as manager in 1913.
He made good that year, bringing the
team up from last place into the first
division, and the following year won
the National league flag in one of the
most sensational Whirlwind spurtS that
that the league had ever seen. Dur
ing the past two years the Braves have
been handicapped by the numerous ac-
cidents sustained by the pitching stair,
the failure of the outfield, and Fvers'
sickness Stallings is one of the old
time autocrats of the diamond, and
rules with an iron hand.
The Braves have four catChers, none
of them wonders. Hank GoWdy, tonted
to the skies at the end of the 1914
season, has PLAYED in and out ball the
past two seasons. and has not lived VI
,,ip
him after the end of the 1914 season
Gowdy has q good whip, and may
wake up and start to hit the ball any
time, and when he does the Braves vii
go better Earl Blackburn came W
from the international league last
summer to help GowdS with the back
stop work and welded a ready willow
Blackburn lacks experience, but may
give Gowdy n run for the first string
position as he can hit Tragresser, The
former collegian. has never displayed
much ability with the Braves. The
only youngster on the list is Rico, {
Cuban, who caught n few games foI
the Providence team last fall. Rice
has had practically no professional eX
perience and is not expected to stick
Eight veterans are on the pitchins
staff, they being George Tyler, Arthu
Nehf, Frank Allen, Don Carlos, Pat
rick Raglan, Richard Rudolph. Thoma
Hughes, Albert Barnes and Big Bill
James. Tyler and Allen are the south
paws of the staff. Thomas Hughes
not the original Long Tom" won
and lost three games in 1916, but hi
highest hid for fame was the no-hi
game that he pitched during the sum
mer. Dick Rudolph. who is gcttin
along in years. won ~ and lost T. las
year. Lefty Tyler WAS the most ef
fective pitcher on the Braves staff las
year, from the standpoint of earne
runs per game, winning II games an
losing 10. Tyler has always done goo
work for the Braves and is the mos
dependable member of tho staff. Fran
Allen, southpaW No. >, did not pitC
regularly last year, but managed t
win eight of the 10 games that h
pitched. Allen cam" to the Brave
from the Federal league. but befOr
joining the outlaws, pitched for tn
Brooklyn SupcrbAs. Arthur Nehf. tn
clever college pitcher had his initi}
big league trNout last summer, pitch
ing n dozen games, Of which he Wo
seven. Al BARNES, " mnStoduntic r.
Cruit of the 1916 season. won six gam,
and lost "a. Zig IiIl James is III
question mark JAMES, if in form