The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-12-05
ALEXANDER PUT
UP BESIDE MATTy
Has Won 80 Games a Season
Three Years in Succession,

They call him Alexander the Great"
And 40 he IT, Perhaps before his big |
league days are done they'll call him |
Alexander the greatest" for the diamond
performances OF this wonderful pitcher
OF the philies stamp him right now ms
one OF the most remarkable boHnen
baseball has produced And he is stu
something OF n youngster.
Grover Cleveland Alexander has just
completed his seventh year as Il major
League pitcher Yet In this short space
OF time he has hung up some records
that no pitcher ever may be able TO
ecllpo or equal Certainly one OF the
most remarkable feats In baseball his
tory was that exhibited by Alexander in
1916 when he won sixteen games via the
whitewash route.
The true worth Of pitcher Is de-
termlned by tho number OF earned runs
he ylelds-or, rather, the lack OF earned
runs, declare baseball leaders. Taking
their statement at is face value 1t
seems that Grover Cleveland Alexander,
| by pitching sixteen shutout victories a
year ago placed himself on the highest
pinnacle I'm the baseball world. And he
| Accomplished this with team behind
HIM that was In nowiae an hll-stat cast
| IL was q good team-but not truly great
| one Given the offensive Hs,R defensive
support OF great ban club, II Is likel
that Alexander might have HIS record
| for shutout victories beyond the twenty
mark.
Hut Il isn't this ono record alone that
makes Alexander pitching marvel. Just
this year he tied the mark made by
Christy Mathewson In the history OF
ever had been able TO turn In thirty or
more victories for three successive years.
Matty Only one to Equal IT,
Cy Young. I'D Walsh, Bill Dinnen and
ali other wonders OF tho bygone era, dis
played some sterling work year afler
year, But not one Of the group wa able
TO 10 through three straight years ana
gain thirty or more victories, MathewsOh
lnerformed the trick by winning thirty
games In 1903, thirty-three games In 1904
and thirty-one games I'm 1908, II was
looked upon az an achievement that might
neyer be shattered or equaled. Hut here
In Alexander alongside OF Mathewson
, and with splendid chance TO pass hin
and carve another In etthCable record II
haseballs hall Of fame
In 1915 Alexander, with a nennant
! winning team behind him, wunr thirty
one games and lost ten for "A pltChni
: average Of 1855 He followed with thirty
! three victories In forty five decisive com
y bats In 1916 When the 1917 season opene,
e the question was asked
Can Alexander win another THIRTY
games this year and tie MathewsOn
y | reCurd2'
4 In his last games Of the year Alyexan
. der answered II I'm the affirmative VIII
. twenty-uine victories and thirteen de
! fents to his credit. he went against m
!. Giants In Philadelphia, faced the regulp
NJ, team and beat them. This victory Ilitr
rs his winning mark TO thirty aud enable
/, him TO tie Mathewson
y Not only Ia Alexander great hecaus
:, " hts pitching work. declares Pat Mo
y ran. manager ~ the phlllies, "but he
a. an invaluable member ot the team be
!. cause Of his splendid character He
,. the easiest star pitcher TO handle I've ev,
Y, known lie is willing TO work out
{, turn. no matter what tho weather, y
,, mutter II he is feeling m or not He
,s always ready for the call TO duty n
~ Is a model athlete and one ot the clear
~ est, manifest fellows | have ever known
n Figures Show ALEXIS Work,
10 Here nre some tables which cover u
lO salient points In AleNnndcr's career II
1! first gives his complete shutout recor
lh embracing his seven years I'm the mai,
o2 leagues n tells ~ own phenomcn
in story ~ Oflv.ulne shutouts I'm seven 80,
W sons bs follow