The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-09-14

Every time read about Chief Bender
winning another game for the enlilies
feel as though l quit too soon as q
pitcher, The most astonishing part OF
4 Bender's come back" is the 1act tnat
he seems to have returned with All MS
old stun. Now. in my own case. l n'uSe
admit was in there toward the hnisn
with nothing much but control ana
GOOD idea of what the boys didn't like
to hit.
have always maintained that no
pitcher will ever improve after he has
expended ten years Of effort against Dig
league batSmen. yet l am .toid tnat
Bender's remarkable winning streak TOT
the Phillies was due to the fact that ne
had resurrected his fast ball and coulo
spin 1t by the boys with the old mop on
1t as he did back in the days when ne
starred for the Athletics
I must say Bender has upset one or
NV pet theories. You know the Chief
In right in my class on the age thing.
started with the Giants in 1900. but
never really took my regular turn In the
box until the following season. Bender.
I believe. Joined the Athletics In l9oS'
He rapidly developed into first class
( pitcher, for it was only two years later,
when the Giants won the worlds chan-
pionship from the Athletics, and Bender
was the only Philadelphia pitcher to
win In that series. Furthermore. the
Giants could not score on MIN IN 'nat
game. ,,,
Five years later the Chief was still
Improving. The way he bafflcd the Cubs
In 1910 and the Giants in 1911 and 1913
Is we'll remembered. but after a decade
In the American league this splendid
pitcher appeared to fade out. He went
to the Federal league in 1915. and.
though the Feds were really not OF
major league strength. Bender did not
prosper in that company.
- Cast aside even by the Federal league
1t seemed that Bender was through for
all time. He Joined the Phillies in 1916.
but could not win and drifted into indie
pendent baseball This season Bender
had been pitching at New Haven before
Pat Moran was induced to give him an
other trial Pat was hard up for pitch
ers and was making a gallant effort TO
Mead off the Giants.
II was then after nearly three years
OF comparative obecurty. that Bender
came back with bells on. Apparently he
can go along indefinitely. I wish he'd
tip me of 70 the secret.
Colonel Jacob Ruppert's idea OF start
ing the training season Of the Yankees
this fall instead Of next spring appeals
10 the manager OF any second division
team Lately the Reds have been how
er.nx close to the mythical line. that is
supposed to separate the good teams
from the bad. and it is possible I may
DO considerable experimenting with new
players this fall.
The Yankees began the season with
hiEh hopes. but one disappointment
after another gradually eliminated them
10 aDf
when II became evident the team did not
2 class with the American league leaders.
Colonel RUPERT issued instructions for
his scouts TO 90 into the highways and
bywayS and capture every promising
young player to be found.
Apparently the New York magnate
has decided he must develop his own
stars. They say this club operates the
most complete and comprehensive scout
system in the country. I know the
Yankees must have representatives in
every league. for my own scouts tell
Z me the New York club is quick to spot
a kood prospect anywhere. In addition
to numerous "tipsters" the club employs
several expert appraisers Of baseball
material.
These men carefully follow the work
Of players who receive the highest re-
commendations and for every man they
: accept they probably REJECT Dozen n
good scout is one who can detect a lem
on. He saves club his salary many
times over. Such a man Is Larry SUIT
ton who sleuths for the Reds. Joe Kel-
ley. Of the Yankees. is another.
As q result Of this system OF recruit
Ing the New York club has already
made extensive purchases. oTd Is prepar-
ing to draft other players. The minor
leagues are closing up now. and + under
/. stand Colonel Rupert Is to have his
purchased players report to Bill Donovan
:. in the near future.
In order to get a line on the new men.
Donovan will stage brief practice game
between the regulars and the scrubs