The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-15
II ~ Up to the Minute
| ~ SPORTING NEWS
NJ FROM EVERYWHERE.
BY"cLUo-
old WAR HORSES
Few Ball Players Hold on
After They Are 80.
Big Leagues, However, Have
Several Exceptions Now.
RY JACK VEIOCK.

New York, June 15.-When bali
player commences to bat ever thirty
in Old Father Times league, ii is the
general belief that he has seen his
best days
The rolling years take the youth
full snap and ginger out of the arms
and legs of the average player past
thirty years of age, and he turns into
the path which leads him back to the
minors or to retirement
But there are exceptions to every
rule and in the major leagues today
there is a sprinkling of players we'll
past the thirty-year mark VINO arc
still blocking Old Dad Times I1sty
wallops and getting away with it,
while ambitious youngsters grow
weary camping on their trails, wait
ing for the chance to step in and
take their places
A Few Exceptions.
Hinchman, Ames, Vaughn. ToEey
Chief Meyers and Buck Herzog are
among the past-thirty players in the
National League, who are still in
there winning their cakes on the
diamond, while Terry Turner, Eddie
Plank, Stanage and Jimmy Austin are
American league veterans who refuse
to be downed by the scythe of the
white-bearded old gent who turns the
hands of the clock.
But two of the most rema rkable
players in many respects are GavVy
Cravath end Dode Paskert Of the
Phillies, both outfielderS, and both
apparently good for a few more sea-
sons in the big show Cravath has
been the biggest surprise OF the Two.
because he has managed comeback
after he was labelled, wrapped and
shipped to the minors, and expected
| to stay there for good and all. Few
| fans or writer's expected to see Gavvy
| back in the big show this year after
he was headed for the minors last
| fall. But he's back, and he is iusr
as highly respected by the pitchers as
| ever before.
Tho Gavvy's legs are not capable
of doing the work they once did, his
murderous bat is still on the job and
his batting eye is just as keen as ever.
Pat Moran would be glad to see a
faster and snapper fielder holding
down right garden, but Pat cannot
see his way clear to sacrifice Cra-
vath's hitting ability for younger
pair of legs and much weaker blud-
geon. Cravath started out the sea-
son of 1917 at a terrific clip, and up
to the first of June he was hitting
better than .335. Cravath has fooled
| 'em, that's all.
/ In Dode Paskert the Phillies have
another veteran. Dode is now play
, ing Ihis seventh season as a member
of the Pills. and he bids fair to be
seen in a PHILIPS uniform for several
more seasons if his playing this year
can be taken as an indication of just
how fast" he is going back.
Paskert Retains Speed.
Paskert, unlike most ball players
past 35-he will be SO in August-has
not lost the youthful springiness and
vigor of his legs. He is still as fast
and sure on his underpinning as many
of the younger players who come up,
and altho he is not the hitter that
Cravath is, he can still sting the apple
| fA,
| He hit .279 last season, and so far this
year he has been hitting between $50
and .270. with his hitting being done
in streaks. Like all of the veterans.
Paskert may be expected to brush up
his hitting with hot weather here to
stay.
| Where can you find two grand old
vets-and both outfielders-who have
anything on Cravath and Paskert. Ii
| can't be done