New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-02

invincible aggregation was at the crest
Of its popularity and power. The cir
cumstancc speaks volumes for his la
tent ability. For the mighty Tim. up
20 the time he indicated his class
80 the satisfaction o. the Peerless
Leader. had had only two seasons OF
professional baseball in Wilkes Barre
Penn. of the New York State League
Like Trojan John Eycrs. mis- prede-
Cessor. Zimmerman ieiuC went mp lack
ing nothing but the opportunity to
break ir.
With the Cubs. as q cub. thinner
man gained the eNperier"e which MT
ted him &C admirably for the great
rart Ec is now playing in the game.
There wasn't much encouragement for
the average rookie iidielder day by
day TO watch the first sign Of decay
in that formidable indeld Stelnfeld
Tinker. EverS and Chance. But helnle
carried a wicked poke in his big bat.
And there were times when the Peer
less Leader could drop the young man
into the lineup fer observation pur-
poses.
All-Around Inhclder
Zimmerman played pretty much
He served at second, short and third
at intervals. lie did not win a regular
berth till Steinfeld slipped IN 1911. In
varably he hit well. He was with the
Cubs for ten years, and his poorest
hitting season was that Of 1918, when
he dubbed at .265. He led the league
batters in 1912 with .S72.
Chance left the Cubs after the close
OF the 1912 season. His lnvincibles
we're on the wane before the Peerless
Leader stepped down. Evil days were
upon the Cubs. They degenerated rap
idly into the chaotic state in which
Fred Mitchell found them this spring.
Zimmerman, great player with grea'
club, became a somewhat indifferent
PLAYER with an indifferent team.
The big fellow, who is now all grace
and good nature, appeared TO sour
under the form reversal his team suf-
fered lie got along none too well with
Johnny Fvers and Joe Tinker when
these former team associates were his
managers. And his temper vented IT.
self against every one within earshot-
the umpire in particular. zimmerman
gained the reputation of being an eX-
tremely hard man to handle.
Doubtless, after sharing the glory
Of the old Cubs, lieinic Zimmerman was
dissatisfied with his surroundings when
the team had become demoralized. II
was no family secret that during his
last couple of seasons in Chicago the
most prominent Bronx cItiZeH longed
for change of air. Nor is il any Sc
crct that McGraw quite as ardentiy
longed for the services of one who was
wasting brilliant career because OF
dissatisfaction. II was not until last
wear that the opportunity to secure
Zimmerman presented itself.
Great Transformation.
Zimmerman was a good ball player
when he came 10 New York. He is
g great ball player now. No greater
transformation mas ever been seen.
Ills Chicago admirers could never
recognize him in :he peaceful pursuit
Of his career at the Polo Grounds.
Zimmerman is as docile as Davey Rob-
ortson, one who would be the equal of
Ty Cobb il pc had Heire's former fire
and fight. %. lIeinie never has had a
serious quarrel with umpires since he
became a Giant.
Ziih will fight for his rights. Every
good pal player does. Some of the
great ones fight for more. But there
is no evidence of rowdyiSm in mis-
demeanor lie plays the game. now;
plays for the team, not for individual
glory.
No man on the prospective National
League champions is more vital to
the clubs success than this same
Heinie Zimmerman. lie has played a
game At third bsss M season the equal