Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-14
one OF GREATEST
WAS MINOR BROWN
Despite Absence of Forefinger,
Former 0mahan Held Rank
With Best of Them.
BRITTON IS UNDERRATED
BY JACK VEIOCK.

OF Mordecai Brown, who was handeC
his unconditional release by Prcsi
dent Weeghman of the Cubs, shor'
time ago, marks the outgoing OF ont
OF the greatest slabmen who evel
graced a-National league diamond.
Brown will probably never pitcl
another game in major league uni
form, for the trusty old salary wing
has stilFened somewhat under the
strain OF long service, but his name
will go down in base ball annals along
with those OF other great stars
Regardless OF the fact that he
labored under the handicap OF having
but three fingers on his pitching
hand, he was one OF the most capable
hurlers that base ball has ever pro.
duced Brown did all OF his pitch
ing minus his forehnger. And the
iore6ngcr OF any players hand is
the most valuable OF all his digits
But those who played with and
against Brown. came to the con-
clusion during his heyday in the
majors that he was more. effective
without that forehnger. as there are
few, il any, pitchers on record who
have boastcd OF better control. On
top OF this Brown was a steady
hclder, and he could throw with
swiftness and accuracy TO any Of the
bases
Brown, at his best, was always
considered the most reliable OF any
pitcher in the National league. He
was game to the core, and he knew
how to use the gray matter that ma
ture gave him. In the tight places
there was never cooler pitcher than
Brown, and he generally showed to
the best advantage when his club
had the most at stake,
Judgment Was Uncanny.
As Judge Of batsmen there were
lew who could hold candle to him.
He had an uncanny habit OF knowing
what to throw to the batter and when
to throw it, He studied batters al
ways. and any time he faced bats
man who was new to him he had no
peer when il came to getting quick
line on that battcr's weaknesses.
1t is generally the fellow who pulls
the unexpected in game of ball that
gets by. Brown had this trait. He
was never afraid to take chance. He
would gamble with the batter and he
never forgot for moment that he
had the edge. for there were eight
men behind him and he generally
knew just where the old apple was
going when he cu< loose
Another thing that made Browns
pitching success more remarkable is
the fact that he never was gifted with
an arm like Walter Johnson, nor the
varied curves that other pitchers are
capable of using because they have
all OF their digits to help them out.
He had the old "round-house" and a
good change of pace, and these,
coupled with wonderful control and a
good head. made it possible for him
to rank among the top-notchers.
Brown got his first real league ex-
perience with the Terre Haute club
Of the Central league and Omaha in
the Western league. and he was soon
grabbed by the Cardinals, from which
club the Cubs got him in 1904. For
two years Brown was considered a
pitcher OF ordinary efficiency, but
from 1906 on his name was coupled
with the names Of other major league
stars.
Britton Is Underrated.
One Of the most consistent boxers
in the ring today is seldom given the
credit that is due him for his ability
to score continued successes. yet he
is well known TO the fight fans from
coast to coast.
His name is Jack Britton, and he is
the strongest claimant OF the worlds
welterweight championship.
Britton has been boxing for years.
He got his start around Chicago and
when he first commenced exchanging
wallops with the boys in main events
he was not really heavy enough for
the lightweight class But Jack
wanted TO fight, and he had to give
away weight TO many opponents
while he was growing
Always clever boxer, blessed with
a cool head and a nimble pair OF
mitts, Britton began to come into
prominence as wind-up fighter
about six or seven years ago. He did
not get many chances in the big
towns in those days, but he was a
good card in the smaller cities and
was always good for a come back
once he showed the fans his wares.
Jack has been meeting lightweights,
welterweights and near~middle.
weights, for several years. He has
proven TO the satisfaction of major.
ity Of hstic critics throughout the
country that he is better boy than
Ted Lewis. and he is generally re.
garded as the country's premier wei.
tcrweight.
One Of the secrets OF Britton's sue.
cess lies in the fact that he takes
good care of himself. He could re.
tire today with fat bankroll and
nothing to worry about, but he is
still young in years and has beer
improving rather than going back.
And he generally gives the fight
ian a good run for his money. Ye,
he doesn't get the credit he de.
serves.
That Emery Ball.
Just about the time that the Fed
erals began TO worry o. B. the emer,
ball was the rage with pitchers, anC
il came in for column after column
Of criticism and comment. But ava,
back in the '80s there was at leas
one ball player who knew about tn,
emery ball. That player was Bill
Phillips, and when Bill was in his hey
day with the Indianapolis and Cincin
natl clubs he used to fool the boy
{ with twisters that they had neve
dreamed of. And Bill admits tina
emery paper helped him out of NOR