The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-05-10

NE" YORK, May 9.-Dan BToulHels'
once the great first baseman. later scout
for McGraw. and in recent years en-
ployed at the Polo Grounds. is member
Of the "I-knew- him-Then" club. Dan
was a contemporary OF Billy Sunday
when both were ball players. and. some
little time ago. he talked over Billy as
a Big Lacquer with me.
How good was nee" I asked the big
first baseman.
Not much Of hitter. IL We grew
them in those days" remarked Dam
but a grand fellow to 30 get them.
or course. Billy was playing ball Wnen
the hitters were hitters-Anson. Daly :
any fellow who did not show three hun
bred did not class.
iSunday reminded me something OF
Bill OHara (thls conversation LOOK
place at the time O'Hara WAS member
OF the Giants and before he went TO
pitching grenades for the Canadians
against the Germans). Billy Sunday
could almost have covered the outiield
by himself. but he hardly hit his weight
Once on the bases. he was tough fell
low to stop on account OF his speed ana
he took big chances. Cap Arson USED
him mostly for utility purposes. Billy
never drank hard either although he
would roust around once in while with
the boys Then he got converted one
day In Chicago and has been preaching
mostly ever since
Dan ought to be able to size him up.
having played In his time
Never in my life have heard Billy
Sunday talk, but, while the Cincinnati
club Is at the Polo Grounds this week.
! am going up to the old American nau,
to tell. what 7 think Of him as ta1ker
in one OF these articles.
Dan has given me a line on him as
ball playcr-and from what Dan says,
as a scout, he would not recommend
Bill. but then. Dan was always partial
10 hitters When he was working for
McGraw, he used to dig up and bring
in a lot of fellows In the bushes who
could slough the ball. not matter how
they played the rest Of the game. Some
Of Thorn were so slow they blocked traI-
tic on the bases-but Dan liked his hit
tcrs.
So far this has been a season Of post
ponements-especially among the, east
ern teams-and no-htt games. 1t has
been remarkable for The number or
innings-and In two cases even beyond
roncy Of my club travelling ten and
Groom Of st. Louis eleven In double
header-without having their records
scratched.
Starting in the spring after the win
ter batters, pitchers. and umpires are
off-especially some OF the umpires
who really should indulge in spring
training. Usually the batters get their
strides before the pitchers. and many
Portable margins to fall back on for the
summer during the first six weeks. But.
in nv opinlon, this spring found several
OF the twrlers with the jump on the
hitters, and they have Mad them swing
ing and missing or popping them up.
No.hit ball games look better In the
records than anywhere else because they
don't give the spectators enough action
tho same as prize fight. When two
scrappers spend all their time covering
up. you get IL bud fight. while the toe TO
too sluggers set the crowd crazy. Fans
like to see hitting in game-and so do
] II my club Is doing it. particularly In
tho pinches.
The postponemcnts came at an oppor-
tune time for the Giants. because the
temporary absence OF Zimmerman and
Herzog from the lineup showed that
raps meant lost bali games. However,
the Indications are both will be back
when we meet the McGraw club this
wcck-rcgular Cincinnati luck.
The ST. Louis Cardinals are running
I'm this race like n horse that has been
hopped. They have gone crazy and
mounted up into first place when they
beat us last Sunday. The only result
this will bring about Is the TN balancing
Of St Louis fans because that IS town
very susceptible to success, and the st.
Louis bug" is one Of the worst in the
League when they get winner Of any
thing that looks like one in that Sec
ton with both the Browns and Cardi
nails moving near the top. the authorities
may have TO increase the accommoda-
tions in those institutions where no one
arrests you If you act like nut. but
where they have keepcrs-especially
when one club hits the slide. rs the
Cards probably will on this eastern
trip.
Fred Mitchell Is another manager to
surprise the fans. and some Of the wise
ono nre beginning to wonder whether
Mitchell has not been playing Won Lu-
drndorff 10 StallingS' H!ndcnburg oil
these years In Boston. Ludendorff is
rcputcd to be the thinking part OF the
Hindrnburg combination. Let me warn
my optimistS that are counting on this
that George Twecdy (his middle name.
passed by censorl StallinGs is II late
starter but his slow beginning should
not sonthe rival managers into bclicv
ing visits In Boston Will be soft during
the coming season.
Mitch has not had III" best Of luvk
a. far as injuries go since the opening