South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-19
Additional Sport
COMPULSORYATHLETTCS
WILL AID YOUTH OF u. S.
THREE STARS
OF OLD DAYS
GET THE CAN
BY Chas. W. Call.

Aside from the increase OF tenn
Icrature Of the White Sox-Red Sox
duel for supremacy in the American
league. the greatest baseball event
OF the past week was the apparent
passing Of three notable diamond
stars from the big leagues-Eddie
Plank. Mike Mowrey and Chief Mey-
ers. Meyers has just caught on
with the Braves
Eddie Plank is probably the most
conspicuous of the headline trio.
lie has been heaving a baseball from
the pitchers box to various big
legaue catchers since 1901. He start
ed with Connie Mack in that year.
and he stayed in the Quaker City
Until the inception of the Federal.
He fell for the huge wartime con-
tracts and jumped TO the St. Louis
Feds in 1915. With the coming Of
peace he found himself with the St.
Louis Browns, and he was one Of
their best pitchers in 1916. He had
been soins well during the present
season until ne suffered a nervous
breakdown and decided 70 quit the
game.
Plank always has enjoyed a repu-
tati0u for consistency and effective
ness, and ne was the direct opposite
of his old teammate, RUDE Waddell,
who. though more brilliant than
Plank, could never be counted on
for effective service. BY conserving
/ his strength, Plank had managed 70
/ reach the age of AZ before stepping
down from major service.
MOwrey a Hold Out.
Mike Mowrey has been released
/ Ey Brooklyn. Mowrey held out this
year until his salary terms were rnet,
and did not go TO the training camp
at Hot Springs. He reported when
the team returned to Brooklyn. His
fielding at third base has been excel
/ lent, and today there is not a bet
/ ted thrower in either league, but
| his batting average has cuddled up
TO PIP and his footwork is not what
/ il used 10 be.
Chief Meyers also has been let
/ out by Brooklyn. He went to that
city from New York, supposedly be-
cause he and McGraw could not get
along. and he was a mighty big fac
tor i'm the pennant-winning team at
BROOKLYN a year ago. Meyers, like
! Plank prOfted from the high prices
/ i'm vogue during the baseball war
: Last winter he suffered n large sal
airy cut. After he got over his first
/ biz yell he signed up and went TO
/ Hot Springs with the team, and
( since then has never opened his
/ mouth about salary. There has
never been a more faithful catcher
I than the deposed chief.
Vanguard and Meyers.
t Meyers will always be remember
4 ed as the battery-mate of MarqUard.
/ He IL was who caught him over
/ that span of 10 consecutive victories.
I He it was who nerved the faltering
\ Rube, after his first fizzle in the big
/ leagues. AIarquard can thank the
/ chief for patching up his broken
! spirit. and for the record he has
! since been able to make.
/ Meyers has been in a batting
/ slump all year. He has slipped from
I the 500 class TO just a notch ahead
+ Of the 200 crowd. An injured
/ thumb in 1916 has held him back
/ ever since. 1t was learned yester-
/ day that Meyers has signed up with
. the Boston Braves, who have needed
/ Just such talent since Hank Gowdy
/ periodically forsook baseball for an
/ army uniform.
Plank. MOwrey and Meyers have
/ been credit 20 the game. Base
/ bali is the gamer for the services
] they have rendered IL.