Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-11
M'GRAW LAUGHS AT
ATHLETES STRIKE
Great Leader Says Players Are
Wising Up to q Huge
Joke.
WELL FIXED FOR RACE

The threatened base ball strike is
one of the least worries of John J.
McGraw, a base ball manager who
usually has as few worries as the best
of them.
"I'm ready for this strike" said
Mac, either coming or going. To me
it is a huge joke. The players are
wising up. Sometimes sheep get next
to the shepherd.
"a strike" McGraw continued.
could not affect me greatly one way
or the other. The Giants, which
startled the base ball world last fall
by reeling off twenty-six consecutive
victories, have perhaps exceptional
reason to place individual opportunity
before misguided cause. However
that may be, the fact remains that
my boys are eager and waiting for
word that will send them out to
possible championship with the
rich worlds series spoils entailed.
"Only three players vital to the
success of the Giants remain un-
signed or unpledged," continued the
Little Napoleon.
These are Davey Robertson, Fer
die Schupp and Walter Hoilse. I'd go
broke on the loyalty of any or all of
the three"
Pleased With Ivory.
McGraw is content with the super
abundance of talent already commit
ted to him, to rest his case on the
colt division of the Giants. 1t is
wealth of young talent of which
less illustrious campaigner than Mac
might be proud. Because he himself
says that pitching can be his onlv
possible source of worry, we will dis
sect the means of remedy taken to-
ward this end.
James Middleton, from Louisville
Of the American association, is per-
haps the most widely advertised
pitching prospect coming up for trial
with the 1917 Giants. Almost single
handed last year he pitched Bill ely
mer's team into championship. Cly-
mer, a wonderful Judge of players,
says that he's ready and Bill ought to
know. Middleton is not a giant, nor
is he a pigmy. He is slightly under
average size, but put up on the lines
of little giant. 1t is said he is
counterpart of Bob Shawkey, the
Yankee star, in style and action.
Perhaps next in importance is
Walter Hoyt, the Brooklyn school
boy of no-hit fame, just awarded to
New York by the national commits
sion. L. A. Yaynes of Morgantown,
S. C., is big right-hander who set
the Eastern league a6re last season.
He is only a kid and may need fur
ther seasoning.
There is George Smith Of Colum-
bia university, who dallied around
with the Giants after the close of the
college season. Smith was green
when McGraw took him, but he
picked up whole lot Of pointers
while decorating the bench.
He was given a chance to finish
several games and some of them he
finished in most masterful fashion.
Andy Coakley, the Columbia coach,
believes Smith the greatest youngster
since the advent Of Alexander. In
size, appearance and style this youth
is study of the Christy Mathewson
that was when McGraw came to New
York.
Texan is Promising.
There are several others, any one of
whom just possibly might pan out.
c. A. Causey is a big, raw-boned
southpaw from the Texas league, who
is an enigma whenever he happens
to have control.
A portsider is always a gamble; ex-
perience under competent instruction
may bring out Causey instanter. Pie
Way, the Yale pitcher, is going back
to Marlin. He hasn't set the world
afire yet as professional. Some
times it takes an amateur a season or
two to find his bearings. Way has
the physical qualifications. As a COL
legian he appeared to have the nee
essary poise also.
William Morrisette is 4 right
handed pitcher bought from Balti
more. Jack Dunn thinks highly of
him. So did Connie Mack when the
1916 campaign began. In bringing
MorTisette back to fast company Nc
Graw got even with Mack for tax
ing Rube Schauer from Louisville.
Schaucr finally crossed MeGraw after
the Giant boss had held on to him
for many years-almost as long as
he stuck by Fred Schupp, as a mat
ter of fact. S. S. Stryker is a semi
pro from Atlantic Highlands, N. J.
Like most semi-pros he is at best
long gamble.