The Washington herald., 1918-04-22
CAN COMEBACKS
Do COMEBACK?
Former Big Leaguers Max
ing Efforts to Do Finale
in Ball Game.

The annual cry in baseball camps
is what will the comebacks do
this year,"
From the standpoint Of 1918 the
question is more interesting than
in former years because of the
number of players, ? particularly
pitchers. who will attempt to do a
Brcdie back into select circles.
The call of the nation which
took almost 100 players and re-
cruits from the two big leagues.
hit pitching STATS of a number of
clubs especially hard.
The result? why, the old boys
who used to more or less fool the
swatsmiths UP there and gradual
ly either drifted back or quit base
ball or started managing or coach
ing, are preparing to oil up the old
soupbones for another whirl at IL.
At least three comebacks, not old
ones these, may have a decid-
ed effect on their club standings
II they should be able to come
through.
Bill James, who for a season
was one of the most remarkable
pitchers in the National League.
will essay to make things hum a
bit with the Braves again this sea-
son. James practically won a PEN
nant for the Braves back in 1914.
Then he won two OF four games in
the world series against the Ath-
Ietics. Since then Bills pitching
arm has been about as useful as a
Hoch der Kaiser in Paris. From
the coast. however, come early re-
ports that Bill is the same, or very
nearly the same Bill of 1914. all
of which caused George stallings
to smile for about the first time
since July, 1915.
Joe Wood is said to be rounding
in shape in New Orleans. Woods
ability to pitch or his lack of 1t
will have a decided effect on the
standing Of the Cleveland Indians
next September. Wood, once the
wonder of American League won
ders, tried a comeback last year.
said comeback being a pitiful fall
ure.
Al Mamaux's case is somewhat Diff
ferent. Mamaux had all of the max
ings of a great pitcher except an es-
sential substance located between the
ears. In 1916 Mamaux was a great
pitcher. In 1917 he was the worst
failure in the National League. for
several reasons. one of which is said
to be rather poor handling by the
Pittsburgh management Mamaux
should do much better under Wilbert
Robinson's tutelage.
Grover Lowdermilk will be a great
asset to the Browns II he can get
control along with his shoots and
Fielder Jones believes his year with
Columbus in 1917 will bring him back
better than ever before. Jones will
also give the venerable Lefty LeIfieId
another chance. Jack Powell Is an
other ancient who believes he has a
few more major league games left In
his salary wing.
Chief Bender staged q brilliant little
comeback the latter part of last sea-
son with the Phillies and is on hand
this year for another whirl at IL.
Now comes the word from Mont
gomery that Christy Matthewson is
warming up with the intention of
helping out now and then. Matty
hasn't pitched since 1916 and declared
a year ago that he was through, but
he has evidently reconsidered. II is
not at all likely that Matty will try
pitching as a regular stunt, but he
may be in there every now and then.
Parallel with Matty's case is that
Of Bill Donovan. who, deposed as
Manager OF the Yanks. is back in a
Detroit uniform. Bill was signed as
a coach for the pitchers, but he has
announced that he will get in shape
10 pitch a few games IL he is needed.