Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-30
MAIN PACKS UP
AND STEALS
Phil Twirler Differs From
Arab, Making Depar-
ture in Morning
RUBE WADDELL TRICK
St. petersburg, ria, March 80.

''' set''soufE, iid', NdlC Cll oV'
\ mysterious disappearance is dis
turbing tho smooth, even flow of rou-
tine IN the Philadelphia camp today.
Miles Main. tho skyscrapcr pitcher
hurled from the Louisville team, failed
to appear at Coffee rot Park all day
yesterday, though the players reported
that he was up carly and sizing in the
lobby Of the hotel when they came
down to breakfast. When the Phils
returned to their billet in the evening
the clerk reported that Main had left
for Jacksonville cary in the morning.
1t was then discovered that ho had
brought his playing shoes and other
duffle in from the park and had taken
this stuff with him. This makes it
look like packing up for permanent
stay.
why Main left is a deep mystery TO
everybody but tho elongated pitcher
Moran about it, and even his roommate,
Bradley Hogg. knew nothing about it,.
In the face of all the evidence we are
those eccentric actions for which the
widely known Rube Waddell was ever
noted. Main had created a favorable
impression in his work here and his
loss would be one that Moran's crippled
pitching force would feel severely,
Fitz Pleases Moran
Justin Fitzgerald, the speedy little
outiielder from the Pacific Coast League.
participated in both workouts at Coffee
Pot Park. Itz is a sawed-off little
Irishman. who looks like a second edi-
ton of Willie Keeler. He hits left-hand- :
ed. throws with right arm and appears
to have the same infallible eye up there
at the plate that Keeler possessed. Nor
an is 'tickled pink with his first impress
sion of this fast peppery little player.
Every season, year in and year out.
Fitzgerald has been anon the swat.
ting leaders of the Pacific Coast League,
usually mauing the missile up round
the 800 and he Is by far the fastest man
on the bases that the coast circuit had
ever had The one thing that has kept
him out of the big leagues was "A weak
throwing arm, the result of n football
accident. Then just as his arm was COM
ing around all right he injured his leg
by tearing a tendon along about mid
season III lDlO. AL lIe llllle OF t1llS
injury he was SO far ahead In stolen
bases that it took the other players in
the league full month to catch him.
Muesel Also Looks Good
The Phils were lucky in securing
Fitzgerald just at time when both
these ailments appear to be permanent
Iy cured In Muesel and Fitzgerald
| Moran has secured two of the best
looking new outfielders that have come
In the league In years.
Moran has sent a telegram TO Cy Will
liams In an effort to induce the long
| legged slugger 10 consent TO play ball
this year, and IL Williams reports the
| chances are that an effort will be made
to trade George Whitted for a pitcher
of class,
| With Cravath. Williams, Muesel and
| Fitzgerald in line, Moran will have the
| best hitting and most efficient out
field he has had since taking command
of the league club, and can well dis
pense with the services of Whitted. II
Is in the pitching department that the
team needs added strength and trade
of Whitted for a pitcher of the class
| of Jim Vaughn. Lefty" Cooper, Dick
Rudolph or Jess Barnes would mean a
decided acquisition in strength for the
| Phils and "A team at Broad and Hunt
ingdon streets that will give them all
battle for the pennant.