davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
OLD STARS HIT BALL HARDER THAN THE
SLUGGERS OF TODAY, STALLlNGS SAYS,
TELLING WHY 1917 CROP WAS LIMITED

Here's little book which con-
tains the 1896 batting averages for the
National league" we said to George
Stallings, boss OF the Boston Braves,
who has been dabbling in baseball
since short time after Chris Column
bus discovered us.
"Yep-what about ito
Count up those 300 hitters, please"
We requested, poking the book at him.
George did-and announced:
"Eighty-three."
And how many hit 300 or better
in 1912"
Exactly six" answered Stallings.
Then we said:
In 1896, SO men out of 256 who
wore National league uniforms in that
year batted 800 or beyond. Twenty
one years later, in 1917. just six men
out of nearly 400 who cavorted on Ma
tional league lots broke into the 300
list What's the answer"
! Stallings. without hesitation, re-
piled:
There's a number of reasons. One
Of the most important Is the foul
strike rule, which wasn't in existence
in 1896. The second reason is the BAT
fling spitball. Furthermore, the horse
hide 81 years ago carried very high
polish. That made it difficult for a
pitcher to handle a new ball. The
shine was abolished some years ago
and 1t is much easier for pitcher to
control the ball now than it was in the
gloss days.
But the most important reason OF
all, in my opinion, is that pitchers OF
today are smarter than those of q
years ago. They use their heads as
well as their arms. Their sole aim
was to throw the ball past the batter
1t failed, as the batting averages Of
1896 will show. In those days only q
few pitchers made a study Of the
strength and weakness of the various
batters. Change of pace was virtu'
ally unknown Pitchers didn't try tt
work on the weakness of the hitters
They just put all the speed they hat
into the heave and took chance. =.
But in the present era pitchers
arm isn't his whole asset. Christy
Mathewson was a star long after hi:
arm went back. He used his brain
Eddie Cicotte hasn't wonderfully
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
AUCIE LOSES TO
BRADLEY QUINTET
Opponents Prove Too Strong for Local
Five In basketball Battle
Saturday.
OUTCLASSED THE HOME PLAYERS
Holds Score TO Tie Until in Last Half
Team Shows Fighting Spirit
in the Clash.
BY BOB OLMSTED.

Thirteen proved Augustana's I'M
lucky star Saturday night In the bask-
etball tilt with Bradley in the Angus
tana gymnasium, proving the turning
point in a game going to the visitors
by the score of Is to 49, Both teams
ran neck and neck until the final tie
in the second half stood 10 to ID.
Bradley then took the lead, rapidly
piling up the points and gaining a
decisive victory.
In the first half, the Mortimer set
the pace, starting the scoring and for
the moment taking the Peoria boys
by surprise. Bradley then started its
scoring machine and for the entire
first period 1t was nip and tuck
battle Augustana took the half by a
point, Bloomberg tossing a basket
just as the timers gun sounded, MAX
ing the score 9 to s.
Both teams came back strong in the
second half and for the first five min
utes there was a battle royal. The
visitors team work and basket shoot
ing then gradually proved too strong
for the locals and as Bradley got used
to the floor everything came her way.
Augustana fought hard, but was out
classed by the speed Of the Peoria ag-
gregation.
The sensational work for Bradley
was done by Doubet, the fast little
forward. He was in every play and
his long shots were the despair of all
opponents. He also succeeded in max
ing eight free throws out Of II. Au-
gie's stellar men were Bloomberg and
Bill Anderson at forwards. Ander-
sons floor work could hardly have
been excelled and Bloomberg shone in
locating the hoop.
The lineups we're:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
READY TO LICK THE
KAISER SAYS MIKE

st. Paul. Jan. 14.-Mike ODowd,
middleweight boxing champion OF the
world, is ready to 60 after the kaiser.
The fighting Harp returned his ques-
tionnaire last week to the eleventh
district board, making no claim for
exemption.
ODowd was called under the first
draft, examined and certified his num-
Der being eleventh on the waiting list
when the new ruling was made by the
provost generals Office that all certi-
fed men who had not yet been ordered
to camp be sent questionnalres.
The Harp gives as his vocation that
of professional boxer and cable
splicer with the notation middle
weight champion Of the world"
Mike says he would like time
enough to dispose of Harry Greb Of
Pittsburgh before reporting at Camp
Dodge AS there are many ahead OF
the Harp in class one in his division,
he may not be called until June !. in
which case he will have plenty of
time to dispose of Greb and any 9TH
ers he may tackle.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
WHAT GIRLS HAVE
DONE IN TRY0UTS

50-yard run-:06 10, Miss Fanny
James, Vassar college, Poughkeepsie,
n. Y. May 7. 1904.
75-yard run-:0S 3-5, Miss l.. Hay
cock. Byrn Mawr, Pa, April 26, 1913.
S0-yard dash-:1O AS, Miss Ethel
Dreyer. Philadelphia. May %, 1917.
100-yard run-:11 10, Miss Clara
Knausenberger, Seattle, Wash, May
80, 1916.
220-yard run-:30 3-5, Miss Agnes
Wood, Poughkeepsie, n. Y, May II,
1903.
4O-yard hurdles-:06 3-5, Miss jean
cite Hunter. Lake Erie college, Paines-
vile. Ohio. May 16, 1914.
50-yard hurdles-:0S Is, Miss Hilda
knausenberger, Seattle, Wash, May
30. 1916; Gndoor), low. :O7 3-5, Miss
Josephine Holmes, Evanston, ILL.,,
March 80. 1917.
eo-yard hurdles-:os is, Miss jean
cite Hunter, gainesville, Ohio, May
is. 1914.
9O-yard hurdles-:13 3-5, Miss Sell
ma Peterson, gainesville, Ohio, May
16. 1914.
100-yard hurdles-:15 1-5, Miss Sell
ma Peterson, gainesville, Ohio, May
II. 1913.
12O-yard hurdles-:1S, Miss vir-
ginia Branum. gainesville, Ohio, May
II. 1918.
Running high Jump feet 10
inches. Miss Clara Knausenberger,
Seattle, Wash, May 30, 1915.
Running broad jump-16 feet
inches. Miss Jane Cory, Greenwich,
Conn.,. May IA, 1915.
Standing broad Jumps feet .
inches. Miss Dorothy Cure, Lynch
burg. Va. May 3. 1913.
Fence vaults feet 81 inches. AL
mede Barr. Vassar college, Pough-
keepsie. N. Y. May Z. 1918.
Throwing baseball-217 feet 3
inches. Miss Gladys Palmer. Madison.
Wis, May !, 1915.
Standing hop. step and jump-2O
feet II inches. Miss Bessie Cramer,
Philadelphia, May %. 1917.
Standing high jumj-4 feet, Ruth
Spencer. Lake Erie college, Paines-
vile, Ohio. May is, 1911.
Hop. step and Jumps feet e1s
inches. Charlotte Hand, Vassar COL
lege. Poughkeepsie. N. Y, May z, 1910,
Pole vault feet Inch, Miss Mat
tie Carter, Columbus, Miss, April %,
1916,
Shot-put (eight pounds)-33 feet 4
inches. Miss Elizabeth Hardin, Pough-
keepsie. N, Y, May Is. 1914.
Discus throws feet inches, Miss
Marian Connolly. gainesville, Ohio.
May 16. 1914.
One-mile walk-10:23 As, Miss
Anna ROsen, Brooklyn, n. Y. Sept. l,
1917.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
CAODOCk TO TAKE
part IN TOURNEY.
Earl, Mike ODowd and Mike China.
VIII BE Seen In Action
at Camp Dodge.
MEET PLANNED FOR JAN. n
Winners In Events to Challenge Car,
Funston-Receipts to Gymna.
SUM Fund.

Camp Dodge, Jan. 1.-THE final.
for the tournament with Camp Fun.
ston will be held in Des Moines At
the coliseum on Jan. 10. They will
include five boxing events, FIVE wrest.
ling events and competition in five
special events, including grenade
throwing, bayonet contest. stretcher
race, shuttle race and relay race.
The winners In these events will BE-
sent against Camp Funston at Kan
sas City. Convention hall. on Jan. q
and 26. Some noted athletes will h.
seen in action on the Camp Dodre
teams in this tournament. Caddock
will be the representative in the heavy
weight class Of wrestlers. Mike
tO'Dowd may be the middleweight rep
resentative in the boxing team. With
these two to build team on, it should
be winner. Mike O'Dowd. the mid.
dleweight champion of the world
should hold his own against the best
that Funston can send against him
Not many people expect to see Cad.
dock thrown either.
Many men are working out daily
I 6CLtlA6 III Nouuiltoii iol lHt tTNOIlS
Among them are Lyman, a wrestler.
/ LeiDsy. boxer; Steel. another boxer.
and several other good men from the
i base hospital corps.
| Labe Safro, Ollie Anderson, Billy
Roach and Woodhall, who are all ex-
perts with the gloves and have been
in many fights, will be seen in action
| in the tryouts on Jan. 49, 1t has not
been determined whether Mike Glib
| bons will be allowed to participate
against Funston or not
The grenade throwers and men in
the special events are being picked
by the expert instructors in these
lines at the camp. Men from the hos
pital and ambulance units will be CIV
en- chance to show their wares in
the stretcher bearer race and the 9TH
er special events
! Lieutenant Farley and Mike Gibbons
are picking the bayonet men, Glib
bons is also picking the representa-.
tives for the tryouts in boxing, Earl
Caddock will handle the wrestlers, and
Director Griffith will coach the men
in the special events and besides su-
pervise the whole team.
Divide Funds.
Convention hail at Kansas City is
mammoth building capable of seating
many thousand people. The funds Of
the show will be divided between
Camp Dodge and Camp Funston and
devoted to the gymnasium funds Of
the two institutions. The money COL
lected at the coliseum in Dea Moines
will also be devoted to the same pur-
pose.
This will be the first athletic show
Of this kind ever staged and the ath-
letic council Of the division is very
hopeful that it will be success. It
will be rare opportunity to see three
world champions in grenade throwing
and bayonet work. The program will
be announced later.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
PLAY IN CANADA.

Montreal, Que, Jan. 14.-Four Amer
lean tennis stars played benefit
matches for the Canadian Red Cross
Saturday. The matches were played
indoors in the Montreal Tennis club
and drew a good crowd Of spectators
and tidy sum for wounded OF the
dominion overseas forces.
The Americans were scheduled to
test conclusions with a quartet OF
picked Canadian tennis playres, but It
was thought the games between ne
different United States players would
give more evenly matched competition
The Canadian Yankee international
matches may be staged later. II 50.
they will be the first international ten
mis- since the European war.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
THREE Kinks BEING
MADE FOR SOLDIERS

Camp Dodge, Jan. 14-As soon as the
Will-o'-the-wisp January thaw runs its
course Dodgers will have unlimited
opportunity for skating and hockey.
Three large Kinks are now being
laid out by detachment of the Three
Hundred Thirteenth Engineers. Boun.
daries for the rink are nearly com.
pleted and flooding will require but
little time.
One rink will be located on the va
cant land at Depot street and Main
avenue. Another Is destined to oc-
cupy the athletic field and the third
will be maintained on part OF the drill
field at the extreme south end OF
camp, according to John Griflth, can
Torment athletic director.
The rink will be under the direction
of Coach Griffith,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
in Chicago a week, then appearing in
Milwaukee, Kansas City, St. Paul,
Minneapolis and other cities.

Again we hear from Mike McNulty,
manager of Roy Moore, the challenger
OF the bantamweight title:
Dear Sir: Have received several
clippings out of tri-city papers; care
fully note that Pete Herman of New
Orleans is to appear at Rock Island,
his opponent to be Pekin Kid Herman
Of Pekin, Ill. Why Pe.,in Kid Her
man? Why not Roy Moore, bantam
weight champion of California and a
real contender for the bantam title?
Moore decisively defeated Pekin Kid
Herman at Rock Island on Dec. 13:
Just before that match Moore also de-
feated Johnny Richie at Rock Island
Richie and the Pekin Kid have boxed
I two draws. Why not the Little Harp
as New Orleans Herman's opponent.
The only reason l can figure out
why it's not Roy Moore against the
bantam champion is that Herman
doesn't care very much about boxing
Roy, as | am sure he still remembers
his 15-round match with Moore at New
Orleans little over year ago. Moore
for that match weighed ia pounds
rlngside, Herman came in at 119; fine
weight for a bantam.
Il would also like to show Roy
Moore against the famous Pal Moore
OF Memphis. Would gladly take the
match for the Rock Island club if they
can get Pal Moore to do some kind OF
weights and if l can come to terms
with the promoters, Row has shown
twice at Rock Island for the same
terms, and if they will allow me a lit
tie better percentage for the Pal
| Moore match will accept.
IN MNULTY."
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
ST. PAULFANS BACK
MOVE IN IL ROUNDS

st. Paul. Mimi, Jan. 14.-There is
$4,000 here in the hands of T. B. Nc
Pherson. real estate and theatrical
man; c. j. Cameron. proprietor of the
Hotel Sherman, and L. H. Kirk, the
atrical manager, that Ever Hammer,
Chicago lightweight, does not stop
Johnny Noye In their bout at Des
Moines on Friday. Reports received
here that Hammer would stop Noye
caused the raising of the pot. 1t ia
very probable that number of box
ing fans including these three will go
to Des Moines for the scrap.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
SEEK RULE,

Johnstown, Pas Jan. IA new
rule governing the eligibility of base
bail players of the country classed as
amateurs and seni-professionals will
be considered at the annual meeting
here next Friday of the National Base
ball federation. The rule was formu-
lated at conference between officials
of the federation and Garry Hermann.
chairman of the national baseball
commission, Ban johnson, president
of the American league; John h,
Tener. president Of the National
leaguei and John H, Farrell, secretary
Of the National association, The new
rule classes amateurs as foiiowsi
Glass A (amateur)-A player who
receives no monetary remuneration
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
CHAPPIE WISHES,

Ray Chapman of the Cleveland In
dians is not one of the players who
is going to peeve over it. even If play
ers have to ride in 'Sullivans" dur
ing the coming season. He sagely re-
marks that ball players will be Sc
much better off than men In the
trenches that they ought to he willing
to put up with most anything. I'm
in the second draft" says Chapman
land l only wish l could be sure OF
as much as an upper berth to sleep In
all season instead of being knee-deep
in the mud In the trenches"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
Nature Needs Assistance
In Keeping You Well

in keeping the blood absolutely free
of all impurities. This old remedy is
. wonderful purifier and tonic, and
has no equal for keeping the blood
rich and pure. 1t builds up the ap-
petite and tones up the entire system.
S. S. S. is sold by druggists every
where. 1t has been successfully used
for more than fifty years. and people
in practically every state testify to
its great worth. Write for booklets
and free medical advice to Swift Spe-
lei6e Co., Dept. E Atlanta, Ga,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14

for his services as a player during the
current season and who shall not
have played with professional or
semi-professional club one year prev
ious to August of the current season.
Glass AA semi-professionaD - A
player who does not earn his liveli-
hood by his services as player and
who shall not have played with any
club operating under the national
agreement of the professional baseball
leagues after May Is OF the current
season.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14

POWERFUL wing-but he has brains
and uses them. The moundsman who
reaches the crest OF the pitching head
and stays there the longest is the one
who has brains, who studies each and
every batter, uses strategy and plays
on the weakness Of the batter.
Only once since 1906 has a National
league batsman reached the $50 mark.
That was In 1913, when Jake Daubert
of the Dodgers just reached that fig
ure, and, of course, was the leader of
the older circuit. But in 1896 two Ma
tional leaguers went beyond 400,
while 10 hit better than $50. What a
form reversal! It was in that year
that Willie Keller of "hit 'em where
they amt" fame amassed the might
lest swat record of his career. He fig
ured in 12S games that year, went to
bat 562 times, scored lat runs and
cracked out 243 hits for an average of
1872"
Here is list of the men who hit $3.50
haitian ~, 1000.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
TO GIVE DECISIONS.

Fort Sheridan, Jan. 14.-Fort Sheri-
dan may be the scene Of boxing bouts
to a decision. Plans now are on foot
to stage show at the north shore
military post on Jan. "a, and an ef-
fort is being made to get Ever Ham
mer and Sailor Freedman for a 10
round wind-up. o. s. Gooch, IN charge
of the post exchange, has been dele
gated to arrange the show. The pro-
ceeds will go to post fund. Popular
prices will be charged, and a good
sum may be realized not only from
the civilian patrons but from the regi-
ment OF the United States regulars
now stationed there.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
DIRECTORS APPOINTED.

New Haven. Conn. Jan. 14.-An-
nouncement was made Saturday of the
appointment Of Edward Thorpe as di-
rector Of athletics at the Cape May,
N. j., naval station, and of Franklin
7. McCracken Of Philadelphia as di-
rector at League island, Philadelphia.
They were chosen by Walter Camp,
who Is commissioner Of athletics on
the United States Navy commission on
training camp activities.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
PLAYS ICE BALL.

While they are playing winter ball
in California and New Orleans another
brand of the game is being played in
Ohio towns on Lake Erie, They call
it ice baseball" and the game as
played Is Just the same as on an
earthen diamond except that the play
ers wear skates and the ball Is of
hard rubber, The ball. when hit, tray
els a long distance and the outfielders
have to skate some to make a catch
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
RUMOR SCARES 'EM.

Report that Outfelder Earl Neale
had enlisted caused scurryins
around IN Cincinnati and Neaie was
bombarded with messages. His an
swer was that he had not enlisted
but would await the draft II the call
does not come any earlier than now
expected it means he will start the
season with the Reds and that Mattys
team is assured Of an outfield equal
In class to any in the league-Roush
Griffith and Neale,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
coz DEFRATPn.

Galesburg, ILL.,, Jan. 14,-Knox won
its initial basketball game of its
schedule Saturday, defeating Coe col
lege, 81 To &c, Coo led in the first
haif by one point and came back
strong and gained q good lead. Knox
then rallied and forged ahead through
PfeideFs good work,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
PRIZE TO GIRL.

Plnehurst, n. G., Jan, 24,-Miss Ma
rion Hyde Of Chicago was awarded
Saturday the prize for the best rife
score made by woman shooter at
Pinehurst during the last week. Miss
Hyde's score. l4l out of possible $50,
being the best record made here this
season. All $50 shots were within the
black" at SO feet,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
WILLARD IN COURT.

Chicago. Jan. 14.-Jess Willard
heavyweight pugilist, was made &C.
PENDANT in a suit for $4,000 damages
filed Friday by Victor J. Dowd. VINO
claims that he was injured in wrest-
ling match in Rome, Ca. while en-
ployed with a show backed by VIII
lard.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
BERLIN PAPERS BOOST PRICE.

Amsterdam. Twenty-four of the
chief newspapers Of Berlin announce
that owing to the enormous and con-
tinuous increase in the cost of produc-
ton" the price Of single copies will
be raised from five pfennings to 10
pfennings.
The difficulty OF obtaining adequate
paper supplies continues to be acute.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
HCRLS CHALLENGE.

Chicago. Jan. 24.-Manager AL Blu.
menthal OF the Illinois Sportsmen club
basketball team Saturday night hurled
q challenge at Manager Foster OF the
Illinois Athletic club quintet for a Sc
ries OF games to determine the cham
p!onship OF the middle west.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
PLAYERS SN0HROUND.

Madison, Wis, Jan. 1.-THE Wis
consin-lowa Western conference bas-
ketball game, scheduled for Saturday
night was postponed owing to the fail
ure OF the Iowa players to arrive, The
visitors train was reported Storm
bound at an undetermined point.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
HALT GAME.

La Fayette, Ind, Jan. 1.-THE West
ern conference basketball game to
have been played between Purdue and
Chicago Saturday night at Chicago,
was called off today because OF cold
weather and NO trains running,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
WASHINGTON WINS,

St. Louis, Jan. 14.-In its first Mis-
souri, Valley conference basketball
game of the season, Washington uni
versity defeated Drake university here
Saturday night, AZ to "a.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
DRAKE DEFEATED.

St. Louis, Jan. 14.-In its first Mis-
souri, valley conference basketball
game of the season. Washington UNI
versity defeated Drake university here
Saturday night, Al to "a.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
A little help goes . long ways.

II you would keep your body in a
healthy and robust condition, throb-
bling with that splendid vitality that
indicates freedom from all ailments.
first of all see that your blood is
kept pure. Any slight impurity that
creeps into your blood will soon effect
the well-being OF your whole system.
A few bottles OF S. S. S. will give
lost the assistance that nature needs
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14
KEATS TIGERS.

Philadelphia, Jan, 1.-The Unlvers-
ity OF Pennsylvania defeated Princeton
~ to II in an inter collegiate basket
ball game here Saturday night.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14

Stallings:
"If Keller, Clark and the other stars
Of 1896 had been in the game in 1917,
how many of them, do you think, would
have hit better than 1902"
That's a rather hard question to
answer" declared the Braves leader.
Just the same, l feel that if the SO
men who hit 800 or better in 1896 had
been in the game last year more than
10 or II of them would have gone be-
yond the 300 mark. They were great
hitters, but most of them would have
flunked when faced by the spitball and
menaced by the foul strike and the
wonderful instinct of the present day
pitchers in knowing each batter's
weakness and strength"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14

Colleges which may take part in
the lacrosse tourney matches this year
are Yale, Cornell, Pennsylvania, Johns
Hopkins, Syracuse, Lehigh. Hobart,
Stevens institute and Swarthmore,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14

Miss Clara Katherine Haywood Of
Philadelphia, the clever 1872 balkline
billiard player, developed by former
Champion Harry p. Cline, who was re-
GENTLY elected an honorary member of
the National Association OF Amateur
Billiard players, will early in Febru-
airy make q tour of the west, playing
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-14

Mount Clemens, Mich, will hold two
Ice race meetings, Jan. Is to Feb. l.
and Feb. II to Is. Purses for each of
the light harness races will be $500.