Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-08
S|CK|NG STRIVING
FOR REGULAR BERTH !,
Former Giant, Slated for the
Minors, Making Good
With PhiIIies
"MULE" WATSON TO PITCH
BY EDWIN j. POLLOCK
Special STAFF Correspondent Travelling With
the PhilIes


the Phillies
Brooklyn. \. ". May S.-The clever
work of Eddie Sticking. crstwhilc Giant
utility infieldcr and now Phllic rcgu-
lar. has impressed Jack Coombs. and
the former New Yorker stands great
chance of landing the second base job
If he continues to wreck rival pitching.
Sticking made his first appearance in
tho COOmbs lineup on Tuesday. when
he held down tho short field post in the
first of the series against the pace
setting Robins. lie had been slated for
the minors by McGraw. who had ar
ranged to send him to Rochester when
the Phils grabbed him. With another
chance to stay on the big circuit. Eddie
is determined to make good.
The former Giant has been noted as
a sweet fielder. but he never got much of
n reputation as hitter.
Starts TO Hit
In his recent exhibitions. however. he
has surprised the talent. lie held down
short for McGraw in the first game Of
the New York series against the Phils
last Friday. and he turned in a record
of two hits out of four times up and
two runs. Afcld he handled nine
chances cleanly.
Against Brooklyn, in a Phillic uni
form. Eddie collected three solid
singles out of five opportunities. and
one run.
Up to the time of the death of his
baby daughter. Harry Pearcc had been
playing great game aficld for the Phils
and had been hitting too. On Tuesday
he was still on the top of his fielding
game, but failed to connect safely out
of four tries. In the ninth. with two
on, Coombs sent Whittcd in to bat for
his second bascman.
Fine Fielder
1t is believed that Sticking has an
edge on Pearcc in ueIding and if he
continues to slug the ball he may be
changed over to the middle sack when
Dave Bancroft RECEIVERS from his sprain-
cd ankle. 1t will be great race be-
tween the two for the job.
The Phils have been extremely fortu-
nate in getting the crowds on the present
trip. 1t is estimated that more than
1000 saw tlh four games. Twenty
thousand turned out for the opening
National League battle at the Polo
grounds Friday, % 1000 witnessed Sat
urdays game and a capacity crowd of
80 900 visited the Stoneham' Stadium
Sunday.
There was no game Monday. but
Tuesday 10000 greeted the Phillies at
Ebbets Field. This brings the total
to $4,000. 1t is safe TO say that 100,
900 will have seen the Coombsmen on
their short stay away from Broad and
Huntington streets.
Watson to Pitch
Coombs probably will start Mule
Watson against the Robins today and
save Elmer Jacobs for Fridays work
in Phillie town. The mention of Wat
son recalls an incident after Mules
last start.
It viii be remembered that Watson
was walloped numerically by the
Giants last Friday. McGraw's slug
gers pasted him for sixteen hits, but
Coombs let him go the distance be-
cause he was short on pitchers and the
game was hopelessly gone.
The Mule had displayed great form
and won against the Giants only tho
week previous and Coombs was anxious
to know what was the trouble with his
big right handler. He questioned him
after the game.
"What was the matter, Mule, were
you nervous?" he queried.
"Nope."
"Did the crowd get your neryeY"