The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-03-08

SisIer, born in 1898, played his hrst
real games in 1910 and 1911 as mem
Der of the Akron fOhio) High School
team. In 1912 he was signed by the
Akron club. Of the Ohio and Pennsyl-
vania League, and later was trans
6erred TO Columbus, in the American
Association. That club sold him to the
Pirates on August %, 1912, but Sisler
refused to report. He had decided to
70 to college and took course at the
University of Michigan, where his
9eats as a player form one OF the
brightest chapters in collegiate his
tory.
Great College HurIeF.
SisIer gained his greatest fame as
B~pftcher in his college days And it
was largely on the strength Of this
that he was signed by the Browns.
The Pirates at once inEisted that Sis
Ser was their property owing TO the
fart that they had kept him on the
reserve list A fight was made for
SIsIer by Barney Dreyfuss, and in the
end he was awarded to the American
League club.
During a recent tanning bee, at
which both Barney Dreyfuss and the
writer took their three healthies with
the rest OF the gang, Dreyfuss spilled
i1he real info regarding the discovery
-of George Sisler.
During the early summer Of 1912
ATtie Holman. one time great utility
man Of the Cubs. rushed into Drey-
fuss office in the Smoky City and pre-
vailed upon Barney making a trip to
Bargerton, Ohio, with whom Sisler
was playing, the team playing indie
pendent ball at nearby towns.
Dreyfuss, after watching Sisler at
practice. left the grounds and bought
SisIer via phone from the Columbus
American Association club, who
owned title to the player, but he never
got him.
Made Debut In 1918.
Sisters debut as a major Lacquer
was on June %. 1915, against the
White Sox. He served in the role Of
a pinch hitter and then twirled the
last three innings for his club His
showing that day convinced every
one that he was one Of the greatest
natural all around ball players that
ever wore a spike.
Sisters first complete game as a
pitcher was on July 3, 1915. when he
beat the Indians, to !. His hitting
in that game and in subsequent con-
tests. his wonderful base running
ability and his faultless fielding con-
WINGED the Brownie owners that Sisler
would be a far more valuable man
at FIRST base than as a pitcher.
Averages L3I9 at Bat.
Sisler. in his four seasons. has
banged the ball for an average Of .319
and has helded for the remarkable
average Of 1856. He has scored 24l
runs in a total OF $50 games and has
banged out $50 hits. A total of 116
stolen bases is to Sisters credit-an
average of twenty-nine pliers a sea-
son
Sisler, during his career. has found
the pitching of the Indian staff the
easiest to maltreat-and that OF the
Red SoX the hardest. Since 1918 he
has hit for 81 against the Indian
moUndsmen and he could gather In
only -2S5 when pitted against the
Bostonians.
Sisters record as a pitcher is not a
very extensive one because he so
quickly proved his all-aroUnd ability
that he was taken from the mound
and placed on first base He pitched
a total Of seventeen games during the
four years and won FIVE of them.
One OF the outstanding features Of
Sisters batting proWess is the fact
that the more wonderful the pitcher
the easier II seems for him to connect |
Death Valley Jim Scott, of the White |
Sox, never had any terrors for Sister. !
The Brownie clouted him for an aver |
age of .4sl.
Ernie Shore Of the Red sox was a