South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-22
GIGOTTE HOPE OF
WHITE SOX FANS
Veteran Shine Ball Artist viii
Bear Brunt of the World
Series Work.

NEW YORK. sept 22-with
more than twenty-five victories TO
his credit as the outstanding star Of
The White SOx pitching staff this sea-
son, little Eddie Cicottee. master Of
The knuckle hall. viii enter the
worlds series against Cincinnati car
rying the hopes OF Chicago fans on
his shoulders.
Cicotte. the veteran. the wizard
The marvel OF the American league
fans, VIII be the leading candidate
OF the Chicago contingent for the
role OF worlds series hero this fall
With Lefty Williams he will be de-
pended upon 10 carry the heavy end
Of the burden OF turning back the
hungry batsmen OF the Reds, and as
he IS a better pitcher than ever be-
fore. Chicago fans are confident
that he viii do what Is expected OF
him.
To study Cicotte's career in the
big show Is 10 marvel. Unlike the
average pitcher in any class OF base
ball, Cicotte grows better with age.
He celebrated his thirty-fifth birth
day on the 18th OF last June, and II
the American league season could
last long enough, he would undoubt-
ediy score a victory for each OF his
years.
Like Matty. Cy Young. Chief Ben
der and a few other great pitchers
who have made baseball history by
clinging 10 their strength and main
tanning their skill as moundsmen
long after the age when most pitch
ers are labelled as has beens, Cicotte
takes rank as a super moundsman
In his early twenties he was a
very ordinary pitcher. He was
shunted about IN the minor leagues,
starting at Calumet. in the North
Copper league. and playing with a
number OF clubs before he finally
attracted enough attention 70 be Civ
en- trial by the Detroit Tigers With
Lincoln, in the Western league, he
finally won recognition as timber
ready for transplanting and in 1908
ne joined the Boston Red Sox.
Cicotte's record while he pitched
fos Boston never set the world afire,
though IN 1909 he won thirteen
Sox. The following year his record
showed fifteen victories and eleve 7
defeats. but still the little knuckle
hall artist was given the go-by as
live wire in the running for pitch
ing honors.
Then came Cicotte's lucky day,
July %. 1912. when he was sent TO
the White Sox for the waiver price.
That day marked the beginning OF
EJdie's rise TO fame as one OF the
most effective pitchers the game has
ever known. But even he did not
realize II then. He was ambitious
and he simply kept on plugging
kept on experimenting with his
knuckle ball and saving wood.
In 1913 he won eighteen and lost
twelve games with Chicago. and the
following year his pitching percent
age fell below 500. He improved in
1915 and 1916. winning SAP and
SIS per cent Of his games, respec.
lively. during those two seasons
With the opening Of the 1917 season
he bloomed into his own as a pitch
er or the first water. His wonderful
work throughout the season enabled
the White SON TO come through tc
q championship IN their own league
when he won twenty eight game.
and lost but twelve dlbing one oil
the most spirited races the younger
major league has ever witnessed. In
the worlds series the little master
OF the freak delivery shared pitchine
honors with Red Faber.