Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-06

ATTH1s unseemly date last year. just
n MS the Ides of February were in full
t,.,t there were two noted athletes who
hod bcen checked out across the border
n.itb complete citizenship papers for
Has. Bccu Land Both had served long
and honorable careers. nut their day was
,,nroscd TO be over. with twilight al
ready drifting in.
orc ,f these was Edward V. Cicotte,
of the White Sox.
The other was Harry F, Sallec. trans
ferrcd from New York TO Cincinnati,
The Double Return
NEITHER was of any particular use
" in 1918, but 1919 proved to be an
other yarn :,
Retwecu them they won fifty ball
.onos--rorc than any other two pitch
ers in the two leagues.
One put the White Sox through and
tbc other was largely responsible for
the Red upheaval. =,
They had the two best years they had
crer known at n time when they had
both been checked off the list.
For 1920
TIME Old Doc with the fancy scythe
L allotted them new lease on life
last ycar. But how about 1920?
Cicotte will be thirty-six years old
This next June. Sallce was thirty five
on February ).
They have each been pitching fifteen
years in fast company, or about as long
ms Mathcwson lasted in front of hostile
bats.
Cicotte had the tougher year to han
die and by late September was pretty
well tagged In spite of this. he won
more games than any other pitcher in
either league, and finished second to
Walter johnson in general effectiveness.
Cicotte strolled along at an even clip
with his famous slow ball only trifie
slower than ever.
But both have reached the time now
when it is merely matter of one more
scason-or the end of the road.
Important Factors
ONE way or another, they will be i'm
" portant factors this season. If Ci-
cote skids badly, as many think he will.
the White Sox case will be next to hope
less.
There is hardly a chance that he Will
he as good as he was last summer, but
the Old Timer may have one more sur =
rrise left. and have at least substan
tial year,
Sallce's case is different. The crafty
southpaw is working in the midst of a
big stable where he can take his time.
He has never depended on speed, and if
worked only one game a week is sure TO
render able assistance to Moran's staff.
He isn't likely to win more than twenty
games again. but he will turn in quite q
few with a winning club at his back
The showing made by this ancient pair
will be an interesting feature of the i'm =
ncnding campaign,
IS Unlucky?
WALTER JOHNSON last fan com
w plcted his thirteenth campaign as a
major league pitcher.
AS he led his league in effectiveness
and allowed only 1.49 earned runs to
the contest. the unlucky attachments to
thirteen are not quite in evidence. He
starts his fourteenth season less than
thirty three years old, and with that
willowy pitching motion he employs he
should be a winning pitcher for at least
hive more summers.
Johnson $ best year was in 1913. when
he allowed only 90 runs to the after
noon. But 1919 was his next best per
tormanco. full proof that he is on the
highway to stick for several years to
come.
one Best Bet for 1920-Claude Will
" lams not to pitch the first world
series game next fall.
VNflE head hold is rarely successful as
wrestling grip. The head is the
Nrestlcr'S one invulnerable sector.
I'HERE is rumor abroad that the
L prohibition movement will have Cali
lorna suppressed, as the air out there is