Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-03-27
BRAVES ARE FACING
TOUGH YEAR UNLESS
PITCHERS SHOW UP
George Stallings Up Against It
Ever Since They Dubbed Him
miracle Man,
BY JAMES CRuSlNBERRY.
Special Dispatch to Great Falls Daily
Tribune and Chicago Tribune.


4 Tribune and Chicago Tribune.
Columbus, Ga, March 26-Ever since
they gave him the title of miracle man.
for winning the worlds championship in
1914, it's been tough sailing for George
Stallings. who pilots the Boston Braves.
and unless that miraculous power re-
turns to him it looks as if it'll be as
tough again this summer.
just at present Stallings is suffering
from the complaint that ails most Of the
major league managers l have visited
this spring-namely: an unconquerablc
hunger for couple of star pitchers
John McGraw is about the only leader
who hasn't contracted the malady.
My team would be all right and have
a chance to finish in the first division
the first words of the Georgian planter
when asked about the prospects for his
Braves.
Not Enough for Practice.
: I've been terribly handicapped in the
work so far, because there aren't enough
pitchers here to give US batting practice.
! The rest Of the team is pretty strong.
but We must have some pitching help
A trip to the fair grounds Of Colum
bus disclosed the Braves on the field Of
| action, and one found there Dick
Ae"NcIph, Si0o al LAot VI many ESuSVhs.
and Joe Oeschger. one time hurler of
| major league worth with the Phillics.
Six or seven others were in the back
ground practicing pitching, but though
they asp:red to big league slabdom there
seemed no assurance they will attain it.
Rudolph. who is getting along in
years. is allowed his own time to get
SO has been unavailable for service 0:
any value in the training camp, seldom !
being asked to pitch to batters.
Must Assemble Some Fingers.
If Stalings. with his alleged miraculous
power. can shape, up couple or three of |
the young slab aspirants, and then grab |
another one or two caStoffs of other |
clubs, he may be able to put up fight |
with his club, which looks like it might |
knock in lot Of runs and put up 4 !
corking fielding defense.
John Scott, hurler who last year
gave promise of becoming great, start |
ed the pitching staff trouble this spring |
by joining the popular holdout club. He |
asked just twice as much money as
George Washington Grant. president Of
the Braves. offered. and it seems that |
Mr.. Grant has the last say in the matter |
SO at present writing Big Scott is still in |
winter quarters.
Then there was the case Of Cecil !
Algernon Causey, who belonged to the
Braves until a few weeks ago. He wrote |
Grant a sassy letter during the winter. |
stating what he demanded as salary and |
requesting the Braves boss not to an
noy him with mail unless it was a mis-
sive containing contract for that
amount.
How Causey Was Lost.
Grant then decided to show young
Cecil a thing or two, so asked waivers
on him. but instead of proving to the
worth shuckS, to the surprise of the
Braves boss two or three big league
clubs put in a claim. and now Cecil is
wearing a Philadelphia suit
The Braves boss hoped to get even
when he claimed and obtained Frank
Miller from Pittsburgh. after the latter
had asked waivers, on Mller's refusal
to report Grant sent Miller letter
or two and got no answer. then let it
pay a salary as high as 5000. But
Miller. who lives in Michigan. across
the lake from Chicago, returned cool
refusal. and now Grant is perplexed
over what young man in a Michigan
burg can be doing to refuse $4,000 for
six months pleasant work with the
Braves.
Morgan May "Produce.'
In the meantime Manager Stallings
tolls diligently with his squad of rook
les. hoping each day that one or two
will flash bit of big league stuff. He
obtained spark of hope the other day
when Cyril Morgan. a handsome youth.
caught onto new style of delivery and
curved some beauties over the plate that
completely bafflod the regulars in bat
ting practice. OF course Cyril is call
ed ''Cy,' as all Morgans in baseball are,
and he may come through and be as
great as the old time Cy Morgan
Bunny Hearns is broad shouldercd
veteran who laid off baseball last year
and came back this spring. His south
paw curves are likely to be Of great
service. John Paul Jones, who has
been up before. reported late, and if he
goes as well as ne did last year in the
international league. may draw regu-
lar turn on the rubber. Dana Filling
i'm. another of some experience, has