Evening star., 1920-01-11

last year
However, to my way of thinking.
there was blothing more extraordinary
in the 1919 campaign of the two ma
lor Icagnues than the remarkapie
comeback of Pitcher Slim Caldw ell:
At the start of the season CaldWeii
vas a member of the Boston Ameri-
cans, having gone to that team from
New York in Il trade during the VIM
ter With Boston he showed nothing
10 prove that he was the once great
pitcher of the New York Americans
/ worked a half dozen games Whlcn
he started for Boston, but rarely dld
he finish. His arm seemed TO De IN
bad shape. He had none OF the siZ-
ziing speed that once was his one
hest bet He was trying to get by
merely through his knowledge or
pitching. That is a rather difficuit
thing to do. Boston finally decided
that Caldwell was through. Much as
had always admired Caldwells S
pitching ability, 1 felt that Boston
had reached a correct conclusion. The
fact that none of the other MAJOR
league clubs was anxious to give
Caldwell a chance seemed to max
the opinion general that as pitcher
he was through. He was given an
unconditional release by Boston.
Doubted CaIdwell's Ability.
/ was ordered to Cleveland to Of
nCiate In a series Oh SdHieS- L iS u's
that l opened there it was announced
that Speaker had signed Caldwell; L
will wager that a thousand times that
day / was asked: Will CaldWeil help
the Indians?" at that time Cleveland
had an excellent chance to nose out
Chicago if some pitching strength
could be added. l didn't believe Cald-
we'll would do the Cleveland club
bit of good. but / felt such an express
sion of opinion would do Caldweli
IL n RI fFr n IN
the very start. ] simply told ali IN
quirers that if Caldwell was half as
good as he once was he would DO
Cleveland lot of good. Frankly
didn't believe he was.
Then, to my way of thinking, came
the big sensation of 1919. Caldwell
had been resting couple OF weeks
prior to joining the Cleveland club. |
worked his first game in a CieVeland
uniform. He beat the Athletics. he
followed this up by pitching beau
tifuI game against Chicago which he
lost by a one-run margin. through
tough break in luck. During the rest
Of the season every game ne WORKED
was on par with those TWO HIS
outstanding feat. however, was shut
ting out his former teammates, New
York, without hit or run. In that
game Caldwell showed me as much
stuff as he ever had. With two strikes
on the batter, he always sneaked over
ball before he got on the rubber l
believe he struck out eight men.
Caldwells reversal OF form, to me, IS
one of the mysteries of the year. l
don't know whether il was flash in
the pan or not. I do know. however,
that much of Gleveland's chances de-
pend on what he shows in 1920. III
he continues the pace he started, look
out for the Indians.
The Case of Peckinpaugh.
Then there was the case of Roger
Peckinpaugh Never regarded as
500 hitter. Peckinpaugh had the
greatest season of his career. In for
mer years the Yankee shortstop's real
value to the team had always been
Ball players in the American League
insist there are no bad bounds for
Peckinpaugh. He plays the hard and
easy chances with graceful noncha-
lance that makes it appear that any
rlay shortstop. From the very outset
of the 1919 campaign Peckinpaugh
began to show great power on the Of
fense. AS a matter of fact, his su-
perlatiye hitting was a strong factor
in the great showing made by the
Vanke ees in the first four months o.
The race. For weeks Peckinpaugh
led the American League hitters.
Late in the season he suffered a
slump that lost him the leadership,
and as a rather strange coincidence
the moment he slumped in his bat
ting the general play of the New
York club seemed to suffer. Prior to