Evening star., 1921-02-18

denCe Is involved III the assertion tH'
when given definite assurance that q
Anthony Brottem will be members o
in the uniforms OF the Pittsburgh cl
gone through the motions OF signing
Competent critics in a position to
observe the work of these athletes
with the Little Rock club last sea-
son a : practically unanimous IN the
opinion that they represent the cream
of the southern association talent anu
the official averages so 1ar to"ar"
bearing this out.
In the case OF Brottem, the figures
he is credited with fail TO Indicate
his true worth. according to Henry
Loesch, Little Rock scribe. Wh" ioi-
lowed the fortunes of the iraNtiers
from the time the season l3Ze oPehe"
until it closed with Norman Elper-
fields gang in possession OF tue
championship
BrOttem Real Iron Man.
Brottem was a real iron man IN so
far as service is concerned having
officiated back of the bat IN All nut
seventeen Of the total OF lo4 games
scheduled and WIS the real leader
among the receivers. Ills oo9 put
outs. 162 assists and 10 errors gave
him a fielding average OF ?'t an"
entitle him to highest ranking. at
though some others i'll many itWtr
games were credited with hetteT
marks As Il batSman his Srca >tS,
value Law in the timelineSs OF his
waIIons his leg bingles in ISL times
at bat Giving him the rather modest
average of 25S His swats Travelled
for a total of l43 bases. "A doubles
triples and > home runs being
enumerated. lie personally conducteh
SO runs over the platter.
Rrottem's chief value is not shown IN
the tables, however. Ii consisted IN the
steadying influence he cXerted over me
pitchers he handled and the manner III
which he coached them to obtain
maximum of effectiveness. His assist
total indicates a throwing arm com
bining the essentials of strength ana
accuracy. Purely mechanical catchers
are able TO impress with the7r WORK III
this respect. but 1t requires gray mater
to study and outguess the opposition
and this Brottem is credited with haV-
ing done consistently. He is hailed as
a Aeld general of "A rare type
Miller shines as SiuGger.
1t was Miller's well developed pro-
pensities for smuggling that attracted the
attention of dozen major league scouts
last season. In the 541 times al bat
charged sgains, him in lo1 games Miller
scored 102 runs and cracked out lao
hits, for "a percentage OF %. rms
mark waS exceeded by three other play
ers who participated in approNinateiT
the same number of contests. but ali
failed to equal the 305 total bases he
obtained from his drives. In addition
to establishing a new association record
of 10 home runs Miller hammered out Il
triples and no less than 50 doubles.
His speed OF foot is indicated by
the 81 stolen bases credited to him.
only three others in the circuit eX-
ceeding this total 1t is illustrated
in his fielding record, too. his 296 put
outs, Is assists and errors giving
him a fielding average of 80 and
ranking him third in the list of fly
chasers.
GriH Sure of Verdict.
:, Whether Washington viii have the
services of this pair of promising
players depends. Of course. on the
decision of Judge Lands. who has
the rival claims of the Nationals and
Pirates before him and now is await
ing evidence from the Little Rock
club According TO Clark Griffith.
however. it is a morat certainty the
athletes will be cavorting at Tampa
next month. the only. problem re-
garding them being that faced by
Mcbride in determining how fire.
quently Brottem should be called on
to take the catching burden off the
broad shoulders OF Pat Charity
and which of the Nationals veteran
picket men will be DISPLACED by the
young and ambitious Miller.
GOrdy to Report fn June.
klrk GOr0y. the big rIghthander
who is slated to obtain q trial with
the Nationals this year. will not be
among those present when the pitch
ers are assembled at Tampa for pre-
1iminary conditioning Gordy is the
mainstay on the slab of the Wash
ington College nine. ard is anxious to
complete his studies before under
taking a professional ca.e He has
asked and received permission from
President Griffith to be excused from
the southern trip. and will remain
with the Chestertown institution and
do his training with the Eastern
Shore squad. This will be bad news
for the other Maryland College base
ball outfits, who entertain a whole
some respect for Ills prOwesS as
slabman Gordy will report TO the
Griffmen in June.
Nick to Stay Tor banquet.
When Miguel Martin departs for
Tampa tomorrow TO get the training
camp in readiness for the arrival a
week later of the first squad of Ma
fionals he will miss his chief assist
ant and roommate. Nicholas Altrock.
The comedians departure for the
: southland has been postponed in order
that he may lend his presence to the
Mcbride banquet at the Wardman
Park Hotel next Thursday evening.
a heavy demand for tickets at the
established price of 81 per is reported
at Spalding's. where they now are on
sale.
Another meeting of the committee
in charge of the testimonial to Wash
5ngton's new manager will be held a t
- So fsrN.