The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-03-13
by LUTHER a. HUSTON
]. n. g. staff Correspondent.

CHICAGO, March l1.-ChicaEo
fans are indulging in "A lot Of prog
nosticating Just now regarding the
baseball future of two OF the great
est pitchers who ever curved their
diRlts around the horschlde. Refer
enCe Is had to Grover Cleveland AL
eNander and to Urban Red" Faber.
Beyond any question the baseball
days OF these two eXponents of tho
twirllng art are numbered. Each of
them has seen something I'm excess
OF thirty-two or three summers slip
by and, as baseball ages 60, are
about ready to pass lover the hill."
Chicago fans realize that and in n
sense arc prepared for It, but what
the real bugs are "pestercatin' Z"
their minds about now is what these
two mound performers will do In
the season that Is Just about to burst
into rich and luxurious bloom.
An ominous silence has prevailed
up TO the time that this was written
in the camp OF the Cubs on PARKWAY
Catalina island concerning the con-
dition OF Alexander the Great. This
silence may mean that some
thing pleasant IS being held IN store
for the fans and II may mean that
the news OF the virtual passing of
one OF the games greatest mounds
men.
Rejoicing Recalled.
When the Cubs were i'm training
year ago the wires from the west
were kept drumming with dis
patches telling OF the return 20 form
OF Alexander, after his army cN-
e.. I'D
the ranks Of Bruin believers. Then
the great Alex asccnded tho hin for
the opening game of the season,
pitched a few innings, was taken out
and did not twiTl again for many
weeks. II was said that phOtug-
rGphor, shooting snapshots Of the
opening day ceremonies, had iOstlcd
the elbow OF the great pitcher and
injured his salary souper.
Whatever the circumstances
Alexander twirled through the sen
son with rather Indifferent success.
True, he was not backed up by the
best team in the National league.
but he did not have the best team
In the world back OF him In those
days when IT, was standing 'em on
their heads as a member OF the
Phillies. The fact seemed 10 he that
Alex himself was not the pitcher he
had been.
Long before the other players Of
the Cubs had begun 20 give thought
to the approaching season Alex hicd
himself 10 Catalina and began 10 get
in shape physically by playing golf
and stealing the stuff Of the noun
tain goats by climbing nlmbly about
the crags and lcdgcs that form so
large a part o. Calalina's contour.
when the advance guard Of tho
Cuhlcts arrived Alex already was
listed as one Of the natives Of Mr..
Wriglcy's illustrious Isle.
Hope Of FHndom.
Perhaps all this preliminary pre-
paratiOn Will produce results and
Alexander may crash forth IN the
present season as the remarkable
thrOwer he was IN years gone by. a
legion OF fans In Chicago and other
logi0ns elsewhere hope this will
prove the case. But there Is a sneak
ing suspicion in the minds OF many
that the arm OF the sandy singer
from tho cOrnhuskCr state has given
almost its last fun measure OF scrv-
leo 20 the national p7stime and IL
ready 20 pass the Job OF cheating
hungry bntsmcn out OF base hits on
to more juvenile bone and sinew.
when "Rod" Fabor turned in %
victories I'm the 1921 season with
90 mediocre club ss the white
SOX behind him he stamped himself
as one OF the greatest curyors ut
the age. Tho heuua-thatchod heav-
or from Cascade, Iowa, who gave
that hamlet It's only claim TO fame,
wanted 10 make It 80 victories for
the year and doubtless would have
succeeded HADN'T not been for an
injured knee that kept him OF the
firing lire during the closing three
weeks OF the season.
Fahor Has Operation.
During the winter T1bor UNDER
went am operation 20 have the dam
| aged condition OF hIs knee corrected
! 4 loose cartilage or cord or tendon
Or something was removed. When
he departed for tho spring training
camp Faber claimed that the knee
WAS as strong as ever