Evening journal., 1922-08-22
Pitching Ace of Majors Lost in
Oushng of ';ShufHn' PhiI'
BY BILLY EVANS.

The passing Of "Shufiin' Phil
Douglas OF the New York Gianti
from organized baseball marks tn,
passing Of one Of the greatest pitch.
ers in the history of the game.
Douglas has been barred for al
time by Manager McGraw OF the
Giants because. McGraw claims, he
offered. for money consideration
to leave the team at this critical time
in the race when the Giants needed
him most.
Douglas never reached the lofty
position in baseball that his remark
able ability justified. simply because
he was his own worst enemy.
Physically Douglas was a perfect
specimen OF manhood. When in
condition, there was no more ef-
fective pitcher in either league.
Mentally. Douglas had the brain Of
a child. II was an easy matter TO
lead him astray.
In baseball 1t is tradition that
all left-hsnded pitchers are erratio.
Ball players had habit OF calling
"Shufflin' Phil the 'right-hsnded
southpaw."
Douglas has been pulling eccentric
stunts ever since he got into the
majors. His career, while not as
colorful as that of Rube Waddell,
was in many ways similar.
1t was not unusual for Phil to
desert his team Just at the time II
needed him most Often his where
abouts for sometimes as much as
two weeks at time. would be a
matter OF mystery.
Then he would return. always re-
pentant. and would invariably pitch
SO sensationally that his escapade
soon would be forgotten.
Manager McGraw has suspended
Douglas a dozen times during his
career with the Giants. But Nc
Graw, knowing the pitchers weak
ness. has been lenient with him, and
II is said that he returned later every
fine he ever assessed against Doug
las. His salary had been trebled
since he Joined the Giants. and no
salary grlvance is believed TO have
been harbored by him.
shunlin' Phil's pitching unques-
made It possible for the
Giants to win the world series from
the New York Yankees in 1921.
Douglas three times opposed Carl
Mays. the American League race. He
lost the opening clash to o.. In
his next two starts he won against
the Yankees and Mays 4 to 2, and
to 1.
He kept the Giants in the series
after most of the experts had ng-
Ired them out Of the running.
The most remarkable feature
sbout the work of Douglas in the
1921 series was the way he crossed |
I'D the Yanks throughout. Regarded |
Is spltball pitcher almost exclu-
lively, Douglas used the splitter only |
feeding the Yanks in |
tead a sweeping curve ball over |
which he had absolute control.
The passing of Douglas may cost |
he Giants the 1922 pennant Man !
Iger McGraw often has been accused |
" buying a pennant for New York
n paying huge sums for players he
needed, but in the ousting of Doug
as he proved that he is just as will
ng TO throw out a star who dis
redIts the game. even though II |
ills HIS chances, as he is anxious to /
uild up a pennant- winning team,
.hatever the financial cost.
Douglas had not pitched a game
,r the Giants since July 81. when
q was beaten by the Pirates. He
ad lust returned to the club after
ne of his mysterious disappear
ices when McGraw called him In
Id the explosion occurred.
The letter that Douglas is charged
ith having written making the Of
r TO Quit the team for a consider
ion, is now in the hands Of the
ew York club.
Douglas was born in Rome. Ga, In
,eo. and first played with his home
,wn in the Southwestern League
1910. He pitched for Macon. Ga,
10 following year, and was twice
RATED by the White sox. who farm
4 him 10 Des Moines and San Fran
Isco for seasoning.
Douglas has also been with the 4
ubs and the Boston Red Sox. From
he latter club he took another trip :
o the minors in 1915.
In 1919 he was traded 10 the
;isnts by the Cubs. coming TO New
-ork in the deal that sent Davey .
robertson TO Chicago.
Douglas is a right-hender. stands
ver six feet and weighs close to
30 pounds.