The Washington times., 1922-03-07

I'm IN the time that this was written
in the camp Of the Cubs on TAR
away Catalina Island concerning
the condition Of Alexander the
Great. This silence may mean that
something pleasant is being held In
store for the fans and It may mean
that out Of the silence finally WIN
come Che news of the virtual pass.
ing of one of the games greatest
moundsmen. ...,
a year ago the wires from the west
were kept drumming Win us
patches telling OF the return "
form of Alexander. after his army
eYneriences, and there was rejoicing
in the ranks of Bruin believers.
Then the great Alex assembled the
hill for the opening game OF the
season, pitched a few innings, was
taken out and did not twirl again
for many weeks.
II was said that q photographer,
shooting snapshots OF the opening
day ceremonies, had jOstled the
elbow of the great pitcher ana
injured his salary souper.
Whatever the circumstances Alex
ander twirled through the season
with rather indifferent success.
True, he was not backed up by the
best team in the National League
hut he did not have the best team
in the world back OF him in those
DAYS when he was standing EN- on
their heads as a member OF the
Phillies. The fact seemed to be
that Alex himself was not the
pitcher he had been.
Long before the other players or
the Cubs had begun to give thought
to the approaching season Alex
hied himself to Catalina and began
to get in shape physically by play
ing golf and stealing the stuff of
the mountain goats by climbing
nimbly about the crags and lodges
that form so large a part OF Cat
alinas contour. When the advance
guard Of the Cublets arrived Alex
already was listed as one of the
natives of Mr.. Wrigley's illustrious
isle.
Perhaps all this preliminary prepa-
ration will produce results and Alex
ander may crash forth in the present
was in years gone by. A legion Of
fans in Chicago and other legions
elsewhere hope this will prove the
case.
But there is a sneaking suspicion
in the minds of many that the arm
OF the sandy singer from the Corn
husker State has given almost its
last full measure Of service to the
national pastime and is ready 70 pass
the job of cheating hungry batsmen
out OF base hits one to more juvenile
bone and sinew.
When Red" Faber turned in twen-
ty-five victories in the 1921 season
with so mediocre club as the White
Sox behind him be stamped himself
as one of the greatest curvers Of the
age.
The henna-thatched HEAVIER from
Cascade, Iowa, who gave that ham,
let its only claim. to fame, want
ed to make il thirty victories for
the year and doubtless would have
succeeded had IL not been for an
injured knee that kept him off the
firing line during the dosing three
weeks Of the season.
During the winter Faber under.
went an operation TO have the dam.
aged condition Of his knee correct
ed. A loose cartilage or cord or ten
don or something was removed.
When he departed for the spring
training camp Faber claimed that
the knee was as strong as ever.
All reports from the camp thus far
indicate that he was right. II he
was, then Kid Gleason has a score
or more of games already packed
in his old kit bag, for there is moth
ing in the world the matter with
Faber's pitching tools.
The question that arises in the
minds of the fans, however, is
whether Faber's knee will stand up
under the strenuous endeavors Of
the regular season. II he is disabled
the hopes OF the Sox for staying out
OF the cellar seem slim.
II he goes through the season IN
injured and gets any help from Dick
Kerr and the young pitchers, the
Sox might edge their way into the
first division.