The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-09-24
JAKE ATZ BUILDS
DEADLY MACHINE
IN TEXAS LEAGUE
Fighting Body Rather
Than Group Of Stars
} Form Fast Combine

FORT WORTH, Texas. Sept. "a
Consistency marked tho campaign
OF the Fort Worth Panthers in the
1922 championship race Of the Texas
league and resulted In the local ag-
gregution winning the pennant for
the third straight year. Manager
Jake Atz, veteran skipper or the
Cats, built a deadly maCh.ne--not n
club on Individual bright lights The
Panther pilot, although In his sick
bed through the first three weeks
Of the campaign. directed the train
ing OF his men from a hospital cot
and eventually returned TO the fold
70 find that a club OF the same cali.
her as that In 1920 and 1921 has
been developed.
Five Hit 300.
The Cats had five batsmen in the
charmed circle. Clarence Kraft
home run king OF the league. who
swatted the apple far over the gar
den wall 80 times In the race lust
closed, led the 1900 or better" bat
ters with a mark OF 335
His absence in the early part OF the
season, due to n bad knee, was ex-
pected TO kill the Cats chances of
repeating their triumphs OF two
straight years, but he returned TO
ing of the campaign and imme-
dlately started his old time batting
streak. He piled up homer after
homer in three weeks after his re-
turn. His appearance at first base
evidently had psychological effect
on his mates for they pulled into the
lead when he returned to the initial
sack.
A Rose Was Runaway.
"a runaway race resulted and as
JNnc was drawing to close, with
the Cats seven games ahead. the
league magnets went into confer
ence and split the season for the
third consecutive year, despite the
protest Of the Fort Worth, Wichita
/ gals and Dallas teams, who argued
%hat Il WIS below the standard of
class a league to cut a schedule.
Wichita Falls gave Fort Worth
merry chase during the second half
and the race was not decided until
September s, when Fort Worth de-
feated Dallas and made II impossible
for the Spudders to win out.
Big Lcfthand Crew.
Atz boasts the best lefthand pitch
ing crew in the south In Joseph
Pate, Lefty Augustus John and Long
Sam Ross. he has trio of crack
southpaws-good enough to face any
minor league outfit In the nation.
Paul Watched. his big riEhthand
sptballer, led the league in the
number of victories, while Young
Johns had the best earned run aver
age. Joe Pate was q consistent win
ner as was Sam Ross. who came
from the Portland Pacific Coast
League club to the Cats IN the clos
Ing weeks OF the season ana chalked
up eight victories against one de-
feat.
Tiny Goodbread, his big righthand
comedian hurler. Is considered one
OF the greatest relief pitchers in
Dixie. He saved many a game for
the Cats. His antics on the coach
ing lines draw big crowds in the
southern section OF the Texas
league, when the Cats opponents are
too far down the ladder TO bring
out the assemblages.
Swift fnficld.
In the infield Kraft plays at first
Hoffman, the flying Dutchman,
holds down the second sack and he
was in the select circle Of the league
batters. Tavener. at short, Is n
regular ball hawk. The young short
stop Is the fastest in the league and
hits well for a frail lad. Phelan. as
slstant manager. held down the third
sack, with Frank Haley, who was
crippled practically all season, held
IN reserve for duty at the far corner
Fhelan batted .293 and was a valu-
able man In every way.
The best outfield in the league is,
AH's stanmont when speaking OF
MS prizS fly chasers. Cecil Coombs
IiEgy Isdrs and Jack Calyo. Sears
Calv+ and Coombs finished with
mar-s OF better than 800. The Gu
ban rightfleld, Calvo, Is considered
the greatest thrower in the loop. His
long, accurate pegs from all sections
or the rightfield territory have cut
ldown scores on many occasions.
Nsears Is wonder on fly balls, all
Enough a trifle weak In fielding
ground balls hit to the outfield.
ioombs is a great lead-off man.
&tawlng record number of walks
1927 and Is wonderful hitter,
n wen as n sure shot on fielding.
he hit .309 and led the outfield in
batting.
Classy Backstops.
Behlnd the plate are Homer Ha-
worth, pepperv young backstop from
oregon. who thrills tho bugs with his
accuracy in pegging TO the second
sack, and Possum Moore, veteran
from the hills of Arkansas. Moore
the Big beefy catcher OF the Cats
patted .277. Wills his crew mates
had a mark Of ESQ. However, Pos
sums doubles proved "A big asset 10
Nhe cats and he was big factor in
Nnelr SUCCESS