Evening star., 1925-03-25
The Chicago Cubs
WON 81, LOST 72. I'm 1924.
FINISHED FIFTH.

The Chicago Cubs of last season
were, for the most part, collection
of willing young gentlemen who lack
ed the Judgment and balance of ma
tured teams at times and at other
periods in the National League pen
nant race made matters somewhat in
teresting because young men are in
clined to find a certain satisfaction
in fighting their way along. During
the Winter Bill Killefer took steps
to mellow and age his team a bit.
He had fine bunch of hard working
young players under his management
last season, and they gave him and
the team all they had, but the club
was weak in a couple of spots. Be
tween seasons he looked about for
some players who might add stabil-
ity, and succeeded in getting Wilbur
Cooper, Rabbit Maranville and Char
ley Grimm from the Pittsburgh Pi-
rates.
Maranville. of course, is now lost to
the Cubs for two or three months
through breaking a bone in his ankle
while sliding into third base in
practice game n few days ago, and
this was a tough break"
Killefer was counting on Maran-
Vile to hold the infield together, and
it is no wonder he felt the accident
so keenly.
Still, the Cubs look stronger than
year ago, with several good pitching
prospects looming up, and there is
reason for Killefer to feel optimistic
If he can find somebody to take
Maranvilles place at short.
Charley Grimm will be a steadying
influence at first base, while Spark
Plug" Adams is a good second base
man and Barney Freiberg can be
counted on at third.
Freiberg showed no great aptitude
as an outfielder and is almost sure to
be back in his old place, as Pittenger
has not as yet played up to expecta-
tions.
Killefer has not yet solved his out
field problem. He has Cliff Heath
cote, Denver Grigsby, Hack Miller,
Arnold STATE and a trio Of athletes
who have not yet ripened.
Miller can hitsa ball as far as any
one desires. but he never will cause
Paavo Nurmi to guard his laurels.
Statz is as swift of foot as any, but
weak in the vicinity of the plate.
Heathcote is a fair hitter, but Grigs
by is not a master batsman. The out
field is not what is termed a sensa-
tional one, by any means.
killefer has reason to believe that
his pitching staff will produce graft
lying results CIrONer cleveland Alex
ander, years in the service, but who
won twelve games last season and
lost five, is fast reaching condition.
Cooper, as left-handed as they are Gre
ated, seems ready for the seasons
opening.
Tony Kaufman, Abe Bush and
Georgie Stueland are three more who,
unless something unforeseen hap
pens, will give good accounts of
themselves. Master Bush, late of
Wichita Falls. has every earmark of
developing into an Al moundsman.
Altogether Killefer has Is pitchers,
some of whom, of course, will pitch
in other cities than those embraced
by the National League
Gabby Hartnett and Bob O'Farrell
| are back in catching harness, and are
clubbing the ball with malevolent in
tent. Those two souls, by the way,
are the longest hitters on the club.
with the exception of Miller. The
| Cubs look safe behind the plate.
The Bruins could stand few more
players who make long hits.
Charley Hollocher's presence would
| bolster up the infield vastly, but there
| is slight possibility of his playing
All in all, Killefer has a good ex-
| cuse for expecting something worth
while from his club.