Evening star., 1927-05-26

~ IRM1NG HAM. Ala, May 26.--
- The finest Young pitcher It
has ever been my good fortune
IL to work with" said iona than
G. Dobbs. manager of the Bir
mingham Barons. who are leading the
Southern Association race by the slim
margin of one-half game over Atlanta,
I'm commenting Yesterday on the brill
liant showing that Clayton Van Al
styne. his pitching ace, has been max
ing Van AlstNne has won : games
and lost only | in his career as a
Baron, giving him a winning percent
age of .S15. which is easily the best
in the league of hurlers that have ap-
peared in a considerable number of
games.
IVAN Alstyne is by far the best
pitcher Washington has farmed out
TO us since we have had any relation
ship with the Senator's" continued
Dobbs. "Hadley served me in good
stead last Summer. hut Van Alstyne
Is steadier than Hadley.'
Van Alstyne's performance has been
the bright spot of a drab collection of
pitching for the Barons. who are lead.
ling the league through sheer ability
20 swat the hall rather than through
dependable pitching.
Fred johnson. with Nashville,
started the season with fine rec
ord In his first few starts. He had
won seven and lost two until he faced
Van Alstvne here Tuesday. Van
Alstyne pitched the last six innings
against Johnson. relieving Palmero,
who was behind. to ;. and bested
the Nashville ace by to 4.
A comparison Of the records of
johnson and Van Alstyne is inter
esting. since they are rated the
leagues best pitchers. and since both
are newcomers. Van Alstyne has won
seven. lost. one: Johnson, seven and
three. Van has pitched s. innings,
allowing II hits and 26 runs. John
son has pitched Sc innings. allow
ing S5 hits and 81 runs. This fig
ures to approximately Isl hits and
e.76 runs per nine-inning game for
Van, to $50 and 3.S7 for Johnson.
Van Going the Route.
Since the Barons have been notori,
ously poor afield. being last each
week in the averages, it is highly
probable that the earned-run aver
age allowed by Van Alstyne is only
2 or less per nine innings. Unlike
many pitchers. Van Alstyne has gone
the route every time that he has
one. Tuesday. when he pitched only
six innings against Nashville. On
two occasions he has pitched relief
hall, holding the oppc csition on those
two occasions TO a total of three hits
and no runs In five innings. saving
the game each time, but with the
starting pitcher getting credit.
Strangely enough. on the. only two
occasions that he has left the game.
besides his lone defeat, the Barons
have come through with enough runs
to win the game for Vans successor.
II all sums up to this-that he has
appeared in II games as a pitcher
and the Barons have won II of them.
His only defeat was at Atlanta in his |
second time out. He ia likely to face |
that team again here Saturday. i
= Van AlstyneNs victories have been |
over the stronger teams for the most /
part. They include two wins each |
over Memphis and Nashville and one |
over New Orleans, all in the first di |
vision. While the Barons are all for |
Van, they have not always hit their |
usual fast paceFwhen he has been on |
the mound. He held New Orleans |
here to hits and runs. and his |
mates gave him a one-run margin of |
victory: he held Nashville here to 6 |
hits and 2 runs. and his mates got |
him only runs. and Van himself |
was forced to account for the winning |
run against Memphis here on Nav Is. |
He and Bonnelly engaged in a hurl |
Ing duel for 10 innings. With the
score ] and ] and two out in the
Baron half of the tenth, Van came up
and hit home run TO win the game.
Van Alstyne. who is married and
the father of a fine youngster while
satisfied with Birmingham and the
Southern association as minor
league location. naturally Is anxious
to work himself back to the big show.
IF | have got to stay in the minors,
Birmingham is a fine place, but Wash.
ington is my goal and If hard work
plus whatever ability ] have will get
me back up. hope to he there in an
other year" SAYS Van.
The Barons have Van for the Sum.
Of the Senators getting him away
chance at the bunting.
Van AIstyne's log"
Following is log" Of Van
Alstyne's work as a baron since the
Southern association schedule opened
on April 13.
April 16-Beat Nashville here, al
lowed hits, while Barons got 10
Ecore. 4 to ,.
April 2o-Lost in Atlanta, pitched
I and % innings-score, II to 3.
April 24-Pitched six innings against
Chattanooga, going out for pinch hit