Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-03-18
Billy
E\AHAASl
OAL :
Alex Inspiration to Cardinals

Alex Inspiration to Cardinals
GROVER CLEVELAND ALEXANDER
- who for nearly 20 years has Wed
with Walter johnson for pitching
honors, is still very active young
man.
During my tour of the training
camps hit Avon Park shortly after
Alexander's birthday. 1t was the oc-
casion for town holiday, with par
ty in the evening in honor of Alex
ander's 10th anniversary.
There is no getting away from the
fact that Alexander is the inspiration
in the camp of the Cardinals. The
players, from the youngsters to the
veteran stars, like Jim Bottomley,
look up to Alex.
1t has been limited by certain Ma
tional League managers that Alexan-
der is Good time Charley" hard
to handle, but his actions in the
training camp certainly belle it.
y * =
Star Pitchers Easy to Handle
UCREAT pitchers always are the
easiest to handle, said Man
mentioned the name of Alexander.
81 don't figure Alex will be a bit
harder to manage than catch and that
is a soft proposition, for his control
is well-nigh perfect.
cit isn't my policy to dictate how
star must live; that is up to the
individual himself. No player can re-
main a star long unless he keeps in
good condition.
"All that I ask of any pitcher, Alex
ander included, is that he give me his
best efforts and be ready to pitch in
turn.
"There are no curfew orders on my
ball club, neither is the 'we-won't-
come home until morning ttttu G
ular.
MY men are on their honor That is
the best way to appeal to gentlemen
and 1 am pleased to say that is just
what the Cardinal players are
* * *
Proudly Points to His Record
WHILE Alexander admits he has
" occasionally broken training, it
has been as a respite from the hard
'You know college coaches and
trainers break the training routine at
times when their players are on the
verge of going STALE" explains AleX7
ander with a smile.
"A major league campaign is the
toughest of all competitive sports, be-
cause it extends over a period of six
months and is filled with many a
tough battle, that taxes a player to
the limit mentally as well as physi-
cally.
Critics who say I fail to keep in
condition at all times are unfair to
me- I point to my II years in the ma
jors and that fact. that have always
been hard worker, to refute any
stories that 1 am a bad actor and hard
to handle
"Of all the managers 1 have played
under, only one has so considered me.
don't count him big Lacquer yet"
* r. =
Has Hopes for Big Season
THERE is no doubt as to the i'm
portant part Alexander must play
if the Cardinals are to repeat.
Should Alex have one of those bad
seasons, that every now and then
come even to as great pitchers as
Johnson and himself, the entire team
will react to his failure.
However, Alexander doesn't antici-
pate such happening. His spring
work strengthens the belief. When I
saw him in action he was further
along as to his condition than any
member of the Cards pitching staff.
Alexander wants to pitch the open
er, hopes to take part in more than
800 innings of pitching, and is set on
winning anywhere from Is to 80 ball
games. w
Manager Bob O'Farrell hopes he goes
even better than that, as does every
other member of the club.