New Britain herald., 1930-03-15
PRECIOUS PILLS
 TRAINING HARD
Grover Cleveland Alexander to Help Pitchers During Season

ntlp pllCltlS DuIlug DtdSOu
 Winter Haven, Fla, March u LP The Eaunt, weather-tanncd figure of one of the finest right handed pitchers of all time and the greatest array of slashing young hitters than any major league club ever has had furnish the principal drama in the lJ3O prospects Of the Philadelphia Natlonal-no longer foolish or futile but now the ferocious Phils.
 Back on the same club he helped pitch to it's last pcnnant under the late Pat Moran in 1915, 43 year old Grover Cleveland Alexander will at tempt to contribute some of the hurlinG help that the Phillics require to make their terrific long range fir ing effective in the games won column. Whether or not "Old Pete" wins many games himself, the club has high hopes of crashing into the first division.
 T still think l can win quite q few ball games" declared Alexander, especially with these boys hitting for me instead of against me. That's q break, at least. I've been around a long time but I never saw a team that can wallop the old ball or the new one the way these lads do. I've never had q sore arm in my life, yon know. and maybe l can take turn in there"
 As a whole, the Phillies easily present one of the most interesting prospects in either league because of their array of sensational hitters. Last year, they led the clubs of both leagues with a batting mark of .S12, besides shattcrinG the team marks for most total bases, most long hits, most extra bases and long hits and most homo runs-l55
 In addition Frank J. Uefty) O'Doul. the individual batting king for 1929, set up new record with a total of 3j4 hits while his outfield mate, Charles H. (Chuck Klein. in his first full major league season, broke Rogers Hornsby's home run record with a total of 43.
 The Phillies have 300 hitters in every regular post except shortstop, where Tommy ThevcnoW's defensive skill and ability 10 hit in pinches offsets any lack of slugging talent. Tommy'S inicld mates, Arthur Whit l,, T, second and Don Hurst at first will help the outtteld combination Of O'Doul, Klein and Southern take care of the hitting. If southern, q great center field ball-hawk. or any other gardener needs substitute, there is handy man ready in husky Tripp Sigman, who hit 40 home runs with Canton (Ohio) last :eason and then finished the season with the Phillies by batting for mere .5l7. Sigman is perhaps the longest range walloper of the squad of toe-hold sluggers and it may be difficulty to keep him out of action.
 Along with the punch, the Phillies have developed a keen spirit of con- tidCncc under Manager Shotton. The camp atmosphere radiatcs q belief that boys who perform such stunts with the stick arc going somewhere. Just where remains to be seen but these Phils are distinctly threat to the pCnnant hope of any outfit.
 The clubs progress will rise or fall on it's pitching. Shotton has con- fidcnt that Lestcr Swcotland and Claude Willoughby will repeat their good work of 1929 and that Ray Ecngc. q winner in 1928 but the vic tim of sore arm last season. will %iaCo q bis comeback. Phil Collins. minus his tonsils. may improve on a better than 100 record last year. Harry S1ny'hc. B @outhpaw who m@lc an impressive debut last Soa- @on, is expected 10 be poison 10 q few clubs. incll ding the Pirates. Sam Daley, obtained from Dcs Moinos la7t year: Earl Collard, once with Cleveland and secured from Shrcvc- port; Harold Elliott and Lou I1oupal. hold-ovcrs, arc counted upon for right handed assistance. Aiding them IS the wise old head and arm of "Old Pete" Alexander
 Behind ;he bat. the Phils lose q fine catcher in Walter Lerian, who dl"d after an auto accident in Balti- moro last fall. Virgil Davis. hard working giant who hit .342 last sea- son, IS ready to handle the bulk of the b2ckstcpping but Al Cooper from Birmingham and Harry McCurdy. in the big time again after playing with Toledo, also are available. Coopor's Southern Association mark "t .42G at bat fits him into the Phil 1 lN sIugging scheme of things.