The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-05-12

Phil|ies' Fans Have Only One Man
. Over Whom to Become Enthusiastic
Ethan Allen Only Real Bad
Player in Crop, and He's
There by Accident
Nv JIMMY DONAHUE

PITY the moor citizens Of Philadel.
phia. especially those who root ana
toot for the lowly Phillies. They hav&
only one ball player over whom they
can enthuse. He is Ethan Allen, th0
renovated Cincinnati, New York ana
st. Louis outfielder, who has lifted
himself with his big bat to within Z
few hits Of the top of the NATIONAL
loop sluggers.
II it hadn't been for an accident,
the Phillies might even be without
Allen as their sole cause Of JOY. II
was only through the managerial sa~
gacity Of Jimmy Wilson that Allen
was brought from the Cards to Phil'
adelphia.
When Wilson was sent to the PhiIs
to take over the reins, it was reported
there was some high feeling between
Wilson and frankie Frisch because
the former was forgotten by tho
Cards front office in choosing new
manager last year. It was also III.
mored that Frisch's election had res
suited in a rift in the ranks, Wilson
being the chief dissenter.
\ \ \
In the process of building up his
Phils, Wilson secuted around for =
punch in the outfield. and his eyes
fell upon Allen. Ethan hadn't dond
80 we'll by the Cards in 1888, having
hit only .241 in 81 games.
Wilson. probably the cagiest catcher
in the National loop when he played
for st. Louis. knew Allen could play
better ball when he was in the line
up regularly. So he engineered the
deal that weaned Allen away from
Frisch.
Other wise heads at the game
questioned the transaction, but jim
my held his peace and proved hia
point early in the year. when. after
losing seven in 4 row, the Phils cams
back and took four out Of five con-
tests. chiefly because Aliens bat
doomed 50 Justify.
Allen always was a ball hawk. but
his might at the plate was q bit ques.
tionable until Wilson showed enough
confidence in him to make him . reg
ular employe in the garden.
\ X +
In the last four seasons. playing
part time with Cincinnati. the Giants
and the Cards, his attack had been
woefully weak. His average in 81
games played with Cincinnati and
New York in 1880 was .292, but he
revived considerably after he had
been snapped BY the Reds and, it
1881, hit 1929. In 1882 the Giants
again put him on part time, and he
dropped to It's.
His brief career at st. Louis in 1888
again indicated to Wilson that ths
University OF Cincinnati ball hawk
could play swell game II allowed to
take regular turn at the plate.
just as one swallow doesn't make
summer, or keep a guy in alcoholic
bliss for day, one ball player doesnt
make q team. No matter how hard
Allen tolls in the outfield and at the
plate, his efforts apparently are in
vain.
The Phils. even with four such hit.
tiers as Allen in 1888, couldn't get any
where. At the end of the season
Chuck Klein and Virgil Davis wers
running one. two in the standings.
while Yves schulmerich and Chuck
Fullis were right on their heels.
Allen won't make the Phils = pens
ant contender. but he will do credits
to the judgment Of Jimmy Wilson by
proving he Is 4 real ball player and
not just an individual with part time
ability.