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SPORTING PAGET,
JANUARY 6, 1908
The Atlanta Georgian
PERCY H. WHITING,
SPORTING EDITOR
1 NOT NEWS, BUT VIEWS \
By PERCY H. WHITING.
Xn|> Rucker, the Ooortfift boy, who was ranked by many an
the best left-hander in the National League last year and who
made more than good with Brooklyn, is spending some of his
spare time in Atlanta this winter.
“You ought to see Nap Rucker these days,” says Bill Smith.
“He’s wearing a diamond as big as a chew of tobacco and clothes
as swell as a king. Guess that old boy ain't the real thing!”
“Donovan tells me he is a star, too,” added Bill. “He says ,
that after Rucker pitched his first game or two in the National
League he wanted to go. home and wanted it bad. But Donovun
jollied him along. And finally Nap got to believing he was ns
good as the rest of them. After that it was easy.”
It may be remembered that before the advent of Billy Smith
Atlanta had Rucker but canned him ns “N. G.” That overwhelm
ing desire to quit bothered him while he was in Atlanta, lie kept
continunlly asking to lie let out. Finally, when he was lot out by
Atlanta he struck out into the deep brush and turned up ut New-
nan, where the job was just easy enough to suit him. Augusta got
him from there and Brooklyn took him from Augusta.
“I had a chance to get Rucker,” said Bill Smith, “but I
wouldn’t take him ns a gift then. They offered me my choice of
him or Dwyer to use in Macon and I took Dwyer. Guess I’m a
pretty wise guy,” and Bill smiled wryly—one of those dessicated
smile's that he lets out when anybody talks about his letting Neal
Ball out.
Rucker is taking good care of himself during the winter and
should join the Brooklyn club in great shape in the spring.
The Montgomery baseball club seems to he counting on get
ting Grant Schopp, but there is a strong chance that they will not
get him. The agreement was thnt Montgomery could have second
call on Atlanta’s left-hnnders. The first call on the sidc-swipers
is of course retained by Atlanta.
Right now it looks ns though the Crackers would keep
Schopp, who pitched good ball for Nnshvillo, Atlanta and Augus
ta last year. The other two left-handers are Burkitt and Atkin
son. Probably the Legislators will get one of that pair.
Wonder if they will be called “Legislators” next year. With
the coming of Jimmy Ryan there ought to be a change in nick
name. The Dobbers will have.to get a new title ns well. And of
course something will hnve to be done in the way of a familiar
title for the Mobile club. Even the Memphis Turtles will have to
swap, provided the rules committee does nway with the raised
- diamonds and puts the Memphis hump-hack out of business. The
Crackers, the Barons, the Travelers and the Pelicans will probn-
bly stick by their old titles.
Nothing new has been heard by Atlanta about the Philbin
deal. Smith gets the man if waivers can be secured on him by
Pittsburg. It is only a matter of waiting.
With Philbin as a sure thing in the backstopping department,
the Atlanta club will be pretty well fixed up. He and McMttrrny,
(the Texan, ought to make a good, handy pair. With the catching
department bolstered up, a good infield and an extra good outfield ,
certain, it is only a question of pitchers. If Atlantn can get a
good foroe of twirlers then she will finish well toward the top.
Always barring hard luck.
MACK AND FRANK MEET;
IS SOMETHING STIRRING?
HERE'S ACTION
Padky Has $1,000
To Bet On Himself
Boston, Mass., Jan. 6.—Packy Mc
Farland, who meets Tommy Murphy
In Boston January 14 Is here today.
McFarland is brim fult of confidence.
“I have here $1,000 to bet on myself,”
said McFarland, “but I want . even
money.. If I win I'm after Nelson and
(Tons for the championship.”
(If tjiat call bell hadn't rung.)
• By GRANTLAND RICE.
I was sleeping, oh so soundly, on my little cot last night;
I was dreaming, oh so fondly, that the world was mine by right:
J was stronger ter than Sandow ever dared or hoped to be,
And even Sharkey Williams was afraid to tackte me.
The Cleveland club had offered me ten thousand plunks a day
If I would handle third for them in every big league fray—j
Id have owned both New York ball clubs—tor Chicago's made a bid—
If that cair bell hadn't sounded Just the moment that It did.
If they’d only let me dream an hour more—
In store—
Oh the massive fanfe for me that was
I’<i have walloped Jack O'Brien.
0 Tommy Burns and Tommy Ryan—
If they'd >nly let me lay u while and snore.
I had Just struck out Hans Wagner for the fourth time In one game.
Then In a pitching duel I had made Waddell look tame—
I was playing end for Princeton, anil I heard the rooters shout,
As big Coy tried to dodge me and n\y tackle laid him out.
I had worked twelve forward passes which I hurled and caught, alone-*
Every gent that tiled to stop me, tumbled earthward with a groan—
And disguising myself neatly as a wlid-eyed Teddy bear
I was chasing Mr. Roosevelt nil around the white house chair.
/
. If I only hadn't left that early call.
My name would soon have ranked above them all—
I'd have been the greatest wonder
Of the age—I would, by thunder,
Ach du Lclber! when I woke up what a fall!
TOM FISHER SURE TO GET CALL
AS MANAGER OF MOBILE TEAM I
TOM NEEDHAM.
This is the catcher that the Giants secured from the Boston club,
is shown starting after a foul ball. .
SpeHnl to The Georgian.
Chattanooga, Tenn., Jan. 6.—Kid E1-
berfeld, of Albion View, near this city,
whose erratic ways as a baseball play
er got him into trouble last season, has
signed with the New York Americans,
and will receive $2,700 for playing on
the team, and a bonus of 11,000 more
If he makes good.
cky .
of the Western League during the ab
sence on the coast of "Tip”. O'Neill.
Speolnl to The Georgina. 7
Mobile, Ala., Jap. % 6y-Plans were In
formally discussed by the owners of
the Mobile franchise at a conference
yesterday, but final action will not be
taken until next Tuesday night, when
It Is understood that the manager of
the team will be selected and other
matters determined.
Among those close to the magnates,
it Is stated that Bernie McCay Is not
In the running for that position, but
that Tom Fisher, the "Candy Kid” and
manager of the Shreveport team last
season, will be retained. On this most
important point, the baseball officials
are painfully silent, but much credence
Is given the report that Fisher will
be selected. He Is regarded as the
most likely person because of various
reasons, particularly the Strong feeling
entertained for him by Mr. Crawford,
who retains an Interest In the team.
Much has been said lately of the
Southern League team, there being
quite an array secured by Fisher nnd
retained by the loca! owners of th# |
Cotton States League aggregation.
Among those on the combined ava
able list are Fisher, Hickmun, Becker, I
Gasklll, Torrey, Nelson. Lively, Ury. {
ant, Reardon. Nolly and Ray. on the
pitching staff; Rapp, Graffius. White,
Helding and O'Brien, catchers; Clark,
Arnold and Kemmer, first base; Me-
Cay. Lewee, Carlin and.Noblett. see.
ontf base; Benson and Breyette, short
stop; King. Hoffman and Griggs, third
basemen; Dnley, Mclver, Warremler,
Kennedy. Fisher, Thornton nnd Boyd. |
outfielders.
Thornton and Nolley. along with Me. I
Cay, were sold to Montgomery, but It
Is neasonnbly certain that Nolly and [
Thornton will return to Mobile, u
McCay Is slated for Savannah, of the I
South Atlantic League. Rapp. (’lark. I
Lewee and King will be traded to other |
clubs. It Is said, while Daley is sub*
Ject to the call of Connie Mack, of I
players that are to make up the Mobile j the Phlladelphlas.
CENTRAL FEDERATION LIKES
ANTI-RACETRACK MEASURE
RpMlal to Th, Gtortlsn.
Naw Orlnni, Lit. Jan. •-—If there
l.n't eom.thlng bit .Hiring In buebnll
circle. In thl. vicinity, then It I. n
strange coincidence that the annual
meeting of the local club. Charley
Frank and Connie Mack are all arriv
ing at about the .ame time.
Mack blew In from Philadelphia Bat-
urilay. Frank blew In Sunday. The
annual meeting of the baaeball assocla-
lion cornea today.
Frank and Mack are clo.e friend,,
and the fact that the Philadelphia
magnate I* here right on the eve of
the annual meeting of the New Or-
lean, club add. color to a rumor thnt
aomethlng may be doing.
It la a well known fact thnt quite
a number of minor league clubs along
with one or two major-league teams
are anxious to ..cure the service* of
Manuger Frank, but It Is said that the
local manager prefer, to remain here,
a, he haa a fine home and alao like,
the town better.than any place he haa
lived. It Is doubtful whether Manager
Frank will accept any offer, no mat
ter how handsome it may be, a, he Is
more than satisfied with hi, berth here.
The annual meeting of the New Or
leans baaeball club will be held at the
office, of that organisation this
afternoon. Secretary A. J. Helnneman
ha, a very extensive report to offer,
which he ha, prepared carefully. The
nnnual election of officer, will also
tuke place.
AbeHitHim Once
Then Curtain Fell
San Francisco, Jan. 8.—Abe Attell,
champion featherweight of America,
engaged In an unadvertised bout laat
night and got nothing out of it but
■atlafactlon.
He put out "Kid Farmer," of Chi
cego. In a punch. The exhibition of
hte prowess occurred on Fllmore-at.
and as the block was not rotted off,
there was no gate receipts.
Farmer did considerable sparring
with Abe while he wu, training for
the Moran light and thought he was
entitled to large remuneration. Abe
gave him $40. The smallness of the
sum angered Farmer and he went
down the line telling that Abe was a
"cheap guy."
Abe heard of the "knocking" and
sailed out In March of his detractor.
He met Farmer In front of Wolfs ci
gar atore. One blow was struck with
Aha furnishing the motive power.
Farmer went down and out.
A. A. U. Seems To
Be In For Fight
N**r. Francisco. Jan. 6.—What ap
pears sa a deliberate Intent to dery the
authority of the Amateur Athletic
union comes from the Military Athletic
league. In an announcement that Tom
Longboat will positively, appear In a
set of games to be given February 6 at
Mount Vernon under the auspice* of
Company H. Tenth regiment. Coinci
dent with this statement comes a bul
letin from the prospective basket baU
and athletic association declaring that
It Is determined to enter the field of
athletics to save the situation from*the
•Tyranny of the A. A. U
The Giants bad quite a time Isn«llns
Plfrtier iWcFwf. who conies frou* the mini*
tesni as lartjr Doyle—k;>rinrfi«*M. 111. First
Beerhfr was <t<-*|ftJr.**j an an optional agree
ment which the National I'ooinilsaJon re
fected. Afterward be wan drafted. «*ls-
dnnati sko nutting Is a Halm for Film.
Os Um draw for tbs player New York w«»a.
The Boston American* hnve been or
dered to report In New York on March
4. the start for Little Rock to be made
from that city. The Molly Maguires
are to meet the Reds In Cincinnati on
March 30 and 31.
President Murphy, of Chlca&o. Is said
to have his eagle eye on Dick Tralnor,
of the Syracuse team.
If You Want to Know All About Baseball
Read What This English Sport Editor Says
Charica Burges Fry, one of the
greatest .porting authorities In Eng
land, publisher of a weekly sporting
paper nnd contributor to several other
publication,, recently wrote an editorial
on "Baseball In America." ,
Bo many new thing, nre learned
about the great national game in this
country from Mr. Fry that the edlio-
rial la reproduced almost verbatim
here. Mr. Fry I, one of the greatest
athlete, England ha, ever had. With
out training, he ran clear a bur at 4
feet 8 Inches, was at one time the
holder of the world's record for the
long Jump, was one of the best crick
eter, the tight little Isle ever knew,
could hold hi, own at the hundred
yard, and at ,acker and Rugby was a
marvel.
The editorial follow,:
Captain E. O. Wynyard told mo
some Interesting thing, the other
day nbout the bnscbnll player, he
saw In the United States.
It appears, for Instance, that the
say, bowier—I, even more valua
ble than an Inside-forward In asso
ciation football. The price of
Ocorge Wilson, lute of Kverton.
said to be 1,400 pounds (18,000),
Is nothing to »vhnt Bubo Wnddell,
or whatever his exact name Is,
charge, teams for—S,000 pounds
418,000) odd.
All decent pitchers can mnke the
ball curl In the air most notable;
there I, the In-curve, which we
should cull In cricket the swerve
from the off; the out-curve, or
swerve from leg, and down-curve,
or "duck." • • •
Tho baseball pitcher can com
pass much . more exaggerated
curves than our bowlers, because
they do not bowl, but throw. • • •
Tho most remarkable point nbout
the pitchers Is that they combine
their swerve with extreme accu
racy, for they send every ball dead
over u plate about a foot wide.
Baseball player, during the sea-
aean practice three hours a day
with, us the French books say,
assiduity. The hands of the catch
er (of wicket-keeper) are encased
in a species of Inverted boxing
•-love*. .
Who Told Him Thi.T
For throwing practice they have
an Ingenious contrivance. A spring
Is stretched across a gymnasium
about the height of an average ear.
On this runs a spool with a hole
In It. The player takes the spool
In his hand a foot or so In from
of his ear, draws It back to oppo
site his ear, and then Are, It
along the string. The point Is to
get out of the habit of taking the
hand far behind the head In throw
ing. which loses time.
The English batsmen made no
show at striking a pitcher’s base
ball delivery. Only K. (). Goldie,
of Russex. a young soldier with
confidence only equaled by his ac
curacy of eye, could hit th. varloue
curves at all.
1 must tell you about one par
ticular pitcher who rejoices In the
name of the "Spltball” pitcher.
New York, Jan. 4.—Because of his
stand on race track gambling and his
recommendation that telephone and
telegraph companies be brought under
the supervision of the public service
commission. Governor Hughes • was
praised by the meeting of the Central
Federation yesterday and a resolution
was passed Instructing the secretary
to send a letter of thanks to the gov
ernor for what he had said In Ills mes-
sage to the legislature.
A few moments after Hughes had
been praised by several speakers. Sec
retary of War Taft came In for a round I
scoring from Martin F. Cody, delegate
from Local No. 314 of the International
Union of Steam Engineers. He said
Taft was Using member, of the signal
corps to take the place of union me
chanic, In the war department.
(Probably meaning Jack Chesbro.)
He whacks In terrible curves dead
over the plate, but he has a no
tion of hla own. His theory Is that
If he himself does not know what
curl he la putting on the ball, tha
striker can not possibly do so. His
method Is thoroughly to salivate
the ball. Hla success Is quite ab
normal. His swerve Is not only
unknown, but most pronounced.
“The Ba.en.xa of Baseball.”
Baaeball la amusing. It. draws
huge crowds In Amerlcn, and ex
cites unbounded enthusiasm.
Each side has a coach who
stands, megaphone at mouth. But
he has a task, for the moment his
advice I. required gentlemen re
tained by the other elde make a
din Intended to drown his words.
These retainers are called the
“fans." They barrack their op
ponents, and throw bottle, at
them, and even throw flashes Into
their eyes with pieces of looking
glass.
JUST FOR FUN
The third year that St. Louis took
the championship they had to fight for
It, and Von Der Ahe, the owner, was |
continually Impressing It on the play*
er* to keep themselves from gettlni
Injured.
Great was the scare thrown Into j
the Dutchman when Arlle Latham j
came limping up to him one morning |
and told him between groan* that ht
had Just fallen off a 60-foot ladder.
"Gott In hlmmel!” shrieked Chris,
as he began to paw the air, "a doc
tor, quick; Laddam might be Injured
mlt his Insides; fall off a 60-foot lad
der; ain’t It terrible yet.”
When the learned sawbones cams
Into tlje club house th> excited mana
ger screamed:
•'Look to Alrlfe, quick, doc; he Just
tumbled off a 60-foot ladder!"
By this time Arlle, who had work
ed hi* way over to a safe position near
the door, cried out:
"Oh, I forgot to mention, Chris, that
I only fell off the first round of that
ladder."
Tim Hurst pulled one on Ira Thomas,
who was recently sold to Detroit, one
day last summer.
In his last chance at the bat. Ira had
been handed what he thought the worst
of It, on a third strike.
Ah he assumed his position behind
the plate, he turned to Tim and said:
"Tim. you must be blind; that hall
was a foot outHlde.”
•fYVell," responded Tim, "let me give
you a piece of advice, Ira. If you
any more of those balls coining up that
you say are a foot wide of the plate. t
you had better hit at them, as I d<>nt
think my eyesight has Ifnproved any in
the/lost few minutes.”
Barney Dreyfuss tells this on Wag* j
ner:
"The day the bamstomers played
Heidelberg, Sheehan knocked tho b»“
to deep left field. The sphere lilt a blf
rooster and upset the bird. Sheehan
raced up to second base. 'It hit foul
ejaculated John Henry without a smli*
and he forced Sheehan to bat over.
They are telling an automobile J 1 ]**
on Cnmlskey. He has a big car, and a
chauffeur who Is us reckless as a leop
ard hunting ducks. Night after nlKjH
Commy turn* the corner of Thtrt>-
nlnth-st. anil Michigan boulevard
Chicago on two wheels, and a iars
Irish copper stationed at that c»' rn ,
ha* had 2*9 escapes from death ana
destruction. , ,
A couple of nights ago he decided
lay dqwn the law to Commy or
in the undertaking. An tjie big red ca
cume sipping round the bend t t v e r °i.
«prang out and stood, tall and her*»i •
full In. the track. It was a case of sf 9
or kUI him, and the car halted.
Walking up to . the side of the c *
the cop exclaimed: "8c« here. < omin>. ,
you’re ayther got to go slower or *
have to give up my pass."
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