Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

i ’ rilK ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS, MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1913. Bv Monty. N EW YORK. Apr!' lA-The fighting team Is the vogue of the day. The fighting: manager is the propelling force. Confession of inferiority against a rival is un known even among bands tabbed as tailenders or near-tallenders for the season of 1913 just dawning. Wit ness the first ten days* performances, and the outstanding impressive fac is the manner in which the underdog has arisen and grappled with the loftier clan. Pennant winners have been swatted like the proverbial fly and large gobs of glory have perch ed on banners expected to be devoid of that most desired thing. It will be interesting to follow tile career of the down-and-outs this year unless early indications get knocked topsy turvy. A battle royal is on in both big leagues to keep out of the cellar, and there should be as much gore spilled in this tussle as in the scramble of the upper set for the flag. The most surprising de velopment of all is the upward Jump taken by the cellar troupes of 1912, the Bostons of the National League and the New Yorks of tne American. The mighty Giants bow before the smashing assault of the former and the great Walter Johnson gets the scare of his life at the hands of the latter, with a bevy of nine hard hits off his cannon shot delivery on the season’s first day. The Browns also have arisen with lionlike disdain for the Tigers that only four years ago were veritable man eaters with pennants three to their credit in a row. The Cardinals and Brooklyn also have shown an improvement not only in personnel but also in spirit. Players Working Hard. One thing impelling tne players of these teams to go out after great deeds is the fact that a period of ex perimenting Is on in their ranks, and the man who allows himself to show just a trifle worse than his rival will be shunted to parts unknown in the bushes. A group of men all fighting for their big league careers are like ly to exhibit something genuine in the way of sincere endeavor. The list of helmsmen from begin ning to end bristles with qualities of real go-to-it-iveness. Every one of the new arrivals. to the managerial circle is a scrapper. Frank Chance the only new leader in his league, has been noted for his ability to lick any member of his team and his willing ness to do so when occasion de mands. He has his men travelling with the same gameness. Joe Tin ker is beginning nls work at the head of the Reds by showing much of the same quality, learned while a toiler under Chance, and whatever may be said against Johnny Evers, nobody will accuse him of being likely to al low the Cubs to let. up any in the ef forts to land higner than the base ball public believes Charley Murphy deserves. Stallings On the Job. George Stallings, who ran the old Yankees from the foot to within on-* of the head a few years ago, has *ent his Bostons away from the mark with the same dash and fervor George Stovall lid things at Cleve land and now has begun to repeat with the Browns. Milfer Huggins has ■ he Cardinals disputing every" inch of ground. Bill Dahlen a* last seems to have had some luck with his Brooklyns and his young team gives the early impression of being chock full of the right spirit. Joe Birming ham has the Clevelands up or. their *ot*s and going. Nothing need be said about the nature of the spines in Johnny McGraw, Jake Stahl, Con nie Mack. Hughey Jennings, Fred Clarke, Clark Griffith, Jimmy Calla han and Red Dooin. Fighting Magnate Present. The fighting magnate is another i>re3ent-uay institution. Detroit fans may have done some howling over the failure of the club to meet the terms of Ty Cobb, but President Na- vin is right In no: allowing the play er to dictate to him. If Cobb wern worth the $15,0')0 that he has been demanding, there would be a differ ent angle to the matter. But he is not. He does not begin to be as val ue ble a man to his club as Hans Wagner i& to the Pirates. If Cobb should be regarded as the perfect outfielder, he would not be as valua ble as the Dutchman, who does not ?et nearly that much money. But with all due credit to the fan fare and bombast about the Geor gian’s great hitting and base-run ning, he misses being the perfect out fielder by several city blocks. Cobb’s greatest fault lies in the fact that he plays for himself rather than for the team. His mind is on a big batting average and a large total of stolen ba.-es. He doesn’t go out of his way intentionally to hurt the team, but the winning of games is of slight con sideration to him. If he is able to win the game by some particular great piece of work of his own, all very fine. But when it comes to do ng some little thing that will help a team mate turn the victory- and get credit for It, the Peach has been proved to be not there. Cobb Is Selfish. This selfish desire to bask in the limelight himself is not Cobb’s only fault. He has a disposition that Is all against the preservation of the best discipline. The $10,000 offered to Cobb is largely because of the star’s drawing ability as a star. Beyond that he is of little value to the club. May be as he completes a few more seasons of play he will steudy down a little ,jjpi various ways and learn that the game of ball, played proper ly, ?s like the game of life, depend ing largely on personal sacrifices for the good of the family. L T ntil he gels this firmly drilled, self-drilled, into his head, and until he can learn to control himself under stress, he van not be regarded as the perfect outfielder. By Jack Law. J OHNNY DOBBS boasts this year of one of the quaintest characters in baseball. Luther Taylor, the deaf mute pitcher, Dobbs secured from the International League is best known to baseball fans as a member of McGraw’s Giants, and was for years a reliable twirler on bis club. While there have been several mutes in baseball, there are only two that gained national prominence In the major leagues. These two were Dummy and Dummy Hoy. Taylor acquired his first experience as a member of an independent team at Decatur, Ill. His ability soon at tracted attention, and he was secure ! by the New York Nationals. In the spring of 1903 he jumped to the Cleve land club of the American League. He was sent to New Orleans a month ahead of the Cleveland team with Addle Joss, Gochepauer and Ea-1 Moerc. Armour was evidently afraid some National League manager would kidnap them. Taylor, however, stayed but a short time with the Cleveland team, subsequently joining the New York team, from which he jumped. He Was Popular Player. Taylor, although deprived of speech and hearing, was one of the best natured players in the profession, and possessed a keen sense of humor. His sign language aroused the risibilities of players and spectators, but was not always taken in the same spirit by the umpires. One day in a game between New York and Pittsburg, it started to rain while the New York club was in the lead. The rain, while it lasted, was heavy enough to make the grounds very wet, but did not last long enough for the umpire to decide to call the game. As usual, the New York play ers entered a vigorous protest, but without avail, and the game was as sumed. Taylor had secured a pair of rubber boots somewhere, and final ly came out on the field, picking out the dampest spots he could find, with the rubber boots on his feet. The umpire failed to see the humor, and Dummy was banished from the gam*\ He was later given a short sus pension by the president of the lea gue for his comedy stunt. That times have changed in base ball 19 shown by the fact that Arlie Latham pulled off a similar stunt but succeeded In getting away with It. The team on which Latham was play ing was in the lead one day and it commenced to get dark, and requests were made by the team that the gam- be called, but the judge of the play couldn’t see it that way. One inning, when Latham went to his position at third base, he carried a lantern with him and pretended to be looking for third base. The chances are that if a player pulled anything like that now the powers would give him the limit. Taylor "Will Stick. Dobbs states that he will keep Tay lor. Dummy Hoy, the other mute who gained fame in the majors, was m outfielder and played with the Wash ington, Cincinnati and Louisville clubs in the National League, fil ing a mute was about the only thing that could be held to be detrimen tal to Hoy’s ability as a player, as he could hit, throw, run and field as well as any of his more fortuna e brother outfielders. $15,000 FUTURITY TO BE STAGED AT KALAMAZOO CHICAGO, ILL., Apr;; Ste wards of the Grand Circuit have decided that the $16,000 horseman futurity, one of the richest stakes of harness racing, shall be decided at the meeting at Kalamazoo. Mich.. August 4 to 9, inclusive. Word of the decision was received here to-day by the guarantors of the stakes. Among the horses eligible to the main division of the race this year are Magowan, 2:10 3-4 Peter the (Jay, 2:10 3-4, and Lord Allen. 2:11. the three fastest 2-year-old trotters of 1912. In the 2-year-old trotting division, the record yearlings eligible for the stake include Airdale, 2:15 3-4, gen erally considered the world's cham pion yearling trotter: Peter Voh, 2:19. and Hester C., 2:21 3-4. the fast est yearling trotting filly of last year. The stake closed in 1910 and first money in the main division will be $7,500. Gunboat SmYth is After Jack Johnson; is After Wife Too; Would Prefer Suffragette- By A. IV Opester. B oston. Apr,-. ... -Right oft the mitt, let It be said that these statements are mathematically and pugillstically accurate: Edward Irenaeus equals Gunboat. Smyth equals Smith. These things being admitted, the way Is open to saying that Edward Irenaeus Smyth—spelled S-m-y-t-h, remember, is in town as Gunboat Smith. But he doesn’t belong to the Smiths—spelled S-m-i-t-h. Folk ol that ilk can’t claim him for their own. As a mater of family tree correct ness, this latest of the “hopes” who are yelling for a chance at that “blac k despair” Johnson, is Gunboat SmYth. Edward Irenaeus—or Gunboat, whichever name you fight fans pre fer -had some interesting things# to put across in an interview I had with him. He says there is a dearth of piano movers and truck drivers in the land, as all the huskies are quitting their Jobs to join the “white hope” brigade. Then for a knockout to the hopes of the “hopes,” Edward Irenaeus shoved this one over: Smith Gives Real Dope. I am the man who can lick Johnson. I put the big black brute through the ropes—yes. sir. clean through the ropes— with a haymaker (see note be low) when l was his sparring partner several years ago. You beteher life I did, and I can do it again. And having done it once, is any man better quali fied to win back the heavy weight championship to the white race than yours truly ? (This Is the note: Edward Iren aeus says a “haymaker” is a wide swing of his trusty-busty strong right arm. Mr. SmYth says farmers make hay with similar slashing swings.) But this isn’t all that Edward Irenaeus said. He says he IS a woman’s suffra gist—in this he defies Luther Mc Carty, who ISN’T a suffragist—he says he is looking for a wife who is a suffragette, but who must be able to cook: he says he can cook, sew, wash dishes, scrub floors, launder the clothes, and fill the housekeeping bill generally. « What he says he can do is enough co make the public wonder why he GUNBOAT’S RULES ON RIGHT LIVING Here's how Gunboat Smyth eats and sleeps. Rises at 7:30. Eats soft-boiled eggs, toast and tea. Walks and jog-trots four miles'. Eats in a go-as-you-please help- yourseif lunching event at noon. Belts the medicine ball, punch ing bag and his sparring partner every afternoon 6 p. m.—Eats two or three pounds of porterhouse steak every night. 10 p. in.— To bed. Says he needs eight hours sleep and tries' to get nine didn't come into the spotlight before he whaled Bom hardier Wells into laying low while the referee counted ten over the Britisher's prostrate form. That was hardly a month ago, and with that Wells wallop Edward Irenaeus arrived into boxing fame and a theaterical contract. He’s Fussy About a Wife. Says he: 'I don't intend to be knocked out till I get in the matrimonial line. I'm hoping to meet the right girl. When she heaves in sight I’m going to buy her a real ring. You see the navy gave me a great education. Op the cruiser Pennsylvania I learned to cook— ham and egg', coffee, boiled spuds and not burn them either— wash clothes, scrub floors and do household things generally. But I'm n >t saying I will guarantee to do these things when the right girl comes along. She'd have to do ail that. She'3 got to be a suffragette, too. Sure, women should vote. Haven't you g"t any faith in your mother? But. lemme teli you this, I wouldn’t want to come home and find my wife out speechmaking if she hadn't cook ed me something to eat. Beteher life I wouldn't. There's one thing Edward Irenaeus didn't learn aboardship. Would you believe that he never heard that Bos ton Is noted for its beans? Well, he never did. "But I'll try 'em now," he said. Gotch Started as a Boxer +•+ +••* Knockout Alters Career .j.»4. +*4- +•+ +•+ +•+ +•+ He Then Pursues Wrestling FULTZ EXPECTS BALL PLAYERS TO GET RIGHTS T HE fact that both Presidents Johnson and Lynch, of the two big leagues, recently. turned down the suggestions of President David Fultz, of the Federation of Baseball Players that players be giv en a chance to state their side of the case before fines are Imposed, the movement for more justice for the players is growing. There is little chance that this suggestion will be acted on for the present at least but the resentment of the players against the method which has been in practice for so long is becoming deep seated, and it Is quite probable that this natter will cause a disturbance in the na tional pastime unless it is adjust-. President Fultz spent considerate time during the past few' months bringing the matter to the attention of the major league presidents. President Ban Johnson, of the Amer ican League, turned the suggestion down with scant ceremony, while President Lynch pigeon-holed it. President Fultz is, however, still hopeful that the demands of the play ers for a right that is given men in other lines of work will be granted. Commenting on the issue Mr. Fultz said: Of course I realize that the umpire should be supreme on the field, and when he thinks a player should be sent to the bench, why, he should be sent, an 1 no argument. “But,” he went on. “the point 1 wish to emphasize is the fact that when the umpire sends in his report the player is fined on the facts as stated. The umpire’s stand in the case is bound to be prejudiced. "As a matter of fact, I expected just the sort of reply from Johnson that he made to my suggestion, and believed that I was wasting time in writing to him. President Lynch pigeon-holed my letter, said it had been received and all that; that’s his way. “I wrote to President Johnson last winter and asked that the players be given better protection during the games and that something be done regarding the language used by some of the spectators. Same results as In this case." Blanding Thought He Could Fool Ty Cobb Pitchers Often Think They Have Discovered Weakness In Batter; Then Guess Again. By Frank Gotch. World's Champion Wrestler. M Y ambition was to be a prize fighter, along with other boys who have read the lives of champion boxers. While I was work ing hard on a farm In Iowa I was dreaming of the time when I might be a renowned fighter, but I didn’t entertain that desire after a certain happening up in Alaska. Finally my chance came. There was a boxer of some note up there named Frank Slavin. He was really a good fighter, not a champion, by any means, but one who had considerable experience and a punc.h that would have done credit to the Dest of them. Has Visions of Fame. One fine day—how well I remember it—they were looking for an opponent to face Slavin. The news reached me and I jumped at the chance. At la c, t 1 had an opportunity of engaging in a real bout. My dreams of a brilliant pugilistic career crystallized into con crete form. Already I saw myself known to fame as a rising young belt wearer. 1 lander the battle all right and we met. Although I’m a pretty big fellow myself, I really believe 1 never law a man who looked so husky as Slavin did that night. I’ve heard the story of the second time Jim Jeffries fought Monroe out on the coast Monroe had held Jeff to a standstill In a four- round exhibition norm* time before up in a Montana town, and the miner really thought he had a chance to beat Jeffries, especially after Jeff had held off fighting him. The truth was that Jeffries’ wife objected to his boxing any more, but the report spread around that Jeffries was afraid of Monroe. Well, when they finally met they had to hold a towel In front of Mon roe’s face when Jeff climbed into the ring, he looked .«o big and powerful. Jeff, you may remember, stalked over, jerked the towel away and yanked Monroe to his feet to shake his hand. I’ve been told that Monroe was beat en before the scrap really started. His Guess Goes Amiss. It wasn’t that bad with me when I fought—if I can use that word—with Slavin. For I really thought I could beat him. and was* in fine training. I had another guess coming. Two blows were struck during that memorable fight—once when he hit me and once when I hit the floor. Never afterward did I have any over whelming desire to be a fighter. AH I remember is that I got up when the bell rang. and. I believe. I squared off at him. He sort of smiled and then cut loose a ripping Jolt- that • 'aught me flush on the jaw. I think I hit the mat almost as hard as he hit me. Well, anyway. 1 took to the wrestling game after that As tar as wrestling goes. I had thf good fortune to have Farmer Burns as a teacher. If there’s ever been as craftly a wrestler as Burns on this earth I’ve not been informed. He has taught me many of the be«q things I know about the game. Of course, a fellow had to have strength and an average amount ox’ brain work to go along with it. Shortly after Joe Jackson combed out a lofty average and finished the season of 1910 as leader of American League batters, George Mull in declared that Joe had a glaring weakness, and that the South Carolina genius was only an or dinary batsman. George has had ample reason for re gretting that statement since then. If the figures were available It probably would be discovered that Jackson s bat ting average against Mullln in 11(11 and Which brings to mind a secret which Fred Blanding thought he had discov ered last season while Birmingham was in charge of the Cleveland Club. “1 can fool that fellow on a curve,” said Fred to Joe, referring to Ty Cobb. "Never mind trying to fool him, Fred,” answered Joe. “Just shove one over the plate and pray. That’s the best way Put It on the outside and make him hit to left field.’’ Fred did Twice Tyrus filed to left field On Ty’s third trip up Fred de cided to take a chance. He decided to try that curve on the inside, wh^h he thought would fool the Georgian Ty was footed—fooled so badly, in fact, that he only secured a triple in stead of a home run. The ball landed high on the right field screen at League Park. “You certainly did fool him.’’ said the manager after the inning was over. MICHIGAN IS PICKED TO WIN PENN RELAY RACES PHILADELPHIA. April > —Athletes representing the University of Michigan are being picked as the victors in the Penn relay races booked for this city on April 26. Fast Western material will compete against Eastern stars, and some speed and records are looked for. but when the entire situation Is sized up the Wolverines siand out best as point winners Michigan. Illinois. Chicago. North western Missouri. Notre Dame, Ohio State. Utah and Brigham Young have all entered men in the. different events. ZBYSZCO TRAINS ON MILK +•+ ^•*1* *!*t*S* +•+ Drinks 2 Gallons of Liquids a Day By Ed W. Smith. C HICAGO, April . Most amazing to fighters and fight fans is the training work being done by the big wrestlers who are to meet in the Coliseum next week in what is termed a match for the world's title, a little conceit on the part of the management to which nobody appears to object seriously. Perhaps the average layman knows only in a general way about the training methods of fighters, but there isn't one man in 100 who wouldn't gasp in astonishment to learn that one of these wrestlers be lieves in plenty of fluids as a diet and drinks somewhere around two gallons of liquids a day I That Is exactly the case with Zbyszeo. the imghty Polish athlete, who is regarded as one of the greatest of the foreign stars and who doubtless is capable of giving any man living a beating on the mat— nearly. * * * T HE average trainer of a tighter would be horrified to have hts man dispose of anywhere near that amount of stuff during the course of twenty-four hours. But the training method of the fighter and the routine and detail adopted by the wrestler of the day are at vast variance, one system making the other smile with ill-concealed ridicule. Not only does Zbyszeo believe that ' .s method is entirely correct iu his own particular case, hut he sees in it much virtue for others. And others are following out hts idea, too. so (hat the wrestling method of training during these strenuous da vs may he set down as strictly "wet.” Mind you, this word is not used in the ordinary sense and made to cover beer and other alcoholic drinks. The Pole eschews them strictly. Milk and vichy form his entire liquid diet—and, believe me, he can make a milk can look mighty tired after he gets a good shot at it. The can stands no more chance with him than would Humid Kalla Pasha. ♦ * * O NE gallon of vichy and a gallon dr more of milk daily puts the Pole in his best condition, to hear him teil It, and is one of the real reasons why Zbyszeo, In common with other wrestlers who follow his system, can wrestle every night in the week, with long railroad jumps in between, and not only live, but actually thrive under it. Fighters must, go through that harrowing process of drying out oil the day of a fight in order to get most of the liquid out of their systems and reach the weight required. Wrestlers of thq heavyweight variety never have any worries of this sort. This is the main reason, according to the studious Pole, why wrestlers last for years after a fighter has completely outlived his ring usefulness. * * • I T IS not at all uncommon for Zbyszeo to lose from ten to fifteen pounds of weight during the course of a heavy bout lasting perhaps an hour. Yet he does this without weakening himself and usually Is just as strong and active at the finish of the bout ^is he was when time was first called. Fighters have marveled at this wonderful display of endurance and stamina, especially when it is done night in and night out, week after week. Now they have the solution of the whole thing from one of the greatest living exponents of the catch-as-catch-can game. * * * F URTHER, the Pole believes this vast amount of liquid keeps his blood in the best of condition, nourishes him thoroughly, and while he eats with tremendous heartiness, he asserts freely that he couldn’t do what he does during u wrestling season unless he fairly flooded his system with fluids. • But, remember that the Pole doesn't ever look upon the amber when it is bright and foamy and cannot see liquor or wines at all as a neces sary part of an athlete’s regime. Which should get the Prohibition vote for the big fellow, if nothing more. mutwjrt ’COLUMN ♦ W ITH Jack Prince getting ready to give Atlanta saucer- track racing, and with local gun clubs booming again Atlanta is threatened with a slightly greater variety of sport this summer than ever before Jack Prince ought to get away with some good meets. Rac ing on sharply hanked tracks is bound to be exciting and At lantans will pay well for anything thrilling. Trap shooting has hart an up-and- down career in Atlanta, chiefly down. Yet it is undeniably a great sport and with the proper boosting should go big with tho?*e enthusiastic over the shooting game. Atlanta overlooks a lot of grand sports, especially winter sports. The city should have more soccer football, some cross country running, more track meets, more distance runs, and all sorts of contests which have for their purpose the improv ing of the health of the boys and young men of the city. f • * | F a baseball player receives as 1 much as $4,000 or more for this season's work, would he he exempt from the income tux now being en tertained by Congress In case he plead the amount was received for i, ix months’ work and that he did not earn that much as a year's salary? To the fans who tackle statistics, figures and all sport dope this will prove rather an interesting query. Ac cording to the income tax bill now being given consideration, one must pay 1 per cent on a yearly salary of $4,000, the tax increasing in ratio with the Increase In yearly wage. At present there are quite a num ber of big league players who receive much more than that amount. Now the question is, will these ball players admit that such is a yearly wage or a half-yearly one, should the tax be passed. Should they declare that the amount implies a full year’s wages, then they will not be exempt, but should they explain they receive that amount for but six month** and that they do not receive an annual salary, would legal complications, as to what construc tion must be placed on the law, fol low ? By Chick Evans. I N all my wanderings about the British Isles and at all tne tourna ments I attended wnen abroad, I cannot remember ever to have seen a solitary player at practice. Of course, I have seen a man swing his clubs time and again, without hit ting the ball, before starting out, but when I speak of practice I mean taking a number of balls and one club and trying that and then an other club and so on; or going out to some difficult hole and trying to play It In a certain way. This sort of practice has a very definite aim and has meant unlimited good to me and I do not well see how I could have developed my game without it. Britons Surpass Americans. To be sure, of late years I have not been able to keep up the regular practice of my school days, but that is always a matter of regret. But the Briton does not practice, to my knowledge. In this sense of the word, and yet the average British player Is very much better than the aver age American. Whether the fine British players had graduated from the practice class at the time fl met them I do not know. Certainly there was very fine playing and an apparently total lack of practice. Not only is this true, but I have discovered that the British player really looks down on any one who gets out and practices with the sole intent of winning. I have heard they disliked a cer tain famous American from the start because he did not play much, but went out and practiced silently and constantly before the big competi tion. Perhaps they thought It looked too much like business, and It is just here that national characteristics show most strongly. Englishman Solemn Player. The Englishman seems never to think of his business when bent on recreation, but he takes the game it self with astounding solemnity. The American finds It difficult to get his mind away from his business, but he plays his game with cheerfulness, not to say frivolity. When I think of golf abroad I al ways carry a picture in my mind of two silent, serious Britons going around the links and giving a whole hearted thought and care to the game that seems absolutely impossible to the average lighter natured Ameri can. • Nearly everybody in Atlanta reads The Sunday American. YOUR ad vertisement in the next issue will -sell goods. Try it I ! • CRACKERS TO INVITE OPERA FOLKS TO GAME Next Wednesday will be grand opera day at the ball park. There is no grand opera matinee that day and in consequence all of the members of the Metropolitan Grand Opera Company who are in terested in baseball, or even curious about It, will attend the contest is guests of the baseball association. Last year when the opera folks were here a number of them. Includ ing many stars, attended the game Some of them witnessed a diamond contest for the first time and they displayed great curiosity in the game and how it was played. NEWARK BALL PLAYERS HAD TO SIGN AFFIDAVITS NEWARK, April /'—That the new salary list o^ $300 governing the Class AA leagues is to be strictly ad-( here! to was evinced when every I member of tne Newark team of the// International League had to sign nf/l fldavits yesterday certifying to t)J' amount of his salary. The $6,000 salary limit applies 1n the International League, the Amer. Iran Association and the Pacflc Coast League. . Nearly everybody in Atlanta read* J The Sunday American. YOUR ad?" vertisement in the next issue will aeh'i goods. Try it I