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DISCOVERER OF CURVE MEETS JOE WOOD
7 he Best Shortstop’ Does a
Fancu Slide to Third Base
+•+
CUMMINGS TELLS OF EARLY BASEBALL
the only thin* a pitcher could use.
The year that Cummings discovered
the curve he was playing with the
Excelsior team of New York. He
B OSTON, Sept. 13.—Arthur Cum
mings, the inventor of the curve
ball, was an interested specta
tor at the Red Sox games last week.
Mr. Cummings came to Boston from
his home in Athol for the express
purpose of meeting Joe Wood, In
whom he is greatly interested. Al
though a follower of baseball for
more than half a century, Mr. Cum
mings had never met the Red Sox
star pitcher until last Wednesday.
Cummings was a great pitcher back
in the '70s, when a ball club carried
but one regular pitcher and a relief
man during a season of 96 games. He
has never forgotten those days and
he proved a great entertainer to the
Red Sox players, telling stories of his
days on the diamond.
It was in 1867 that Cummings first
discovered how to throw a curve ball,
and it was not for several years aft
er that any other pitcher was able
to master the art.
Pitcher Was Nearer Plate.
Back in his time a pitcher deliver
ing the ball stood but 45 feet from
home plate and was forced by rules
to throw the ball from the level of
his waist-line. Consequently it was a
difficult task to put any “stuff" on
the sphere. At that short distance
it was also hard to get any control.
According to Mr. Cummings, weather
conditions had to be with the twirler,
or else it was impossible to throw a
curve. If the wind was against the
throw a curve was possible, but hurl
ing with the wind a straight ball was
| Rivington Bisland, in addition
to being the elass of the Southern
League in the short field this
^ear, is a reliable, nervy bats-
jnan, particularly good in the
pinches, and displays speed and
headwork on the bases. His
gliding is well judged and tricky
under all conditions.
first used his bender against the
Harvard University team and he
proved the easy winner. The Har
vard batters could do nothing with
the new delivery.
In 1870 Cummings gave the secret
of the curve out for the first time and
then only to one pitcher, Matthews,
who was pitching for Baltimore. It
later resulted that these two curve
ball pitchers were traded and in 1872
they opposed each other on the
mound. Although two years befora
Cummings gave Matthews the secret,
the latter had not mastered it. In
this one game he practiced it from
start to finish and did fairly well.
Cummings won the game.
Played on Many Teams.
In 1872 Cummings played with the
Mutuals of New York. 'The next
season found him with the Baltimore
team, and in 1871 ho played with
Philadelphia. The following year he
went to Hartford.
It was with Hartford that Cum
mings had his best year and that
season he won 69 games out of the
96 during the season. His curve ball
was then working in wonderful fash
ion and he was the talk of the base
ball world.
Mr. Cummings believes that the
game has not changed much since
his days, but states that the players
hav< it much easier with ih.-ir gloves.
He also says there . ?re more re
strictions on the players in his days.
He picks the New York Giants to
win the world’s championship this
season from the Athletics.
Much of the
Crackers’ suc
cess in that last
terrible drive
depended on
the cool, heady
work of Chap
man back of
the wood, and
his deadly
throwing arm
when opposing
runners were
threatening.
THE SOUTH’S NEW CHAMPS,
IF YOU WANT TO WRITE 'EM.
Wallace H. Smith. Philadelphia,
Pa., age 23.
Joseph Conzelman, Puget Sound.
Conn., age 21.
Elliott Dent, Atlanta. Ga., age 25.
Gilbert Price, Canton, Ohio, age
24.
Carl Thompson, Copper Hill,
Tenn., age 23.
John D. Voss*, Monticello, Ga.,
age 21.
Houghton Hove, Meridian, Miss.,
age 19.
Harry E. Chapman, Cincinnati,
Ohio, age 23.
Joseph E. Dunn. Springfield,
Ohio, age 29.
Joseph Agler, Beach City. Ohio,
age 24.
Rivington Bisland, Carnegie, Pa.,
age 24.
Harry Holland, Atlanta. Ga., age
20.
Frank Manush, Louisville, Ky.,
age 27.
Tnomns Long. Belden Springs.
Ala., age 25.
Harry Welchonce. Akron, Ohio,
age 25.
Albert Nixon, Atlantic City, N.
J., age 20,
Marquard Deplores Incident in
Philly When Fans Were In
cited by Home Team.
By Rube Marquard.
(Star Southpaw of the Champion
Giants and Holder of the World's
Record for Consecutive Victories
ai Nineteen Straight.)
N EW YORK, Sept. 13.—The Giants
experienced a very startling
week In baseball last week.
After it all I am inclined to “take
nothing fro granted." When a team
—no matter how far it may be lead
ing—can tumble three full games in
one afternoon, how on earth are you
going to figure out the finish?
That is what the Giants did a
week ago to-day—or rather helped to
do. We los-t one game. The other
two were represented by the reversal
of LTmplre Brennan’s forfeiture to
in Philadelphia. President Lynch
practically reversed his official and
made us lose it to the Phillies. Any
how. we lost the game without hav
ing a run for-the money in the ninth
inning.
That’s neither here nor there. I
think we can spot the Phillies a game
or two more and lick them to a fraz
zle. Whether or not our team was
fairly treated, I am Just as well
pleased that Philadelphia got the
game. It may stop a, lot of foolish
talk.
For some reason or other there is
unusual hostility toward this city in
all the outlying provinces. Not the
least iota of sympathy was expressed
in behalf of the Giants anywhere out
side the Metropolis. We were looked
upon as a gang of robbers who had
deliberately planned to steal a game
from the Quakers.
Rowdyism Hurts Baseball.
So I say let them have the game.
But they should not be allowed to
set away with attempted murder.
The assaults committed on the Giant
players after that forfeiture put a
blot on the fair name of baseball
that will require many years to bleach
away.
I do not blame any of the Phila
delphia players for the rowdyism of
that town’s fans. But I think Dootn
and his men mlsrht have made some
Silirht effort to pacify the populace
Instead of acting In such violent man
ner as to further excite It.
Mind, I do not Insinuate that the
violence was of the nature of "grand
stand’’ play. I understand the state
of mind that would naturally follow
the announcement of a forfeiture
when victory seemed assured.
Nothing can excuse the Indifference
of the Philadelphia police. Absolute
ly no protection was afforded the
Giants on their way to the train or
at the station. Several of the bovs
were wounded by missiles. The team
had to sneak home in three different
groups.
One Infuriated fan pressed a yun
against Jack Murray’s stomach and
probably would have murdered him
but for the presence of a "cop" who
did not disgrace the uniform. In
view of all of which I say that the
forfeiture and subsequent reversal
may not have helped baseball, but
certainly both were Insignificant
compared to the harm that will re
sult from the rowdyism above de-
scribed.
Coombs Out of Series.
I was sorry to learn, a few days
^Fo. that Jack Coombs may be un
able to take part.In the world’s se-
rles this fall. The “Iron man’ of the
Athletics may not pitch again this
season.
With the possible exception of Ed
Walsh, modern baseball has not seen
Would Havel5-GameTitleSeries
+•+
Frank Chance Has Good Plan
hope for the disappointments of the
regular campaign.
There are many advantages to this
idea and but two distinct drawbacks.
The principal hitch is fear that a
combination of baseball interests
might destroy public confidence In
the game. The fans might look upon
the idea as a syndicate. The other
Is that It would entail a very lengthy
schedule—one that could not possi
bly be played under 168 games. Bad
weather might Interfere before the
world’s series competition had been
concluded.
Morris, Fitz,” suggested a by
stander.
“Didn't yer ever hear about that?"
drawled Fitz.
“It’s a long time since it happened.
I Was going by William Morris’ thea
ter, perfectly sober, when I stepped
on an unfastened coal slide and land
ed in the cellar. It knocked me out
for a while. When I got home and
was telling some of the boys about it,
they said: ‘Just for fun, why don’t
you sue William Morris.’ So we did.
We sued him for $100,000. I was
some fighter still then and I claimed
I was a ruined man, that I could never
right again.
“They served the paper on William
Morris. He opened it and immediate
ly began to cry. ‘One hundred thou
sand dollars, my best friend does this
to me. One hundred thousand dol
lars.’ He took on something awful
and then gave it to his lawyers.
Sues for $100,000.
“A couple of days later I called on
him. I was walking with a cane and
all hunched up. He pretended to be
awful glad to see me, and began to
explain how he wasn’t responsible
for the accident.
“ ‘Let me help you up to the office,’
he said, and carefully helped me up
the stairs. All the time I kept a say
ing, ‘I’m a ruined man.’
“When we got in his office back of
the stage he says, ‘I know you got
me, Bob. What will you settle for?’
“ ‘Well, Will,’ says I, ‘if you’ll open
a bottle of wine I’ll call it square.’
“You ought to have seen him. He
was expecting me to say $100,000 and
1 said a bottle of wine.
“ ‘Bob, you old son of a gun,’ he
shouted. ‘I’ll open a case,’ and he
put the show on the bum he shouted
so loud."
Bub was in a reminiscent mood,
and he related stories of his lion that
Bostock gave him and then had him
arrested for stealing. He told how
he had to hit the lion on the head
with a hammer because he was kill
ing a horse.
“After that the lion never was the
same," said Bob. "Every time I pass
ed I’d see his eyes fololvving me say
ing to himself; ‘That’s the son of a
gun that hit me on the head with a
hammer. I’ll get him yet.' And I
knew he would, so I gave him to a
N EYY r YORK, Sept. 13.—Frank
Chance has come to the bat
with a very good suggestion
relative to world’s series competitions
in future. The scheme is to extend
the competition to such lengths as to
eliminate the prevailing element of
luck. Chance favors a schedule of
fifteen or sixteen games.
"Under present conditions,” says
the Peerless Leader, “the best team
does not necessarily win. The ele
ment of luck Is too pronounced. One
team that might perhaps outclass Its
rivals by many games through a
schedule of 154 games Is simply
swamped. Its pitchers have buckled
or gone stale, or It has hit a batting
slump that comes to all good teams
now and then. A world's series ends
when one team has won four games.
That number might be won by the
weaker contestant before the other
came out of some slump. Now, in
sixteen games I will venture to say
that'the better team will win every
time.
“A team that drops the opening
game in a world's series as at present
conducted is placed at a very decided
disadvantage. Almost invariably it
wins. If it happens to take the first
tw r o the world’s flag is practically
cinched. The monetary side of the
classic puts too great a strain upon
the underfellow. But in a series of
fifteen or sixteen games one club
might drop the first three or four
games without materially affecting
Hitting,Running, Form Reversals,
Bumped Managers, and Other
New Marks.
I F CHANCE'S bright idea were
I properly incorporated it might
em'brace most of the advantages cf
the plan just described, at the same
time eliminating all the objectionable
features. These clubs denied par
ticipation in the classic as now con
stituted might also be declared In
upon a portion of the spoils.
Supposing the world's series sched
uled should be expanded to fifteen
games. Supposing the first six of
these were played in the cities di
rectly interested. That would leave
nine games to be played elsewhere.
And as there are eleven cities 1n the
two big leagues, the nine remaining
games—after the first six had been
decided—might be awarded one to
each of the remaining towns.
Certainly such a move would give
fandom in fceners) a greater oppor
tunity of seeing the big struggle. As
each city would undoubtedly fill its
park the receipts for the fifteen
games would be tremendous. As an
incentive toward patronage 1n the
outlving cities a fartion of the re
ceipts at each of these might be set
aside as a sort of benefit for the
players of that town.
In the big cities where both leagues
are represented matters might be In
creased to double the proportions of
those in the smaller towns where
onlv one club does business. Or with
out a great deal of difficulty the out
side players’ interests might be ar
ranged on a sliding scale—the teams
to be given a lump sum, according
to their positions at the conclusion
of the major league competitions.
There should be no worry over the
possibility of such a world’s series
schedule dragging out into Inclemenr
weather. As a matter fact, the
major league schedules are too long
anyhow. Most of the magnates fa
vor 140 games instead of 154. By
chopping fourteen games off the pres
ent playing draft the world's series
would be concluded as early as the
major league seasons now close.
lous spurt, Billy Smith accomplished
a feat that only one other pilot in
the league has ever performed—he
converted a tall-ender into a pennant
winner. In 1908 Bill Bernhard, who
now by the Irony of fate has been
dropped from the league, took hold
of the Nashville club, after it had
finished last in 1906 and 1907, and
captured the gonfalon. Smith grab
bed the Crackers after Hemphiil had
deserted them in the last berth and
brought them home in front of the
field. Yes, it’s some managerial feat
In spite of the sensational character
of the ball that was staged, the sea
son just passed has not been extreme
ly successful financially for the league
as a whole. None of the clubs are in
distress, however. The failure of
New Orleans and Memphis to remain
in the race is largely responsible for
the failure of the various clubs us a
whole to come out on the right side
of the ledger, as these two towns
pulled down the attendance of the
road clubs. Atlanta and Birmingham
made big money, the spurt of the
Crackers and the attendance race be
tween the two cities turning out the
largest crowds in history.
Records were smashed with a wan
ton hand during the season just
passed. Atlanta broke the attend
ance record for the season and for a
single game. Tommy Long, of the
Crackers, broke the runs scored
mark, and Harry Welchonce broke
the league record for the number o:
hits made. Clayton Perry and “P
Young, unwilling to have the Crack
ers be the whole noise along the van
dalism line, then came along and set j
up new records for consecutive hits,
securing eleven bingles in succession. |
The season Just passed is resulting ;
in wholesale managerial changes,
most of which have already been 1
made. But three clubs will stand pat i
on their 1913 pilots, these being At
lanta, Birmingham and Nashville. .
Chattanooga will not retain Fiber* j
feld, Bernhard will depart from Mem- 1
phis, Finn will leave Mobile, Dobbs
will shake the dust of Montgomery
from his feet, while Frank, in New
Orleans, will retire to the presidency
of the Pelicans and leave the Tabasco
Kid in charge as playing manager j
For .sensations, upheavals and sur- ;
prises the season of 1913 carries off j
the undisputed palm. .
farm where business men who are
run down can get in condition. Lots
of people have been dissatisfied with
Muldoon’s methods, but his was the
only thorough place, so they would
have to stand for it.
“I believe in treating gents like
gents, and I’ll set them to do just
as much work as though I said, ‘Do
this, you son of a gun. You won’t?
Then take the first train out of here.’
“Mr. Walcott, of Boston, Is going
to put up the capital, and we are go
ing to erect the building on my farm
in New Jersey. It’s going to be a
swell place.”
Fitz Not Broke.
“I heard you were broke," said the
reporter.
“No, I ain’t broke,” said Bob. “I
got my farm and some money. I get
along all right. I don’t ask nothing
from nobody."
“What do you think of the present
run of champions?"
“Rotten," replied Bob. “I’ll take on
any three of them myself. Johnson
can knock out any half-dozen of
them. He could take Langford and
McVey In the same ring, even now
when they say he’s dissipating. Of
course, he isn’t so great as people
think, It’s that the others are so
bum.
"You know' that Jeffries was doped
when he fought Johnson. Sure, I
know who did it. And I w'as doped
when I fought Jeffries, and I know
who did that. Luther McCarty was
poisoned, too. They gave him
cyanide. He’d have been dead in five
minutes if he hadn’t gone into the
ring at all.
Sure Thing Bettors.
“The trouble with the modern
fighting game is these sure thing
bettors. They ain’t satisfied to lay
a bet on the best man. They pick
the long odds, take the worst man
and make him win bv handing dope
to the othlr guy, if they can get
him.” I
“Tell him! the joke about William
Rush of Boxers to
N.Y. Expected Soon
T HERE 1* sound loprltt In what the
Parries* Reader advocates, and
It might be well for organized base
ball to give his theory a trial a year
hence. It is a fact that the major
league magnates for several years
have been dissatisfied with present
conditions: at least that portion of
them who have not figured directly In
♦ he championships. Year after year
the lion's share of the world’s series
profits have been harvested by some
few clubs and their players, while the
great majority of teams have looked
on from the cold outside.
YORK, Sept. 13.—Unless at
fail there is going to be a rust
York by all the best boxen
future. The announce-
the Vernon Arena will dost
al months and the gen
<- n against boxing in Cali
likely to cause a stampedi
NEW
signs
for New
In the near
ment that t..
down for severs
eral agitation
fornia are 1.—
in this direction.
Leach Cross at
the two New T or
ward bound, hat
there is nothing
In California for
all accounts Crot
call off his bout
dentist-boxer cal
roasting who”
ting the weif
pounds. A s
than a featherw
Cross was unre
ing such one-si.
all angles the m:
one for Cross, as
and much to
ing speed and
ily have bee
hitting East
Champion
•Jgns of dissi
with
coi ver - !t is
he/will be seen
long,
possibly
aXd has come
Me Clever v el
Xnetrable def
Mould be able
?| offset his «
Xy rate, it"
rohnny Dundee,
,, are now’ home-
concluded that
re to be gained
present. From
,ras not sorry to
h Dundee. The
in for a mild
insisted upon set-
r the match at 135
Dundee is little more
eight, it was felt that
,easonable in demand-
iided conditions. From
atch seemed a poor
he had little to gain
Dundee’s amaz-
endurance might eas-
oo much for the hard-
oider.
Ritchie is also showing
satisfaction with his
’reddie Welsh at Yan-
not improbable that
in a local ring before
Ritchie has seen a llffbt
to the conclusion that
5 h, with his almost int
ense and rapid jabhing,
o roll up enough points
superior hitting. At
>uld be much safer for
he matter out in a New
ere he would be in no
,g his title.
Lafayette Football
Schedule Announced
B ARNEY DREYFUSS and August
Herrmann have repeatedly tried
to Interest their colleagues in a
•Theme that might prove a salvation
if the magnates were not afraid to
try It. The Idea Is to shorten the
f schedules In each majorl league to 1)2
... game®. The winners of these eompe-
t ! titfons would he awarded the regula.
acK- fj on jpfigun pennants. Then would
begin a world’s series in the broadest/
sense of the word. It would be noth
ing more than a combination of the
two league* Into one gigantic circuit
EASTON, PA., Sept. 13.—The football
schedule of the Lafayette College foot
ball team announced Is regarded as a
very good one, although disappointment
is expressed from a local standpoint In
that not a single big game is scheduled
for home. Cornell will be the one big
team that will be new to the schedule.
The University of Pennsylvania game
will come much earlier this year. Buck-
nell. Brown and Syracuse have been
dropped, and Albright, University of
Pittsburg and Cornell substituted.
The schedule follows: September 27,
Muhlenberg College at Easton; October
4, University of Pennsylvania at Phila
delphia; October 11, Yale at New Ha
ven; October 18, Swarthmore at Easton;
October 25, Albright at Easton; Novem
ber 1, Ursinus at Easton; November 8,
Pittsburg at Pittsburg; November 15,
Cornell at Ithaca; XovenTber 22, Lehigh
at South Bethlehem; November 27, Dick
inson at Easton.
142 Candidates Out
For West Point Team
The winner of this series would
indeed be a real world’s champion.
As such it would reap the benefits
of the greatest portion of a percent
age of the gate money set aside from
each game for a pool. But everv
club would profit financially as well
as everv player, for the pool money
would be divided, according to the
standing of the clubs. The winners
would get as much if not more than
they now receive. The tail-enders
would get some share, too. There
would be every Incentive for a spirit-
WEST POINT, Sept. 13.—The army
football men are Jubilant over the pros
pects of this season’s outlook. On the
first day of practice there were 142 men
reported for work, the largest number
that ever turned out here for football
They reported to Lieutenant Sultan and
Cadet “Benny” Hoge, captain of this
year’s army eleven.
Among the old men who reported were
Benedict. Hobbs, Hoge, Weyand
Wynne, Markoe, Huston, O’Hara and
Hodgson. The army will practice every
day and play Its first game of the sea
son with Norwich University on Sep
tember 27.
Going Ot
it After a Tall Foul;
Harry Cf
lapman at Top Speed