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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