Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1912 — HIGHLANDERS SECURE A STAR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HIGHLANDERS SECURE A STAR

■Long George” McConnell Returns to New York After Making Excellent 'Record With Rochester. When the campaign of 1911 was ibout to begin the Highlanders’ twirling dorps was heralded far and wide as the best in the land. However, as the fans, well know, only at. times did the pitchers perform up to their ability. Notwithstanding the poor showing of the boxmen, there can be no gainsaying that the staff turned over to Harry Wolverton has few superiors in either' major league. Perhaps, next to Ford and Caldwell, the pitcher on Wolverton’s staff who looms up most formidably is “Long George” McConnell. McConnell has not been touted as highly as Marty O’Toole, Buck O’Brien and other phenoms, but If records count for anything McConnell was the best pitcher graduated to the majors last season. McConnell, more'than any other man on the Rochester payroll, was responsible for Ganzel’s team winning'lts third consecutive pennant. With, a team last in club fielding, McConnell made the remarkable record of winning thirty out of thirty-nine.games, losing eight and tying one. He was the only consistent pitcher of whom Ganzel could boast last season. New York fans remember McConnell as the lanky sixfooter who played first base for the Hillmen in 1909, when Chase was recovering from smallpox. McConnell, as a pitcher, was hopeless with men on the bases. As long as George could keep the opposition from hitting, all was well, but when the bases became jammed it was good night. Stallings, who managed the Kilties in 1909, shipped the big fellow to Rochester, where he was Ganzel’s main-

stay. International league managers sow say that “Long George” has thoroughly cured himself of his weakness with men on the bases, and predict -big things for him this season. Mo* Connell’s usefulness is not confined to the burling bill. He 1b a handy man with the bat, hitting .288 last season, Which is no mean figure for a boxman.

Pitoher George McConnell.