Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 163, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1916 — BASEBALL STORIES [ARTICLE]

BASEBALL STORIES

The American league race is tightening up. • « • The Red Sox are not climbing toward the top very fast ♦ * * Janvrin and Barry are a great pair around second for the Red Sox. * * • The batting of Amos Strunk Is one of the features of the Athletics’ games. • • * Leslie Mann, Cub outfielder, formerly of the Braves, has at last recovered his batting orb. « ♦ • Judging from the way he's cutting up at bat these days, Zack Wheat must be feeling his oats. * * * “Phillies Answer the $900,000 Sult of the Baltimore Feds,” reads a headline. Probably said “No.” Those nations now at war In Europe are looking for peace. But why overlook Umpire Rlgler? • • • If the Red Sox do not miss Tris Speaker, their percentage In the league standing does. ♦ • • The Brooklyns have overcome their big weakness, that of being unable to hit left-handed pitchers. * » * Fans along the eastern end of the American league call Fielder Jones' Brownies the “St. Losers.” * • • The Tigers are drawing the fans in Detroit despite the fact that the team is not very high in the race. • * * “Steve” O’Neill is doing most of the catching for the Indians and he is filling the position most competently. •• • • There is absolutely no truth In the report that the Athletics would arrange a separate peace with Cleveland. • • • Detroit feels confident that some day Ty Cobb will become as good a hitter as Dave Robertson of the Giants. Connie Mack insists that “Ml” Crowell, the Brown university lad, is going to be one of the star hurlers of his staff. • • • Elmer Smith, the youngster playing right field for the Indians, is about as timely a hitter as there. Is in the big leagues this year. • • • Bill McKechnie has been hitting the ball better in recent games, and his improvement in this direction has been pleasing to McGraw. ♦ ♦ • Bresnahan’s Toledo team is called the Iron Men. This, however, has no reference to what grows above the neck of Rajah’s gallant athletes. ♦ » • Mathewson rates Robertson as a second Ty Cobb, and says he is about the nearest approach to the great Detroit star as there ever will be.

Mike McNally, thrown into second base by the Red Sox when Jack Barry was taken ilk has done so well that talk is he will be left at the keystone. Examining the ball is becoming a tiresome feature of ball games. Searching for the- emery ball is the reason, but nobody is ever caught with the goods.