Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 70, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1917 — “COME BACK” OF WOOD [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

“COME BACK” OF WOOD

“Smoky Joe” Says His Salary “Souper” Is Right. Manager Fohl ' Hevea He Haa Strengthened Hla Team by Purchase of Famous Red Sox Twlrler. (By JACK VEIOCK, Internationa! News Sports Editor.) If Joe Wood proves himself the “Smoky Joe” of yore the American league race this year is going to be tighter than it could possibly be without him. . Joe says the. good old salary “souper” is right once again, and if it is Lee Fold's Cleveland Indians, with Wood In the box, may be expected to win many a game of ball that they might otherwise lose. Wood’s arm was a terror to the batters of the Ban Johnsonian circuit several years ago. His bulletlike speed drove many a good hitter to the shelter of the “bucket,” and the part he took In world’s series is baseball history now. . _ In purchasing Wood from President Frazee of the Boston Red Sox, Manager Fohl of the Indians believes that he has greatly strengthened his club and its chances in the coming race, for, if Guy Alorton’s arm is really fit for yeoman service again, he and Wood will be terrors on the mound. They ought to be good for a total of 36 victories between them at the lowest estimate. But, of course, they will have to pitch bang-up ball. Last year Smoky Joe did no work on the mound. He laid off to give his arm a long rest, and he refused to report to the Red Sox despite all manner of entreaties on the part of Manager Carrigan and President Joe Lannin during the winter of 1915-16. It has been said that Wood and Lannin were on the outs, but friends of Wood claim that he felt it would be unjust to accept a salary unless he could pitch for it, and if this report is true Wood is certainly an extraordinary ball player. Friends of the famous pitcher in major league baseball are. convinced that he would not consent to try a “come back” if he had any misgivings

regarding his pitching wing. No player will start the American league race with more friends pulling for him than Wood. Ban Johnson is a great admirer of Smoky Joe. When - the Federal league was formed Jim ' Gilmore’s agents attempted to persuade Wood to take the hurdles from organized ball, and he was offered a two-year contract calling for $30,000. But he turned it down cold, and he also lost a year’s salary by refusing to jdin ti#e Red Sox. A player who shows such principles deserves consideration. The trouble with Wood’s arm lay in the smaller pitching muscles and the nerves leading to the arm. He consulted a chiropractor and took a series of massage treatments that removed the trouble. Since dicovering that Wood’s fingering arm has been pronounced sound as ever many pitchers who are nursing their soupers along from year to year ’have decided to try the same remedy Wood has apparently found successful. It is said that Christy Mathewson has announced his intention of taking the treatment.

“Smoky Joe" Wood.