Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 188, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 August 1917 — PLAYERS “WITH A PAST” ARE POPULAR THIS YEAR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PLAYERS “WITH A PAST” ARE POPULAR THIS YEAR

Return to Big Leagues of Bobby Wallace, Veteran of Veterans, Shows Trend of the Times. I Major league magnates ‘and managers are showing a strong preference this year for ball players “with a past.” In ordinary times the big league pilots pay little attention to pill tossers who hav<\ seesawed back and forth from the minors to the big show. They usually break their necks bidding for the “phenoms” who spring up in the tall and uncut sticks, and they have paid some fabulous prices for this class of players. But 1917 Is no ordinary year. The majors have been slow to sign youngsters and seemingly eager to jump at the chance of getting players who have had big league experience, but who, because of age or some minor defects, have failed to stick on big time. The recent signing of Bobby Wallace by the Cardinals is a most vivid example of this tendency. Bobby Wallace, the veteran of veterans; a player whose name appeared in the box

scores before Lajole broke Into the limelight, Is back again in the role of utility inflelder with the Cards. His comeback marks finis to a 15? year absence from the National league, for he jumped from the Cardinals back In 1902 to, cast his fortunes with the Browns, who were making their first start In St. Louis. His long years of service wlth the Browns and hls ultimate release Is remembered by all fans today. It seemed only natural that Wallace should step down and out, and when he was made a member of the Wichita (Western league),club the majors bid him good-by tor all time. But Wallace is back, and the owners of the Cardinals figure that he is a valuable asset, In which they' are more than likely to be upheld by his work whenever the occasion arises to use him in the lineup. The return of the veteran Wallace recalls the fact that 1917 has seen a number of players in the veteran class return to the big tent while hundreds of youngsters are pining their young lives away in the bush leagues for a chance. Ping Bodie, purchased last winter from the San Francisco club by Connie Mack, has made good with a vim since his return. -Harry Walter and Charley Deal, brought back from the minor v leagues by the Gubs, and Jim Thorpe, recalled- by the Giants, and later sold to the Reds, are other examples.

Bobby Wallace.