Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 April 1920 — MINNEAPOLIS PITCHER WILL ATTEMPT “COMEBACK” WITH CHICAGO WHITE SOX [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MINNEAPOLIS PITCHER WILL ATTEMPT “COMEBACK” WITH CHICAGO WHITE SOX

A great many Chicago people besides Owner Comiskey and Manager Gleason think that the success of the White Sox this coming year depends

largely upon the pitching strength of the team. It was learned the other day that both Comiskey and Gleason are entertaining hopes that the needed pitching strength will be supplied by none other than Reb Russell, Minneapolis southpaw, who came to the front as a star in 1913, but suffered trouble with his arm and last year performed as an outfielder for the Minneapolis club. Russell Is to be one of the thirteen or fourteen pitchers who will be on the squad to go into training camp at Waco, Tex. For the last two years or more he hasn’t been right. Joe Cantlllon, who manages Minneapolis and had Russell, in the outfield the greater part of last year, thinks Reb is likely to “come back.” Comiskey and Gleason think so well of Cantillon’s judgment that they are going to give Reb a chance. Just what happened to Russell’s arm never has been made known. He came up in the spring of 1913 as the rawest recruit that ever wore a big

league suit and he made good at once. He was one of the greatest pitchers In the league before the season was over. About three years later something happened to his arm. Expert surgeons said It could be cured with an operation. So far as is known,-Reb hasnt had an operation, but he’s coming back for a second trial. He’s such a good hitter, fielder, base ijmner, and all-round ball player that he had no trouble In holding a job in the outfield with Minneapolis, but there is no assurance he can hook the ball over the plate as he once did. He might not be quite fast enough as an outfielder to hold a place in the big league, so It looks as if he will have to regain his old-time form, or something near It, as a pifther in order to stick. _ : __====«=»

Reb Russell.