December 15, 1913 Age 22
By W. J. O’Connor., St Louis Post Dispatch
MORE TRADES ARE IN SIGHT, BRITTON SAYS
“We’re not through trading yet,” declared President Schuyler P. Britton Monday upon his return from Cleveland, where he stopped on his way home from New York. “Manager Stallings of Boston would like to land Cozy Dolan, while we have other trading material to work on,” continued Britton, “but just now there’s no deal pending.”
Britton says he has released Shortstop Callahan to Jacksonville, while a tew other recruits, tried out last fall, soon will be tinned.
Cardinals Fans Pleased With Trade, But Wondering About Pitching
Cardinal fans who were pleased last week to learn that Manager Huggins had rid his team of so-called malcontents are beginning to wonder now what the small manager will do for pitching talent next campaign. With the exception of George Suggs, the Cincinnati discard, Huggins has only one seasoned pitcher and, fortunately, he Is a star.
Harry Sallee of Higginsport, who won almost half of all the victories scored by the Cardinals last season, probably will be asked to shoulder the burden again next campaign, as much more must be expected of Sallee than Hug can hope to get from the recruits Polly Perritt and Bill Doak.
Of course, Rube Robinson, late of Pittsburg, is a southpaw of great promise, but Robinson, even last year, while with a first division club, had not reached that stage of development where he was considered a regular curvist. He is, though, almost a finished product and should prosper against those clubs that show a weakness for portside flingers. Sallee, on the other hand, is equally effective against right-handed swatters.
Still Weak in Pitching.
But It is the pitching staff which will worry Huggins again next season, unless the Cardinal manager can snare another hurler of rank. Too much should not be expected of Doak, even though he did show well at the windup last season. Doak lacks big League experience and his inexperience surely will handicap him. Perritt, who in no wise prospered last season, looked every bit as good as Doak in the fall of 1912, only to fizzle out in the heat of championship race.
Experience is one thing a pitcher must have. A wise, finished catcher can do a lot of good, but if the effervescent young hurler insists on splitting the pan after he has the batter In the hole, something Perritt persisted in doing all last year, there is only a slim chance for success. Control, in the big leagues, does not mean ability to .get the ball over the plate as much as It does the knack of keeping the pill where It can not be solidly slapped.
Hauser Is Badly Needed.
Huggins has little use for Butler and Dolan, two of the ex-Pirates. Hug intends to play second himself, leaving Butler without a permanent assignment unless Hauser fails. But if Hauser comes through, the fans would welcome a deal that would send Butler, Dolan and a few others to another club in exchange for a pitcher who could take his regular turn on the hill. The most glaring weakness in the local club is In the box.
The passing of Mike Mowrey will be a distinct surprise to those persons who were positive a year ago that Huggins, then a debutante manager, would be able to handle the flame-tipped third sacker. Mowrey didn’t “get on” very well with Bresnahan, although he played better ball for Roger than he did for Huggins.
However, it was when Huggins succeeded Bresnahan that the knowing ones expected Mowrey to show improvement. Huggins and Mowrey had been roommates. They came here from Cincinnati and Huggins boasted upon assuming managerial control that he would be able to keep the third sacker within bounds. But alas, Hug presumed too much. After one year’s effort, the Cardinal manager has fired his former pal and branded him a “trouble-maker.”
Surely it isn’t an easy task to manage.