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Show Fans Hope for 1912 Pitchers to Repeat There la the same old question confronting confront-ing the managers of several big league teams, and also tha loyal fans, this spring that bobs up every aeaaon. It Is, "Will the good oung pitchers of last season repeat re-peat r" It Is doubtful If ever before so many young twirl era made good In the major leagues as was the case last year. First year wonders sometimes repeat, but not often. Clubs that figure on the same sort of work from their youngsters are often cruelly disappointed. The pitchers who shine for years are usually those who show gradual Impru.e- ment, Christy Mathewson, Addle Josa. Nap Rucker. Walter Johnson. Eddie Plank, Chief Bender. Three-Klngered Brown. Joe Wood, Ed Reulbach and Jack Coombs are of thla claaa. On the other hand, there are King Cole. Grover Alexander, Alex-ander, Ruasell Ford, George Chalmers. Babe Adams. Willie Mitchell and Oene Onapp, as well as others who looked great In their first year only to fall down one or two years later. Even Vean Gregg waa not as successful In 1912 as he was the preceding year, when he was the pitching sensation of the year. Ford's 1910 record was 21 games' won and 8 lost. In 1911 he won '2 and lost 11. Least year he won 13 and loat 21. King Cole pitched the Cubs Into a championship cham-pionship and helped win the only game taken by the Cuba from the Athletics. He came back all right in 1911, but fis-gled fis-gled last year. Babe Adams was a wonder won-der In 1909, especially in the world's series against the Tigers. He has done nothing sensational since. Alexander and Chalmers Chalm-ers put tha Phillies In the race in 1911. With both hurlers going poorly In 1912 tne millet never were contenners. Willie Wil-lie Mitchell won ten straight games for the Napa In 1910, and for two yaaxa has been trying In vain to break even. Gene Knapp won 12 out of 20 in 1911. Ha Is now back In the minors. The 1912 crop of first-year stars Includes In-cludes Jeff Tesraau. Claude Hervdrlx. Cheney and Robinson. National leaguers, and Bedlent. Dubuc and Cashlon. American Ameri-can leaguers. Tesreau. after a year with Toronto, won 17 games and lost 7; lien-drlx. lien-drlx. a rank bush leaguer in 1911. last year won 24 games and lost 9. and Cheney won 2 and loat 10, great records for youngsters breaking Into fast company. Of tha American leaguers Bedlent won 20 gamea and loat 10. Oubuc won 17 and tost 10. while Cashlon won 11 and lost I. Judging from the work of TesreaTU and Bedlent In the crucial game of the world's series between the Giants and the Red Sox. both are likely to repeat their good work of lat season. |