Show I COM COMING NG BACK BACI i THESE PICTURES MAY UPSET A LITTLE DOPE IN THE BIG LEAGUES I I I I I i I v. r 5 I ett ti i t- t 4 J IJ II II Ii I i 0 i 1 t m 1 l 7 f 1 It J iII I I I A At left Bill BUI James wonder wonder pitcher of 1914 who Is one of the hopes of the II Boston Braves If he can pull a come back Above Joe Wood who will again try to pitch winning ball bali for Cleveland I below Al AI Mamaux who may repeat his 1916 performance I The annual cry in baseball Camps camps is I What will the comebacks do this year From the standpoint of 1918 the question question ques ques- tion is more interesting than in former years because of the number of players particularly pitchers who will vill attempt to do a a. Brodie back Into select circles The call of the nation which took almost al- al I al most players and recruits from the two big leagues hit pitching staffs of a number of clubs especially hard hardi The result Wh Yh the old boys who used to more or less fool the up there and gradually either hick or quit baseball or started managing or coaching are pr preparing paring to oil up UI the old soup bones for another whirl at it At least three comebacks not old ones these may have a decided effect on their club standings if they should be able to come through Bill James who for a season was one of the most remarkable able pitchers in the National league will essay essav to make things hum a bit with the Braves again this season James practically won a pennant for the Braves back in 1914 Then he won two of four games in the world series against the Athletics Since then Bills Bill's pitching arm has been about as useful as a hoch der kaiser In Paris From the coast however come early re reports reports reports re- re ports that Bill is the same or very nearly the same Bill of 1914 all of ot which George George to smile for about the first time since July 1015 Joe Wood is said to he be rounding In shape in New Orleans Woods Wood's ability to toI pitch or his lack of it will have a de decided decided decided de- de I effect on the standing of the Cleveland Cleveland Cleve Clove land Indians next September Wood once the wonder of American league wonders wonders won won- ders tried a comeback last year said comeback being a pitiful failure Al Mamaux's 1 case is somewhat differ differ- ent eat l had all the makings of a great pitcher except an essential substance located between the ears In 1916 Mamaux Mamaux Ma Ma- maux was a great pitcher In 1917 he was the worst failure in the National t league is a said to for be several rather reasons poor handling ore one of f by which the Pittsburg management Mamaux should do much better under Wilbert Vilbert Robinsons Robinson's tutelage Grover Lowdermilk will be a great as asset asset as as- set get to the Browns if it he can an get g-et control 11 along with his shoots shoot and Fielder Jones Tones believes his year vear with Columbus in 1917 will bring better hetter than ever before Jones will also give the venerable venerable venerable vener vener- able Lefty Leifield another chance Jack Powell is another ancient who believes he ho has a few more major league games left In his salary wing Chief Bender staged a brilliant little comeback the latter part of last season with the Phillies and is on hand this year ear for another whirl at It Now comes the word void from Montgomery that Christy Mathewson is warming up with the intention of helping out now and then ratty fatty hasn't pitched since 1916 1915 and declared a year ear ago that he was through but he has evidently reconsidered ered It is not at all likely that Matty will try pitching as a regular stunt but buthe buthe butto I he to may be in there every now and then Parallel with Mattys Matty's case is that of Bill Donovan who deposed as manager of the Yanks is back in a Detroit uniform uni uniform form Bill il was signed e as a coach f for pitchers i er but u he has announced n that t he I will vili get in shape to pitch a ti few games I II I if h ho hp H Jj needed |