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Show Big Jim McCormack Was Early at Record Marks One of the early record makers was "Big Jim" McCormack. He had a "submarine'' delivery like that of Carl Mays although it was known as an underhand delivery in those days. He pitched for Chicago in 1S35 and 1SS8. In 1S95 he had a run of 14 consecutive consecu-tive victories and in 1SS6 he won the opening game and did not lose one until July, scoring 10 straight. Before joining Chicago he pitched for the Cincinnati Unions and he won 14 in a row for them in 1S3-1. Amos Rusie, one of the very best pitchers of all time, was never able to win more than 14 in a row. Rusie had this string in 1S94. Ed Reulbach, who helped Chicago beat Detroit for the world's championship, champion-ship, wen 14 in a row in 1909, the year that Pittsburgh took the pennant from Chicago after the Cubs bad beaten the Tigers In the world series of 1908. The best record in either league since 1912 was made by "Pnzzy" Vance of Brooklyn. Vance won 15 games consecutively in 19J4. Consecutive victories are harder to achieve each season, it appears. The pitcher who breaks the present record will have to have a great amount of luck besides considerable pitching skill. |