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Show GREAT PITCHER IS NOT AN EGOTIST Chicago, Aug 21. It's a painful fnct yet a true one, that the nvorage pltoher is greatly affected by what polite society terms egotism, but which is labeled "swelled head" by tho sporting fraternity. Just let a big league pitcher get his name In tho headlines and be recognized as a star of tho first water, and Instantly Instant-ly his cranium becomes inflated with something that iu not gray matter. Ho bhinks the earth, moon and stars rovolvo around him as the "ontral figure, and an actor is a modest, retiring, shy littlo bird in comparison. compari-son. Christy Mathowson, Jack Coombs, Joo Wood, Chief Bender, Ed Walsh and a score of others are in this class. So wore Jouott Moakin, Amos Ruslo, Cv Young, Kid Nichols and j I other stars of a bygone day. All i laro, or were, athletes who could 'strut while standing still. J The one great oxception is Walter Johnson, who has Just brokon the American league record for consecutive consecu-tive victories The big blondo pltch-'cr pltch-'cr of the former lowly Senators is the most modest man in baseball. I And perhaps he, of all pitchers, has the groatest reason to look down on his fellowmen Clark Griffith, who has looked at all the great pitchers of the past twenty years, says Johnson Is the grandest box artist that ever pulled on a glove, Ty Cobb, the greatest of present-day batters; Trls Speaker. the wondorful Boston sar; Duffy Lewis, one of the hardest men in (the country for a pitcher to face; I Frank Baker, the slugging Quaker, I and others of equal note, unite in de- ' daring that Johnson is the greatest lof present-day pitchers Never Lets Hlmsolf Out. "He has never let -hlmsolf out," declares Cobb. "The hole of a Mauser bullet would be a Jagged thing as compared to tho hole clear I through a man's bod left by one of) Johnson's fast ones If Walter would put on all his steam and hit a bat-' tor. Whenever he pitches I want to get side- and stay In the hotel " Strong words from the greatest of all batters! Johnson is the malnstay of the Washington team and his box work this year has been remarkable. Just twenty-five years old, he is In his prime He pitches like a piece of well-oiled machinery, with apparent appar-ent lv no exertion at all "He's good fop ten years." says Bill Peet. the Washington newspaper man. and himself a former player. "When he gpes. ho'll go in a bunch, for all strain is evenly divided at present, and all parts get equal wear |