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Show Dave Danf orth Must Overcome "Rep" of Baseball "Cheater" Once a player gets the reputation of being a "cheater"' It Is a difficult matter for him to live it down. Dae Danforth of the St. Louis Browns Is an example of such a reputation, repu-tation, in his early days as a minor league pitcher Danforth doctored the balls. At least that was the charge that was always held against him as a minor leaguer. In the American As-' aoclatlon it was not unusual for Dan-forth Dan-forth lo strike out in men In a gnme. ! His great work In that league canoed cano-ed the Chicago Whlt Sox to give him a. chance He fureil Just so-so with ! Chicago and was ajgraln sent back to' the minors Once more it was lie American Association, As-sociation, this time with the Columbus Colum-bus club Immediately Danforth began be-gan to burn up the league. lie had so good a year in IP.'l that I'm- si Louis Browns rave 11 players lor him. Danforth has always been accused of roughing :he ball with Ins thumb' nail, thereby making it possible for! nim to sail his fist ball. American league umpires seem to think that Danforth is not resorting to trickery. Opposing teams, how-ever, how-ever, Insist on h-vlng he umpire examine ex-amine the bill ever1 time Danforth gets a good hop on his fas' ont. Danforth does rub ;h0, bail Plight-j ly with his thumb before delivering it. Ho says It is merely habit Opposing Op-posing players nre positive 11 Is then that he rougjrions the ball. Danforth s ays hi a of feotivenc ss If Increased v. Ien .h. opp d n p:.i .-r-itart fiiH.-Ing about his delivery and that Is the real reapon why lie always rubs his ihlUub on the ball as If nicking the lea' her In order to get a rough spot Past reputation is going io make the traveling rather rough for Dandy Dave this year. |