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Show BASEBALL STARS 10 ARE SIII (By Dudley Porter.) Elmer Flick, a Cleveland outfielder outfield-er for years, has been sold to the Kansas City American association club. Flick lias been practically useless use-less to the Cleveland club for two seasons, largely through Illness. This season he batted ,2iio In the games in which be played, but his Melding vas pivr compared with other years, his arm was too feeble for an outfielder, out-fielder, aiul his failure to grasp signals sig-nals resulted In considerable trouble. Flick always was weak on signals. Bill Armour complained of him, so uid Lajoie, and so ba.s McGulre. However, How-ever, he was retain. d on the team lor his hitting powers aud individual ability iu other departments. He went to Cleveland lrom the Philadelphia Philadel-phia Nationals In 1302, preceding La-loie La-loie and Bernard, and Immediately began to pound the ball But Flick was retrograded. No more Is he able to hit with his old Itiocity and accuracv. That he is Dot the same man is evidenced by the club owners' action in allowing him to leave the league. Comiskey, O Connor, and McAleer are not over-l-'Oklng chances to strengthen their tuiins, but they passed up Flick.- Among the baseball stars that appeared ap-peared aiter the &tart of the season ot 1910 none Is now re-shlning more splendidly than young Russell Ford, tie New York Americans recruit Pitcher. A year ago Henry Krause of the Athletics, In the pitching department, de-partment, and Eddie Collins of tbe same team in the fielding and hitting department, were the stellar new comers Ford gave promise of a fine future during the spring tralniug trip. Today be leads tho American league in percentage of victories. Ol ten the percentage of victories does not reveal the real merit of a pitcher. pitch-er. Frequently a nun profits vastly vast-ly by the Pupport accorded him. or the lact that the opposition is in a rut, or his own team is setting a terrible ter-rible pace. The latter holds true to tho New York Americans, nevertheless, tho 1 njmber of hits allowed by Ford show that he deserves all OHdble credit that goes with such a record. In six full games and three parts of games IVird allowed only thirty-nine hits, an average of about six a game. In three of his string of victories the opposition foiled to- score. Yet there is no fluke about his record He has delivered a really high class article. Bender and Plank, of the Athletics, George Mullln of Detroit, and Vaughan of the New Yorks arc hovering right on Ford's heels. slip by the latter will move him to the rear with rapidity. Doc Mover, star pitcher of the Youngstown. Ohio, team in the O. & P. league has joined the Washington Americans. |