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Show PIRATES WILL BE FAST THIS SEASON Speed Will Be Big Factor in Pittsburgh's Drive for the Pennant. Speed will be a dominant factor In the pennant drive of the Pittsburgh Pirates this season. Already the fastest club In the senior circuit, the acquisition of George Grantham from the Chicago Cubs lias given the Buccaneers a monopoly mon-opoly on speed. rihe 1925 pirates will, boast probably the four most proficient base stealers in the National league. Max Carey, who, like Eddie Collins, seems to gather'speed with age, led the Heydler organization last season with 47 thefts, while the young outfield recruit, llazen Cuyler, was next, with 32. Fie Traynor stole 24 and Grantham 21. The former Cub has demonstrated lie can do better than this, however, for he stole 43 bases in 1923, ranking second sec-ond to Carey, who led with 51. Besides this quartet, Manager Mc-Kechnie Mc-Kechnie has other speed merchants in Eddie Moore and Glen Wright, 192-1 rookie sensations, and Carson Blgbee, outfielder. The Pirates supplanted Chicago- as the most prolific base-stealing club last season. They recorded ISO thefts, 47 more than the Cubs, who were next In line. As proof of t lie speed of the quartet which will lead the 192o Pirate march, the 1924 figures show that collectively they stole only nine bases less than the whole Cud team and exceeded the mark of every outfit in the league. |