Kiki Cuyler’s Blast Lifts Pirates as Rogers Hornsby Prepares for St. Louis Coronation

Content from the Pittsburgh Press - Sunday May 16, 1926

Table of Contents

• Pirates Victorious In Mound Battle
• A Happy Tale of Few Hits
• World’s Champions Slow About Coming Out of Their Trance
• Playing the Game With the Pirates
• Hornsby To Be Crowned Most Valuable Player Next Saturday
• Pirate-Robin Game Today Reproduced On Big Moose Board
• Mainstays of the Uniontown Middle Atlantic League Club
• Pirates Rise To Fifth Place In National League Batting List

Pirates Victorious In Mound Battle

DODGERS WHITEWASHED BY M’KECHNIE’S MEN

Bob McGraw Holds Champions to Three Hits—Wright’s Triple and McInnis’ Sacrifice Fly Bring in Deciding Tally—Cuyler Swats Over-the-Fence Home Run.

By Lou Wollen.

Bob McGraw, young righthander of the Brooklyn mound staff, strove with might and main to add a brilliant victory to his season’s string. He twirled with infinite skill, exhibiting a curve ball that compared favorably with the best in the business, but despite the limited number of hits procured by the Buccaneers, he could not win. His team went down before the Buccaneers at Forbes Field yesterday over the shut out route, 2 to 0.

Only three safeties were manufactured by the world’s champions out of the assortment of slants served up by the youngster. Two of them arrived at the initial cushion by virtue of bases on balls. Those six were the only ones who dented the various cushions with their spikes.

Barnhart got one of the hits, a single in the second inning. That bingle availed the Pirates nothing, for a moment later he was caught attempting to pilfer the keystone hassock. The second drive that settled in basehit territory was a triple by Glenn Wright in the fifth. That blossomed into a tally, really the one that decided the issue, when Stuffy McInnis hoisted a sacrifice fly to left field.

The last of the bingles came in the seventh frame, and was lusty enough to carry a run over the platter without any outside assistance. Kiki Cuyler was the maker of that swat, the ball sailing far over the left-field fence into the confines of Schenley park.

MORRISON DOES WELL.

Johnny Morrison, whose jughandle curve is again bringing him fame, was on the other end of the sparkling pitching duel. He also performed in admirable fashion, but in justice to his opponent, it must be chronicled that his work was not featured by the steadiness of the Brooklynite.

The Kentuckian was found for six safe swats by the Flatbush forces. He also showed a lack of control upon various occasions, walking four men and three times was in great danger of being scored upon. However, in each of the instances when runners lurked in the scoring zone, his mates came through with a double play that quelled the impending rally.

The first time Morrison got into trouble was in the second round. After Babe Herman had been called out on strikes, Gus Felix and Jimmy Butler banged out singles and Rabbit Maranville waited for a walk to congest the runways. Steve O’Neil, usually a timely swatsmith, drove the ball at Pie Traynor whose chuck through Hal Rhyne to McInnis disposed of a pair of Robins.

DODGERS STOPPED AGAIN.

Again in the fourth disaster loomed up when Felix walked and Butler singled to left with one out. Maranville accommodated by tapping to Morrison who engineered the second twin killing of the afternoon himself.

The final threatening gestures by the visitors came in the ninth, their dying offensive operations causing apprehension among the 18,000 or more loyal rooters who stayed for the finish. Again after one man had expired, Zack Wheat who had fallen softly before Morrison on three other occasions, sent a screeching basehit to right.

CUYLER FUMBLES SWAT.

Herman hit to center was fumbled by Cuyler and Wheat perched on third when the ball was finally lassoed by the fleet gardener. Felix connected but his effort resulted in a roller to Wright who forced Herman with a toss to Rhyne. The Frisco purchase turned and heaved to McInnis; Felix was doubled up and the game was over.

While the inner defense of the Freebooters carried off fielding honors, the outfielders of the rival troupe came through with brilliant displays. Zach Wheat took care of five flies in fine style and Gus Felix and Dick Cox speared one apiece. The latter’s snare, however, was the best of the lot. In the fourth inning, he dashed in for Cuyler’s liner and dove into the sod to make the capture.

The victory sent the Pirates into the first division, the Giants taking their second straight beating at the hands of the Reds. The Corsairs now occupy fourth place, one-half game ahead of the Gothamites. The defeat also put the skids under the Dodgers who moved out of first place as the Reds moved in.

M’GRAW’S FINE WORK.

McGraw had the better of Morrison in matters of pitching during the first four rounds. In that time only 12 Pirates faced the Brooklyn hurler, Barnhart, the only man to reach first base, dying when he tried to steal. The Buccaneer curve-ball expert, on the other hand, was extricated from ticklish situations in the second and fourth innings by fielding dexterity on the part of his mates.

In the fifth, the Corsairs pushed over their first tally. Wright cut loose at a fast one and drove it to the grandstand in right center for three bases. He tarried at the hot corner cushion while Traynor grounded out and Barnhart was issued a free ticket to first. McInnis’ long fly to Wheat, however, gave him the opportunity to score.

The Buccaneers succumbed meekly in the sixth but the seventh saw their last run produced when Cuyler, first batsman, lifted the ball far over the left-field wall for the circuit. Wright went out and Traynor walked and stole second, but Barnhart and McInnis failed to provide the force to send him the rest of the distance.

The Dodgers, after going down in order before Morrison from the fifth until the eighth, threw a scare into the Pirate camp in the ninth. Fewster opened the round by fouling to Gooch, but Wheat socked a single to right. Herman followed with a basehit into center that Cuyler fumbled, the Brooklyn captain romping around to third on the safety and miscue. Damage was prevented when Felix hit into a double play that Wright engineered.

A HAPPY TALE OF FEW HITS

FIRST INNING.

Brooklyn—Glenn Wright tossed out Dick Cox. Johnny Fewster out, Pie Traynor to Stuffy McInnis. Zack Wheat expired over the Wright-McInnis route. No runs. No hits.

Pittsburgh—Hal Rhyne was thrown out by Jimmy Butler. Bob McGraw tossed out Paul Waner. Kiki Cuyler was called out on strikes. No runs. No hits.

SECOND INNING.

Brooklyn—Babe Herman was called out on strikes. Gus Felix singled to center. On a hit and run, Butler singled to center, Felix taking third. Rabbit Maranville walked, filling the bases. Steve O'Neil hit into a double play, Traynor to Rhyne to McInnis. No runs. Two hits.

Pittsburgh—Maranville threw out Wright. Traynor was easy for Fewster and Herman. Clyde Barnhart singled to center. Barnhart out stealing, O'Neil to Fewster. No runs. One hit.

THIRD INNING.

Brooklyn—McGraw watched the third strike go by. Cox walked. Cox out stealing, Johnny Gooch to Rhyne. Fewster walked. Wheat struck out. No runs. No hits.

Pittsburgh—Wheat took McInnis' foul fly. Gooch flied to Felix. Johnny Morrison lined to Wheat. No runs. No hits.

FOURTH INNING.

Brooklyn—Herman struck out. Felix walked. Butler singled to left, Felix stopping at second. Maranville hit into a double play, Morrison to Wright to McInnis. No runs. One hit.

Pittsburgh—Rhyne flied to Wheat. Waner out, Fewster to Herman. Cox made a diving catch of Cuyler's liner. No runs. No hits.

FIFTH INNING.

Brooklyn—O'Neil flied to Waner. McGraw was called out on strikes. Cox popped to McInnis. No runs. No hits.

Pittsburgh—Wright tripled to the grandstand in right center. Fewster out Traynor, Wright holding third. Barnhart walked. Wright scored and Barnhart took second on McInnis' sacrifice to Wheat. Gooch grounded out to Herman unassisted. One run. One hit.

SIXTH INNING.

Brooklyn—Fewster was thrown out by Wright. Wheat out, McInnis unassisted. Herman was disposed of by Wright and McInnis. No runs. No hits.

Pittsburgh—Morrison out, Herman to McGraw, who covered first. Rhyne lined to Wheat. Butler threw out Waner. No runs. No hits.

SEVENTH INNING.

Brooklyn—Felix flied to Barnhart. Butler went out the same way. Maranville singled to left. Maranville out stealing, Gooch to Rhyne. No runs. One hit.

Pittsburgh—Cuyler lifted the ball over the left field fence for a home run. McGraw tossed out Wright. Traynor walked. Barnhart fouled to O'Neil. Traynor stole second. Maranville threw out McInnis. One run. One hit.

EIGHTH INNING.

Brooklyn—Harry Jacobson batted for O'Neil and fouled to Traynor. Jack Fournier batted for McGraw and grounded out to McInnis. Wright threw out Cox. No runs. No hits.

Pittsburgh—Burleigh Grimes and Bubbles Hargrave were the new Brooklyn battery. Fewster tossed out Gooch. Grimes pegged out Morrison. Rhyne out, Maranville to McInnis. No runs. No hits.

NINTH INNING.

Brooklyn—Fewster fouled to Gooch. Wheat singled to right. Herman singled to center, and Wheat took third when Cuyler fumbled the hit. Felix hit into a double play, Wright to Rhyne to McInnis. No runs. Two hits. One error.

WORLD’S CHAMPIONS SLOW ABOUT COMING OUT OF THEIR TRANCE

POLICY FOLLOWED BY PILOT PRAISED

Bill McKechnie Has Taken His Medicine With His Men, and Uttered No Alibis—Pessimistic Critics Will Be Silenced as Team Improves.

By RALPH S. DAVIS.

THE WORLD’S Champions are very slowly showing signs of coming out of their trance. They haven’t climbed to the topmost rung of the ladder yet, by any means, but they have been improving, and show evidence of finally assuming the stride which last year carried them through to highest honors.

PESSIMISTS who foresaw utter disaster in their snail-like start this spring may probably soon wish they hadn’t been quite so hasty in consigning them permanently to the nether regions.

DURING THE past week, there has been considerable improvement in the hitting of the Buccaneers, and there is no reason to believe that it is simply a spurt. The writer pointed out several weeks ago that the Pirates would travel at a speedy clip in a hitting way, once they got their eyes on the ball.

THEY WERE handicapped for weeks by poor physical condition, superinduced by the terrible weather they encountered after leaving California, an experience which may have convinced Barney Dreyfuss that the far west training camp isn’t the best place in the world in March and early April.

A TEAM which gains fine condition and then goes back has a tough time regaining its stride, and this was true of the champions. For several weeks they stumbled around, apparently not knowing where they were going.

BUT THEIR earnest efforts to improve throughout this period won for them the admiration of their true supporters, few of whom lost heart. They were willing to wait for the turn in the tide, knowing that it was sure to come and that when it reached the flood mark, the Buccos would make up for lost time.

THE CLUB’S development has not yet reached its high point. Several of the men are still far below their natural hitting standard, but the general trend during the past week has been upward, and it is expected to continue.

McKECHNIE DOESN’T WHINE.

IT TAKES a real man and a real manager to keep his head during a period of stress such as the Pirates have been going through. There were many times when Bill McKechnie could have sprung an alibi, and gained sympathy for himself, had he come out in the public print and made some revelations.

SOME OF the pirates were so influenced by their batting slump, and the general defection of the team, that they failed to bring to bear on their tasks the amount of brain work demanded of big league luminaries. There were numerous instances of dumb baseball on the part of the champions—all of which ever accompany a losing streak.

OTHER MANAGERS, when players made gross mistakes, slapped on heavy fines, and then rushed into the public print with it. McKechnie may have disciplined some of the Pirates for failure to think, but if he did, he did not follow it up with an attempt to show up the unfortunates by telling the world about it.

McKECHNIE has never been a “buck passer.” He has never been loud-mouthed. He has never sought excuses for his own or his team’s short-comings. This quality has endeared him to many fans, who have small use for an alibi artist.

EARLY LAST season the Pirates played just about the same kind of baseball they showed during the opening weeks of the 1926 campaign. All sorts of rumors were afloat, and the head hunters went after McKechnie hammer and tongs. Every move he made was criticized, often by folks who didn’t have the faintest idea of baseball strategy or of what a manager means by certain moves which he makes.

“MAC” WEATHERED the storm by leading his outfit to a world’s championship. This year the critics started after him again, but the chances are that once more they will be silenced, for the Pirates have the strength and the ability, and should soon be one of the most potent factors in the National league race.

THE GIANTS ARE COMING.

THE BIG spring series, so far as Pittsburghers are concerned, opens next Wednesday, when the New York Giants make their first appearance of the season at Forbes Field.

REGARDLESS OF how the teams are doing against other rivals, when they meet a real classic is always on tap. Fans who never visit Forbes Field for any other series, turn out to see the McGrawites against the Bucs.

THERE IS something about a New York-Pittsburgh series that makes an unusual appeal at all times. The Polo Grounders have not been finding their pathway strewn with roses. They have been going poorly since they invaded the west.

WHEN THE season opened, they piled up a commanding lead, but found themselves unable to hold it, and finally landed alongside the Pirates well down in the standing.

VETERANS UPON whom John McGraw had been depending more or less failed to deliver, and during the past week he cut loose two of them—Heinie Groh and Art Nehf—both good old wagons, but broken down. Nehf caught on with the Cincinnati Reds, and Groh became a free agent.

McGRAW’S pitchers, on whom he counted so heavily, have been fairly well battered on western fields, and Pittsburgh fans are hopeful that the Buccaneer battering rams will function to the queen’s taste against them this week.

THERE IS always a deal of satisfaction in beating the Giants, for the simple reason that they are at all times worthy foes. Their intrinsic ability may not be superlative, but they always give the gang a run for its money, and always fight hard, winning or losing. That is one big reason why they are wonderful drawing cards all over the circuit.

BASEBALL POPULARITY.

WHEN THE Giants come here, they will be able to tell tales of big crowds they have attracted, despite their losing streak. In each city they have visited in the west, they have packed the fans into the parks, thus helping the general prosperity of the league.

IN CHICAGO, they drew record-breaking gates, the total attendance for the four-game series being well over 100,000. No doubt their four-game series with the Pirates will draw enormous throngs.

THE REPORTS of crowds all over the circuit are good. The Brooklyn Robins club, not considered to have a pennant chance, got off to a good start, and is said to have played to more than 150,000 people on its own grounds during the first two weeks of the campaign. Even if the mobs fall off later, the Robins will make big money this season. Their 22 games at home and at the Polo Grounds with the Giants will draw well.

IN CHICAGO the spurt by the Cubs has paid neat financial returns, and the same is true in Cincinnati. In St. Louis the Cardinals have been more or less of a disappointment, and yet the attendance has been satisfactory.

IN PITTSBURGH, the Pirates have been liberally supported to date, despite a poor showing and anything but favorable weather conditions. The attendance here is bound to increase as the season advances, and at its worst, it has not been anything for the club to kick about.

INTEREST in many of the American league cities is also keen, and it will be sustained in most of them. The magnates are delighted with the interest shown in their huge enterprise, and are looking forward to another great summer’s return on their heavy investments.

Playing the Game With the Pirates

WORKING OUT AT FORBES FIELD BEFORE YESTERDAY'S GAME WAS YOUNG ARTHUR GARBARK, CRACK PITCHER OF THE EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL TEAM. THE YOUNG MAN LOOKS LIKE A COMER, ALTHOUGH HE HAS NO THOUGHT AT PRESENT OF TURNING PROFESSIONAL, BUT MERELY OBTAINED MANAGER McKECHNIE'S CONSENT TO PICK UP WHAT POINTERS HE COULD FROM WATCHING THE PIRATES. GARBARK HAD 104 STRIKEOUTS IN EIGHT SCHOOL GAMES, AN AVERAGE OF 13. HE FANNED 17 MEN IN THREE DIFFERENT GAMES. HE IS ALSO SOME CLOUTER.

THE PIRATES and the Robins boarded the rattlers for Brooklyn last night, where today they will play a game originally listed for a mid-September date, but moved forward to make a Sunday engagement in the City of Churches. They will return here tonight to resume activities at Forbes Field tomorrow.

EVERYBODY hereabouts is awaiting the coming of the Giants. Be they leaders or trailers—and regardless also of the Pirates' standing—a series between the Forbes Fielders and the Polo Grounders always sets the bugs by the ears.

CUYLER PLUMPED THE BALL INTO THE RIGHT FIELD STANDS IN THE FIRST INNING BUT IT WAS FOUL BY A FEW FEET. HE ALLOWED THE NEXT PITCH TO GO BY AND BECAME McGRAW'S FIRST STRIKEOUT VICTIM.

Felix's hit in the second was his first safe swat in 17 times at bat. The slump followed exceptional willow work on his part earlier in the season.

MORRISON WAS PULLED OUT OF A TOUGH HOLE IN THE SECOND WHEN THE BASES BECAME COMPLETELY CONGESTED WITH ONE OUT. TRAYNOR ENGINEERED THE DOUBLE PLAY THAT DISPOSED OF THE LAST TWO DODGERS.

The umpiring staff read like a battalion of Free State troops. Look them over — Reardon, Sweeney and Moran.

Gooch's strong arm turned Cox back when he tried to steal in the third. The throw beat the runner to the bag by yards.

THE GAME WAS A BATTLE BETWEEN CURVE BALL EXPONENTS. McGRAW'S CHIEF WEAPON IS ALSO A WIDE-SWEEPING BENDER. HE HAD THE CHAMPIONS POPPING UP ON MOST OCCASIONS.

Cuyler's home run sailed over the left field wall with plenty to spare. It was his third circuit drive of the season, two of them passing out of the lot and the other rolling to the flag pole in center field.

HORNSBY TO BE CROWNED MOST VALVALUBLE PLAYER NEXT SATURDAY

St. Louis Fans To Honor Their Hero

National League Will Present Him With Thousand Dollars in Gold and Bronze Medal—Slugger Is After His Fourth .400 Batting Average.

By Cullen Cain.

There will be great doings in St. Louis on Hornsby day. Just before the game between the Cardinals and the Phillies next Saturday they are going to present the premier batsman of baseball with a bronze medal and a thousand dollars in gold. These tokens, sentimental and material are voted by the National league every year as a reward to its most valuable player. A committee of baseball writers appointed by the president of the writers association, selects most valuable player by ballot. The plans was inaugurated in 1924. Dazzy Vance of Brooklyn won that year and Rogers Hornsby was second. Hornsby was the winner last year.

The demand of baseballdom for a Hornsby day on the occasion of the presentation of the medal and the gold was acceded to by Sam Breadon, president of the St. Louis club, and special ceremonies will mark the day. John Heydler, president of the National league, will be there, and with him will be famous St. Louis players of old days and many of the dignitaries of city and state and the leading professional and business men of eastern Missouri. The bands will play, the dignitaries will march, the fans will shake the stands with cheers and the early summer sun will stream down on a scene that only the spirit of America can bring to pass.

TO BE STIRRING SCENE.

It will be the tribute paid by the warlike heart that beats in the breast of every peaceful citizen to stirring action that takes place out of doors. It will be a typical American scene. Thousands assembled to honor a hero of a game of peace. When Americans gather together to crown their kings of competitive sports struggles they open the national safety valve and let off all the steam and vapors of wars and rumors of wars.

And Hornsby. He just goes ahead and bears his blushing honors thick upon him. The same sensible, serious, wonderful athlete he has always been. With six National league batting crowns in his cupboard, two home run crowns of the major leagues, and the all-time record of a four-year batting average of over .400, and with the cares of team manager on his shoulders, he has made a flying start to shatter more records with his bat this year. He is out after his fourth consecutive .400 batting record, and from his form displayed this season, has better than an even chance to gain this guerdon. He is hitting in his 1925 form. For six years he has not faltered under the strain.

MAY BEAT COBB'S RECORD.

Cap Anson, Dan Brouthers, Jesse Burkett, Honus Wagner, Nap Lajoie, Ed Delahanty, Abner Dalrymple, Roger Connor, George Gore, great batsmen all who left a name behind them, yet Hornsby at 30 excelled all of them, and only the record established by Ty Cobb remains unshattered by the young Texan's bat. It had been thought that the Georgian's record was safe for all time, but Hornsby this year is out in front after his seventh consecutive championship. Cobb had only eight in a row. "Only!" No one would have had the crust to use such a word as "only" as a prefix to Cobb's record a few years ago. Now this presumptuous word comes lightly and readily as one speaks of those eight years of kingship, for Hornsby's threat is now real and verging close upon what was long regarded as an impossible accomplishment. If Hornsby falls, then indeed will the Cobb record stand for many long years to come, for no man but the St. Louis leaguer looms now as even a contender.

So it is that Hornsby, who is to have his day as baseball's greatest star at 30, just as Cobb is leaving the game, will be watched this year as no batsman has ever been watched before. That steady batting stride, serene, tireless, invincible, inevitable, it goes on year after year with machine-like regularity. And he is just at his zenith. He should go five more years at top speed for he has always taken good care of himself. There is not a sign of a slip or let down. His temperament, his physique, his character and habits all these are in his favor.

What batting marks Hornsby will establish in the next five years one can only conjecture. Judged by his first month of this young season he should set a mark that will last the century out. Boys yet unborn will come up into the big leagues and try to break his batting record.

The real and only test of true greatness is to keep at the top year after year. Judged by this test Hornsby has a place secure and apart. During 10 of his 11 league seasons he has been in the first flight, leading the pack the last six. Under the pressure of relentless time and beneath history's cold and unerring hand the deeper paths of fame worn by Hornsby, Cobb, Wagner, Anson, Tris Speaker, Eddie Collins, batsmen who hit high in the three hundreds steadily over the span of a decade, will not be blotted out by all the young feet that may press the paths during another 50 years of baseball struggle

Pirate-Robin Game Today Reproduced On Big Moose Board

This afternoon the Pirates and the Robins will play at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, the members of the two teams having gone east last night. They will spend two successive nights on the sleepers, returning here tomorrow morning to resume their activities at Forbes Field.

Today's game, which was transferred from later in the season, will be reproduced in complete detail on the big electric scoreboard which Manager J. H. Forrest has installed in the Moose Temple auditorium in Penn ave., for the benefit of the members of the Moose and their friends. It is slated to get under way at 3 o'clock, daylight savings time.

Mainstays of the Uniontown Middle Atlantic League Club

Uniontown, Pa., May 15.—Although several changes are yet to be made in the Uniontown battle line, the team has several reliable players who are expected to come through with a vengeance. Cussens, who was recommended by Kiki Cuyler, and who came here as a first baseman, has been shifted to third. He has been going good in that position, but lacks experience. He is touted as a classy clubber, Bell, who came to Uniontown unheralded is a fixture in the outfield, while Miller has filled the bill at the initial brick. Johnny Reckus has few, if any, peers in the outfield and can be expected to do his share of fence "busting." Capt. Tommy Ray directs the plays from his position at the second sack. He is said by league managers to be one of the most dangerous hitters in a pinch on the entire circuit. "Lefty" Drugmond is expected to be Uniontown's ace from the firing line. He has an enviable reputation in the western Pennsylvania district and in all probability will win a large majority of his starts.

PIRATES RISE TO FIFTH PLACE IN NATIONAL LEAGUE BATTING LIST

Cardinals Fall To Last Position

Billy Southworth of the Giants Compiles Averages of .442 To Become National’s Individual Leader—Johnny McInnis Tops Pittsburgh Clubbers—Cubs Loop Leaders.

Splurges of hitting during the past week caused the world’s champions to move upward in the batting list of National league clubs. Whereas they occupied last place when the previous averages were published, they are now in fifth position and a continuance of bright willow-wielding cannot help but move them closer to the top in the next 10 days.

Peculiarly, the St. Louis Cardinals, generally regarded as an aggregation of fence busters, have settled to the bottom of the heap, while the Chicago Cubs who were believed weak with the bludgeon, continue to head the procession. In the American league, the Chicago White Sox are on top while the St. Louis Browns trail the rest of the clubs.

Billy Southworth of the New York Giants continues to lead in the battle for individual batting premiership in the National league. He sports an average of .442 in 16 games. Johnny McInnis, veteran first baseman, is kingpin among the Pittsburghers, with a mark of .369. He is trailed by Kiki Cuyler whose recent hitting spree has boosted his percentage to .337.

Rogers Hornsby, manager of the Cardinals, has driven out the greatest number of hits, 37. Cliff Heathcote has scored most runs, 22, and Hazen Cuyler is stolen base leader with Lee Meadows of the Pirates have each won four games and lost none to lead the hurlers in the senior loop.

Individual batting honors in the American league at the present time are in the hands of Joe Dugan of the Yankees, whose percentage is .421. Babe Ruth of the same club has scored most runs, 29, and made the greatest number of home runs, 8. Jack Quinn of the Athletics leads the pitchers with four victories and no defeats.

Complete averages of both leagues, showing batting, fielding and pitching records, follow:

Note only 2 tables could be accurately transcribed

NATIONAL CLUB BATTING.

NATIONAL CLUB FIELDING.