, 1889-07-21

D1Ef IL
until today tho ball is thrown, not pitched,
with all the speed a well trained athletes arm
can command Few of the pitchers throw
directly overland, yet many approach that
limit and some actually have their pitching
arm high over their heads when they send
the ball spinning over the home plate.
"PRETzEL" oErZEIN.
"Pretzel" GetEein, who Is with the Indiana
polls nine this year, is a clear headed young
man who can twist a ball almost out Of shape.
In a game in the west three years ago he had
such success In bowling down batters that
the latter held a convention to see II they
could not, by swapping ideas, arrive at the
real cause Of Getzein's wonderful command
Of the ball After n long debate tho disap-
pointed batters went home. The only thing
that they were unanimous about was that
Getzeln pitched a curve that looked like a
pret1el consequently Getzein and pretzel
twists have been close companions ever since.
TIMOTHY KEEFx
In Timothy Keefe the New York club has
a pitcher that any other club in tho country
would pay a great deal of money for. Keefe's
release today, II put up at auction, would
bring as much as n genuine peach blow
vase He knows 1t, too. and yet, besides be-
ing a great pitcher, no Is an u~nassuming,
genial fellow, well liked by everybody.
When Keefe goes into the magic center at the
new Polo grounds the spectators settle back
and expect TO see some great pitching. OPP
posing batters SEQ their shattered batting
averages In air castles and feol anything but
happy.
Keefe has probably proven . stumbling
block to more ambitious young batters than
any other pitcher In the country. Keefe pos
sesses every requisite OF a model pitcher. He
has a fine physique, clear head and remark
able Of the little globe. His great
forte L. change of pace, n feat which he ac-
complishcs without giving the batter the
faintest idea OF what To expect. The first
ball will go over tho plate at such speed that
the batter will strike ut It after the catcher
has 1t safely housed in his mammoth palms.
Then the batter will prepare for another
lightning shoot and a little slow drop will DO
sent to him, which he will generally strike at
before 1t gets half way to him.
mCKE WEIGH.
Mickey WEIGH, called "Smiling Mickey
because he was mover known to frown nor
look displeased, is a pitcher Of stability, hon
esty and usefulness. He has been a member
of the Giants ever since the New York club
was organized, and he will probably remain
a Giant pitcher for several seasons yet to
come. WEIGH was one Of the old Troy club
players, and he had a wonderful reputation
even before he Joined the New York club.
Many people think that BIO Is fully Keefe's
equal WEIGH Is always good nhtured, never
complain: and is popular with hall player
and ball supporter alike. He is afraid Of n
swiftly pitched ball He generally steps back
from the plate when striking at a ball. II the
ball san in curve he generally bangs it far out
into the field. II it is an out curve he will sell
dom hit it The otherpitchers know this weak
ness, and consequently give him few In curves
TO knock the cover of Of.
EDWARD sEwARn
Not more than Ave years ago Edward Sew
ard, now one Of the crack twirlers Of the
Athletic club, of Philadelphia, was an anna
teur pitcher on the lots OF Cleveland, O.,
where he was born and has lived all his life,
except during the past four years. He prang
into prominence while a member Of tho
Cleveland Reserves, who were stationed at
Akron, o., in 1884, at which time lie was but
fifteen years Of age, and was known by the
cognomen OF The Boy Wonder for no
pitcher Of his age possessed anything like the
speed and command OF the ball which he had
cultivated
His remarkably clever work during his first