Wichita eagle., 1889-07-23


until today the ball is thrown, not pitched,
with all the speed well trained athletes arm
ran 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 homo plate.
''PRETzEL" GETzEIN
EPretzel" Getzein, who is with tho Indiana
polls nine this year, is u clear headed young
sman who can twist ball almost out of shape.
i'm game il the west three years ago he had
such success in bowling down batters that
the latter held q convention TO see if they
could not, by swapping ideas, arrive at the
real cause Of Getzein's wonderful command
of the ball. After long debate the disap-
pointed batters went home The only thing
that they were unanimous about was that
Getzein pitched a carve that looked like
pretzel; consequently Getzein and pretzel
twists have been close companions ever since.
TIMOTHY KEEFE.
In Timothy Keefe the New York club has
a pitcher that any other club in the country
would pay great deal of money for Keefe's
release today, if put up at auction, would
bring as much a genuine peach blow
vase. He knows il, too, and yet, besides be-
Ding a great pitcher, he is an unassuning,
genial fellow, well liked by everybody.
When Keefe goes into the magic center at the
new Polo grounds the spectators settle back
and 2pect to see some great pitching. OPP
posing batters see their shattered batting
averages ia air castles and feel anything but
happy.
Keefe has probably proven a stumbling
block to more ambitious young batters than
any other pitcher in the country. Keefe pos
sesses every requisite Of model pitcher. He
has fine physique clear head and remark
able command of the li5tle globe. His great
forte is change of pace, feat which he &C
complishes without giving the batter the
faintest idea of what to expect The first
ball will go over the plate at such speed that
the batter will strike at it after the catcher
has it safely housed In his mammoth palms
Then the batter will prepare for another
lightning shoot and little slow drop viii be
sent to him, which he viii generally strike at
before it gets half way to him.
MICKEY WEIGH.
= Mickey WEIGH, called Smiling Mickey"
because he YVES never known to frown nor
look displeased, is pitcher of stability, hon
.esty and usefulness. He has been member
pf the Giants ever since the New York club
was organized, and he win 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 he Is fully keefes
equal WEIGH is always good natured, never
complains and is popular with bali player
and ball supporter alike. He is afraid of a
swiftly pitched ball He generally steps back
from the plste when striking at ball. II the
ball isar in curve he generally bangs it far out
unto the field. IF it is out curve be viii sell
dom hit it. The otherpitchers know this weak
ness, and consequently give him few in curves
TO knock the cover OFF of.
y EDWARD SEWARD
4 Not more than five 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 pastfour years. Hesprang
iinto prominence while a member of the
cleveland Reserves, who were stationed at
Akron, O., in 1874, at which time he was but
fifteen years Of age, and was known by the
cognomen of 1.-The Boy Wonder" for no
pitcher of his age possessed anything like the
speed and command of the ball which he had
cultivated