New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-28


Rusie Is as cool and collected on the baseball field
he is of IT, He does not seem to know what fear
is. AS a general thing he pitches Just steadily
against strong batsmen against weak hltters. lie
has remarkable control Of the ball. and his only weak
Is his fondness for giving players their bases on
balls. He is one of those everyday, Woodworking
men who always worthy Of the salary club pays
them. He never shirks his duty and would be willing
to go in and pitch every day If his captain or man.
ager requested him to do it; in fact. he seems 10
like the work, and is only happy when he is in the
centre Of the magnetic square. He is modest, I'M
assuming young and does not seem to be fully
conscious of his remarkable physical ability.
A good deal OF nonsense well unnecessarily
severe criticisms have been written about Rusie.
one Western writer whose long connection with base
ball ought to have taught him something, makes the
remarkable assertion that Rusie pitch four distinct
curves in one delivery: that is he means that he can
make the ball curve in, out, mp and down with one
throw Such statement, of course, Is ridiculous.
While Ruse has probably greater speed than any oher
pitcher not even excepting the cratic Edward Crane
he has also wonderful ability in curvng the ball.
People who in the grand stand directly back Of the
home plate at the Polo Grounds have frequently ex
pressed establishment at the remarkable curves this
brilliant young player is able to put upon the ball.
Ruse Is also able TO utilize these curves even when
he is throwing ball at its greatest speed. This Is
a virtue possessed by few pitchers. Ninety nine out
of every one hundred pitchers when they throw curve
hall invariably lessen their speed. 1t does not seem
to make any difference to Ruse whether he is going
to throw straight ball a curve ball; they shoot
over the plate like bullets from rife.
Rusies most effective deivery-but unfortunately
one which he has not always perfect control
has been described by a crank at the grounds as
loop ball. it is tremendously speedy bail ana
when it leaves Rusies hand the chances seem to 30
tenf IN 4 wi q
the catcher After starting, apparently in an almost
direct line IL suddenly out and the plate
generally little above the knee with slight down
curve. The ball might be described outdown'
shoot The writer has seen him deliver this ball
many times this and last year and he does not remem
Der ever seeing baseht made when Rusle utilized
this particular delivery.
The young mountain OF muscle and Drawn Is not only
ol-headed player, but even in tckllsh moments,
when older head would lose its cunning, he seems
10 pitch right along rs If nothing had happened at all.
1t does not seem to make any difference TO him whether
there three on bases or the bases are clear
For instance Tuesdays game at the Polo Grounds.
Chicago had two bases and one out. old
Arson came 70 the bat with murder in his eye. Nine
times out Of ten would have been poor policy to fill
the bases with only out. Rusie did not think so.
He knew that Arson would probably hit the ball and
he deliberately sent him to first base on called balls
Rusie then took hold of Carroll and Cooney and retired
them without any difficulty leaving the three Chicago
plaH1 on the bases dsheartened.
lie also utilities little strategic move at critical
point in the game made famous by Keefe the Giants
other great pitcher One of the features OF great
pitching few years ago when Keefe would pnt
three bad balls ont OF the basmans reach and then
strike the with three consecutive shoots across
the plato. Ruse accomplishes this with equal ease
II he thinks the basman is not over clever he VIII
try to get him to strife at wide curve which does not
-ha ha
refuses to fall into the trap Rusie instantly set
ties down. and three rapid shoots the plate gen.
orally send the batsman to the bench.
Rusic is married and Is quiet and domestic young
man lie comes from Indianapolis where he first
made his professional debut. Black Jack" Gasscocs
has the honor of first introducing this pitching wonder
10 followers of baseball. When captain Of the In
danapols Club GlasscocI noticed big gawky country
lout hanging around the grounds and in preliminary
practice in the morning would frequently throw the
ball at the big youth and tell him 10 line II back AGAIN.
Finally one day GlasscOck got at one end OF the
grounds and Ruse at the other. As everybody knows
GlasscOci is a wonderful thrower. With great
field separating them this big boy and the seasoned
athlete began to fire the ball the field. Glass
cock found that Ruse could throw the ball back Just
as hard as he could. Finally day Buse went TO
jack and with fear and trembling made request
upon which his whole heart and future career seemed
to hang.
jack said he, 81 think can pltcn. won't YOU
try TO get me trial." GlaSscock promised, but IL Was
many days before he able TO try the young man IN
game. Tho captain however induced President
Brush TO give Rusie employment around the grounds
to assist the players and 10 make himself generally
useful for which services he to receive $40 week.
Glasscock suggested to Brush the ACCESSIBILITY OF giving
the young a trial, but Brush only laughed AZ
Glasscock. Finally one day Boyle and all the other
indianapolis pitchers were on the hospital list ana
were unable to play GasscOck went 10 the presdens
of the club and said they would have 70 try Ruse
because they did not have anybody else The sturdy
youth pitched pretty good game Of ball and has been
doing il ever since.
Ruse's salary IS 3d. 800 year and he Is worth every
cent OF it, will be at the end Of the presens
season that Rusie unless accident should beian
HIM will have pitched as many games as any othes
two pitchers in the local club, and nobody ned W
surprised II he wins games than any other pitcher
in America and has smaller percentage OF earhea
runs made OF his delivery -.
some of the friends OF the local club argue tlAns
Rusie cannot stand the terrible strain under when
he is working and that he VIII break down
IA New York. Rusie however. does not seem % THINK
that too much work will hurt him and is entirely
him To- AMOS is better pitcher this year than he was
last Some Of lptan Ewngs sagg stions TO mo y9any
thunderhot have been timely and beneficial. La's
in delivering the ball kusle did not 20 thr9asn uc
day Ewing argued that by winding the arm arolna
the head before delivering the ball additional Impetus
would be given 10 his GeveFy S Sasn prp St he
good batter for pitcher and is handy man Oh '"'
bases. r.
something his father has had 20 attend % the lss.
two seasons he has been on the diamond. "A Yin, us
game Of "caps'-that musical pastme SO ,ton
TO the Southern darkeyis about RuSies only disspat
Amos would rather shoot craps for D cent?