The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-08
RADBOURNE'S PITCHING.
How Old Timers Work Compares With
That OF the Modern Twlrlcr.

TO THE EnIToR op THE SuS---Su, The
writer was much Interested in the article
on Charles Radbourne and agrees with YOU
MS to his greatness as pitcher. Many a day
have | seen the opponents OF Providence
trying TO hit RAIDS easy foaters over the
old Messer street fence-but they seldom
connected Rndbourne had all the curves
that any pitcher needed. but one ball he used
appeared to me 10 be a drop shoot" In
stead Of shooting toward the batter It shot
downward do not understand why this
ball Is not used by the latter day pitchers.
II is az easily controlled rs an inshoot. but
probably snaps the shoulder Joint Still.
Radbourne had all easy delivery and did not
use speed to excess think RAIDS greatest
walkoyer was in q game against Philadelphia
weak then. as now. Philadelphia had a
Young pitcher. Willie Conley. and good play
ers-such as SD Farrar. jos Mulvey and
others But this day their Efforts to hit
were laughahle. Even sober faced Rad had
to smie--and although he apparently was
trying to give them easy ones to enable them
to score--it ended 80. ] think this stands
as the record for bad defeats to this day
Kadbourne never seemed 20 be conceited
over his work and in one game when Boston
WIS hitting ward. John personally had to
make Rad repeated requests to come in
from right field to replace him. Radbourne
seemed TO think he was presuming TO come in
90 repiace the great Ward. Another thing con-
trury olatteT day customs Rad Onward played
rIght field every day when not in the box:
one pitched and the other played right field
One year when Providence was in hole for
shortstops. Rad and Ward alternated in that
position and both played II well.
Radbourne soon went to Boston. at what
was then said TO be the highest salary paid
any player. $500. He probably was the
greatest pitcher az the distance that ever
PLAYED in making COMPARISONS with
Mathewson Chesbto ana NC, ,,a w. we AZ a.
20 take first base IL more of u hardship than
hftv feet aud seven balls take the base which
conditions Rad, Ward, Sweeney. Whitney,
Calvin and others had. Perhaps playing
four games weekly Offset this advantage
however. Sweeney was wonder. He came
TO Providence with little fame. but shortly
pitched against Boston and struck out nine
tean-the record TO this day. ! believe. But
sweeney was OF little use after that, All
tho baseball writer's in writing up famous
pitchers seem to forget about That ornament
| 10 the profession. Charlie Richmond OF Brown
University and later OF Worcester. ] am
uncertain as 10 his record. but think ha
won twenty-five straight games. Anyway.
/ he was tho pioneer left-hRnder ana gave
/ Bv the way. the air OF Rhode Island seems
seems 20 develop baseball ability, ana man
ayers with pennant aspirations should move,
many of the stars OF the last few years, or
after playing In Rhode Island they arr re-.
f@po oeg az nfbeTs aside from ward Kadbonrne.
| Irwin, Denny, George Wright and Start.
OF iate have come Davis. Duffy Mulyey,
Cooney, Viau. Lajoie, Donahue. Conkley
/ and many Others too numerous TO mention.
From Brown have come Richmond basseu.
| Dowd. Woodcock sexton, Cannon, Lander.
! Tenney. Fultz and Lynoh-al Of whom have
/ held MP their end in big teams. hope you
can use a part OF this letter rs u Will call up
memories OF the sos 20 many OF your base
of the sos and 'sOs could not stand on the
same level as the stars OF to-day, perhaps.
because them were Just breaking away. from
compulsory CUMBERLAND delivery. and had
not had time enough 20 develop this speed
and club swingug" delivery now so popular.
Leave il ala 70 Johnny Ward, Arthur Irwin
and Jim O Rourkel They can tell.
Yours truly. +, W. FIELD.