Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-14
his Success With the Spit Ball.

b. $500 -
Ed Walsh. the Chicago American clubs
great spit-ball pitcher and the lad who Is
given the main credit for the showing the
', .ite Sox made last season. was educated
in Scranton, Pa, the home of the illus
trious Bill Cough!in. now of the Detroit
team. but Of revered memory in Washing
ton city.
The school which the Chicago twirler at
tended is still presided over by the same
old gentleman who once taught Ed his
4 C's. and when Walsh by his mastery
pitching last summer was made the subject
of much comment on the part of the
papers his fame at last was brought to the
notice of his former teacher, who is spoken
of as a veritable bookworm, and not at all
familiar with the fine points Of the greatest
American game of base ball.
When this learned person was told Of
how his former pupil was engaged In max
ing base ball history by reason of his
cleverness in throwing the spit ball. the
the point Of taking notice. for he said in
his slow even tones:
"A great spt-ball thrower Is Ed, Ell?
Well, it must be the result of early prae-
tice, as he threw many one at me-"
Dark Man Prophecy True.
Base ball players are as superstitious as
actors. and the many peculiar traits pos
sessed by the individual members Of the
profession would. II published. go to the
making of a mighty big book and a read
able one at that. Fortune tellers used to
cop regular portion Of the players salary
in the days of Arson. Glasscock,, Bill Joyce
and others Of the old regime.
Dad Clarke, with all his eocentricities.
was one OF the few ball players who would
never fall for the fortune teller business.
rOnldn'f Thorn
to giving them money. but one day he
became converted, and ever afterward had
the highest respect for these delivers into
the future. Dads conversion came about
in the following manner: He and Parke
Wilson. the catcher. were down at Coney
Island on a Sunday, and In some way Parke
prevailed upon Clarke to take a chance at
the fortune teller down there, who posed
as the seventh daughter of a seventh
daughter. and who had a gypsy pedigree
into the bargain.
Clarke went up against the female seer.
and was handed the regular fortune teller
line Of talk, which included the warning
about the dark man who was going to cause
Dad trouble. and for whom he must be on
the alert to double-cross. Dad hooted at
the conversation the gypsy had RECALLED him
with and the warning regarding the dark
man peculiarly tickled him. Parke Wilson
tried to impress him with the danger that
threatened him on account Of the mysteri-
GUS stranger Of the brunette aspect, but
Clarke just laughed the matter away.
The next day st. Louis opened at New
York, and Clarke was sent in to pitch. He
twirled a mastery game. and up to the
last half of the ninth inning the score
stood. New York. 3; St. Louis O. Then,
with two men out and three of the Browns
roosting on bases. up stepped the swarthy-
visaged Jack Crooks and drove one far
over the center fielder's head for a home
run.
AS Crooks logged home after the three
runners who had preceded him. Parke
Wilson. who was catching sided UP to
Dad. and said: The dark man tip GER
tainly was a winner this time Clarke;
wasn't it,