Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29
BY REVERE RODGERS.
Matthewson's Rise Ball.

| A few years ago, when people all over
the country were telling one another about
the marvellous spit ball. said to have been
invented by Pitcher Stricklett, certain
major league twirlers, who disliked to be
beaten at the originating game, especial
| ly by a minor Lacquer like Strcklett
started in to do little inventing them
selves.
Among these ambitious slab artists were
McGinnity and Mathewson, of the New
| York National League club.
| The Iron Man has been working on a
rise ball ever since he has been h profess
sional base ball. and he is just about as
far advanced on this kind of toss as he
was when he started. At times. though,
McGinnity can make the ball shoot up
when it is approaching the expectant bat
ter. but the number of times he can ac-
complish this feat, in comparison with the
number of times he cannot pull off the
stunt. makes his efforts practically value
less
Two years ago Matthewson went to
work on McGinnty's idea, and after sew
eral weeks practice Matty became so
| proficient that he could send up very
respectable appearing rise ball. and 1t was
SO good that the redoubtable Mr.. McGraw
|
ball right along.
About this time McGinnity began to as
sumo sitting posture, and to take notice.
| for. after watching Matthewson toss the
rise ball up to the plate, in several innings
of hot contest between the New Yorks
and the Chicago Cubs, the Iron Man, with
that debonnaire walk Of his, sidled up to
the good-looking ex-college pitcher and
said to him.
"Matty. that's a mighty fine rise ball
| q
| manage to throw it?''
| why" said Matthewson. as look of
sly humor crept over his face, you see, l
always carry bottle of liquid yeast in
the ball, l pour this yeast over it, and
that explained the big pitcher, lis what
makes the ball rise so well!'
Third Baseman Casey's Story.
Casey. the scrappy little third sacker of
the Brooklyn club, and at one time star
player for both the Detroit and the Chi
cago clubs, is a dentist by profession, and
IA good one, too, if rumor can be relied
on. In the winter time he practices his
chosen profession, and he is very busy
man during this period.
Just before the close of the last base ball
season. Casey dropped into dental asso-
| citation parlor. out at Chicago. to see a
|
and while he was seated there in came
| a patient who was holding his hand to
his mouth. and appeared to be suffering
pretty badly.
In a few moments one of the young dem
| lists connected with the establishment
came into the room, and after making a
tcursory examination of the afflicted man S
Jaw, explained to him that he would have
| to have his teeth treated.
| "And what's the COST" asked the man.
| "Why it'll be s. for the first month,
and SD for the second" replied the doctor.
| "Well If them's the terms answered
the patient after considering the matter,
/ ..IIi start in on the second month
What Bower1nan Found.
| Frank Bowerman, the New York
catcher. was in Gotham during the recent
confab held there by Joe Kelley and Nc
Graw, and it was at this conference be-
| tween the two managers that the deal by
which Boston gets Bowerman and Browne
in exchange for Fred Tenney, BTidwel
| and Needham was put through.
| Bowermans transfer didn't feaze the
| big fellow Il little bit, as Frank is of a
| philosophical demeanor, and he doesn't
| have to play ball anyway If he doesn't
| want to- as he is prosperous lumberinan
| away I'D in the wids of Michigan.
| After Bowerman had been told where he