The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-15
NEWS AND REVIEWS ON
TOPICS IN SPORTLAND


Once in while you will come across
an old timer who will tell you that
there Ia nothing new In baseball. Talk
about McGraw's delayed steal and he
viii say:
Huh, Why King Kelly used to
work that when he vas with Baby
Anson's White Stockings"
Mention the fact that Clark Griffith
originated the squeeze play and ne
is back with:
why Duffy and Mccarthy had
that play down fine before the Ameri-
can League was born
Merely mention Matty's fadeaway
and he Will tell you that Charley
Burlington had a drop ball that
Mathewson couldn't produce.
II you assert eonfidentiaily that the
splitter, at least. Is new he will be
back at you with the statement that
all the old pitchers used splitter at
times but thought so little about II
they never made q speciality of 1t,
nor even thought to mention 1t.
Nor would he be wrong. for 1t was
common thing for q pitcher to
moisten his fingers in seeking TO get
good break to the ball.
But Mathewson has found a new
deceiver. He produced 1t after a
practice bout in Marlin Springs and
outside the pages OF "Double-Curve
DAN" the demon hurler Of half-dimc
novel fame. Matty's new ball has
never been known.
This is the way one enthusiastic
war correspondent describes II:
A.
man with all the seams showing and
does double dip that is so deceiv-
Ing that even the catchers missed 1t
to-day. Matty throws the ball after
wetting his fingers. and the Giants
call II the slow splitter.
Next thing you know Matty will
be teaching this new pitch TO Louis
Drucke and then the Giants viii have
two invincible twiriers.
Yet, this slow ball business is not
apt to find favor with pitchers in
general. II Is the fellow who IL there
with the old smoke who gets the hand
from the players themselves. A SLOW,
one is all right to mix In once IN q
while but as rule few pitchers can
be called slow bali pitchers.
Rube waddeii tried TO be slow
bali pitcher once. II was years ago.
when Milwaukee was a member Of the
American League. On the Milwaukee
team was a pitcher named Reidy. He
had q great slow ball. big curves
and all that. When ne was right he
was some pitcher.
Now 1t CHANGED that the Rube
worked against Reidy In q moraing
game on a holiday and the RUDE be-
came enamoured with the ease that
Mr.. Reidy had the Athletic batsmen
breaking their backs swinging at his
sweeping curves.
Cost. Connie! Til bet can do
that" he finally calculated In Jealous
admiration. Anyway I'm going to
try"
You pitch your game" was the
grim reply. Don't you try any
funny business"
Mr.. Waddeli. II will be remembered,
was about as dociie as a Stubborn
Child. usually. Very next inning he
faced the Milwaukee hitters he flung
over a few that would have done
Cuppy was regarded as the champion
slow man in any company.
Naturally expecting the Rube's hot
shot the Milwaukee boys went In the
air. Also they famed and the Rube
came In radiant.
Gee. Conniei l told you I could
do 1t. Sec me stand 'em on their
heads?" he aueried with a happy
grin.
Mack looked his disgust. He could
not say a word. He knew 1t was only
question of time when the siaugh-
ter would start.
r. a..
inning. Only beautiful outfieidinu
prevented couple OF three-base hits
and did not stop a two-bagger. But
the Rube was still sure he was a
bear cat A. slow ball pitcher when
he started for the slab in the next
inning
Now 1t CHANGED that In the front
row OF the third base bleachera sat
a red-shtrted man with the voice OF
a second mate. He probably was
some brewery team driver having @
day on and he was a most joyous
rooter. His fog-horn shouts OF dAri-
sion and cheer could be heard In all
parts Of the ground.
To him sauntered Connie Mack. He
whispered in tho red-shirted mans
his hand. The red-shirted one nod
ded.
In the box the wise Mr.. waddell
was gracefully winding UP. Then he
turned loose one Of his new snaken-
tine lallapaloozas. When Rube got
the ball back the batter was on
third.
Rube started to wind up Eracefuily
again. And then across the field. dou-
bly, distinct in the calm Of the ex-
rectant hush, came a ahoarse cry.
''oh. You big stiffs You've lost
your arm!''
stunx. surprised. stupened. Rube
stopped. He eased In petrifaed amaze.
ment In the direction OF the red
shirted shouter. Then red anger seix.
ed him.
i've lost my arm. have II" hs
roared back. I'm show you. you pin.
head: Ill show you'll
zowfe and Zip. With all his
strength and speed RUDE hooked the
ball over. It looked like jumping,
gyrating pea.
Lost my arm. hey?" he yelled a.
the batsmAn went out on strikes.
Lost my arm!" he howled a. he
retired another the same way.
I'm show you'll Lost my arm