The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-09-20
PIRATES Have A
GREAT 7W|LER
Latest Recruit of the Bucca-
neers Promises to Do
Well

ley Gray, the San Antonio pitcher
drafted by the Pirates this month, is
a typical Texas longhorn. Standing
6 feet 3 inches tall he weighs about
It's pounds, despite q scarcely per-
ceptable stoop. 40 a pitcher he yet
Is more or less of an experiment, de-
spite terrific speed. But as q hitter
he is the real material without frills
just a murderous,. versatile slugger
and the coolest pinch wallop producer
in the Texas circuit for the season.
With the Bronchos. Gray for a long
while looked like a misfit. Signed as
a pitcher he had a curve to his
name in the spring, and his speed
alone was not enough to get by the
opposition. But Gray stuck around,
even while others were released who
looked a lot better. The reason was
that he could dessicate the pill COM
pletely and at q moments notice.
Gray took his turn as a utility play
er, both at second and in the outf1eld.
He made good in defense and q lot
better in the attack. His principal
experience had been at first base, but
Frank Metz, the importation from the
New York Giants, held that post, and
Manager Leidy had the lingering hope
that Gray yet would make a pitcher.
He did.
He Finds q Curve.
After laboring necessarily with the
other tossers in practice and coached
by the foreman, Gray finally began to
show something like a curve ball. He
stuck to it, morning and afternoon.
At the end Of the season he was by
far the most dependable pitcher on
the club, even though he yet produced
nothing like the curve Of which he Is
capable. He got more stuff with every
game. In the last encounter against
Austin, the pennant winners, he held
Austin to a shutout and q pair Of
measly singles.
There never has been anything the
matter with his fast ball, not even
RUDE Robinson, also a Pirate, having
the hop on his steam shoot that is
possessed by Gray. The curve has
been coming, too. as we'll as q good
slow ball. :"
Gray undoubtedly requires season
ing. This was his first year in Or
ganized ball. Whether he is too good
q slugger and fielder in the near gar
den to waste as a semi-occasional
pitcher is a matter for the foxy Clark
to ascertain. That he will do better
with a year or two Of minor league
seasoning is possible, especially II it
Is the purpose to use him on the
strip.
A Real Hitter.
Gray is % years Of age and is q
native Of Brentwood, Tex, attending
Daniel Baker college there. He pitch
ed his college to the front during
three years, besides playing some
good football in the back1eld. He
then played in the Cactus league, a
winter organization around Bl Paso.
He played every position In that
league. even catching big Harry Alb
les, nov of Oakland, but belonging to
the New York Americans, another
Broncho pitcher. But first base and
pitching were his regular Jobs there.
Gray has a peculiar crouch at the
bat, with q clean, snappy swing. He
circles the bases fast on long hits,
but 10 not fast when once anchored
to q cushion, although not slow either.
He is not q finished player In any
part Of the game, but real diamond
in the rough when Il comes to hit
ting. His future as q pitcher is
bright, but still q bit uncertain. As
a hitter he is already there with both
feet. He batted only about 1926 in the
Texas league this year.