Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-12


Johnson was in Boston last May he made
the dire prediction that Joe Wood was
nearing the end Of his rope as great
pitcher. He said. in fact. that Wood
would cease to be great before he had
time to become famous.
The mighty Johnson, who, by the way.
was vanquished by that same Joe Wood
in the most remarkable pitching contest
of years. based his opinion on what
seemed to him to be the probable effect
of the deadly snap ball. pitched by
Wood.
Il know Wood is a remarkable young
pitcher" said Johnson. He has ire
mendous speed But he acquires that
speed in such way that he can't stand
it long. In fact. although Joe has been
pulling his team out of the fire very often
this season-he's kept it in second place
(the Sox were second them, he Is not
going so fast as he used to travel. and L
am afraid he will soon cease to be as ef-
fective as he is now, If he does not have
to retire altogether"
But johnson was wrong. Wood does
pitch the deadly "snap ball." But 1t is
not entirely different. except in detail,
from the snap BALI Cy Young used to
remained some time in the pitching game
about twenty-three years, to be more
definite.
Walter Johnson made this prediction not
in deprecating way. He was rather de-
pressed about it. One great man always
admires another Johnson hoped that
Wood would change his pace" before 1t
was too late. He is not a bit fearful of the
rivalry of the other of the two American
League speed kings against himself. john
10 10 iC a fellow
in mind and character as well as in body.
Grows Better All the Time.
It happens. though, that instead of fad
ing away. Wood has increased his ability,
his fast ball Is faster than ever and he
has won the unprecedented proportion of
thirty-four games to only five lost this
year, the highest record ever attained by
a base ball pitcher.
All Of this. despite the tremendous
strain of pitching that deadly "snap ball. -
which has been the terror of American
League batters and which stands between
the New York Giants and the world S
championship.
Johnson is not the only man who ever
warned Wood. Many other base ball
players have told him the some story.
Doesn't your wrist ever go back or
your they ask Smoky joe" IF il
hasn't. 1t will. Some day you will throw
it out and then what?"
i've never felt the slightest trouble
with my wrist" replied Wood to all of
these warnings. II never feel any strain
on it when 1 am pitching. I think you are
mistaken. l think myself that the speed
and hop of the ball comes more from the
knack of swapping it out of my hand than
from the force Of that snap. 1 have been
told that / pitch snap ball to the batter
by jerk of the wrist-but, to tell the
truth. don't know whether that is so or
not.
II have pitched that way ever since !
played base ball. 1 don't notice any par
tfcular snap or wrist strain as I let GO
of the ball, but those who watch me pitch
say that 1t is so, so it must be-
Woods confidence that he does not suf-
fer injury from pitching that kind of ball
is backed by the veteran experience of Cy
Young Cy commented on Woods de-
livery last year, when Joe was ''goina
fast" but now and then slowed up and
was beaten toward the end of game.
Cy Young Had Confidence in Wood.
Il don't think Joe's arm or wrist will
ever go back on him If he uses them
judiciously," said the Grand Old Man.
Il used to pitch with a snap that way,
and used speed almost altogether in my
younger days. Gradually / learned to
pitch as few balls as possible in each
game-let them hit it. in fact-and to use
just as much speed as required and no
more. To that i attribute the long years
l remained in the game.
II never had trouble with my wrist l
have never had the least trouble with my
arm, and l have been in the game TWEEN
because l haven't so much. But that $
only the natural slowing up of older
years; 1 lost nothing by my style of de-
livery.
Woods Style of Delivery.
Wood does snap the ball and that is
the secret of his marvelously fast and puz-
cling delivery which has done more than
anything else to win this years American
League pennant for Boston. But Wood
has a tremendous right wrist. 1t has
gradually developed from this style OF
delivery until it is now actually huge
and as hard. almost. as steel. Although
the other Red SoX are all muscular, none
Of them has right wrist like Woods.
If you shake hands with the speed
marvel of 1912 you will notice the re-
markable strength and size of the pitch
ing hand and wrist, in proportion to the
left one. Wood is of the Indian type of
athletic build. He is feet 11A inches in
height and weighs 176 pounds. He is
slender, but hard as iron. In the five
years he mas Deen with the Red SOX he
has grown and has filled out naturally,
because he is only twenty-five. but he
has never taken on extra weight cut of
proportion to his frame
Wood Is hard as nails and has a
physique that should stand more strain
later than 1t does now. He is the slen-
derest of all Of the great pitchers
But it is that wrist that counts
Woods right hand is abnormally large,
but it is graceful in comparison with
most ball players. The fingers are long
and with unusual muscles. The wrist, as
said before. is tremendous 1t is a huge
band of muscles surrounding the small
bones at the junction of hand and arm
How Wood Is Protected.
The delicate adjustment of these bones
is the cause for anxiety. It does not
take much strain to displace them. In
Woods case the huge muscles undoubt-
od1y cave the wrist from anv dopuor of