Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-11-26
Bv Fuzzy Woodruff.

~ LEY was probably the
best looking young pitcher
that cv-r came ont OF the South, OF
anywhere else. Pause faithful fan,
before making The tatal mistake
that when ! say good looking
pitcher" mean exactly what the
three English words imply. Though
the azure orDed William was
som "a nat OF a hurler; his pitching
hes been eclipscd many times IN
the Southern league, but when it
came to physical pulchritudc, Billy
was there.
Pulchritude is not essential to
pastimer. MIR Mack could never
qualify as a matinee idol, and MI
Wagner would be laughed to scorn
if he attempted to essay the tailor's
model role.
But "Blue-eyed Bill" had the
beauty. just gobs OF it, and thereby
hangs the tale of why he failed TO
stay around in the big tent, for
baseball experts were unanimous in
declaring he had the necessary tall
ent.
old Bob tHlks, then managing
Shreveport. dug the biue-eyed boy
UP somewhere In the Texas league.
When he reported TO shreveport he
had a suit Of store bought clothes
and more sangfroid than any nine
teen -year-old hurier ever possessed.
Md before the season opened h&C
Gilks attempted 10 relieve Nr
BARLEY of further service with the
Shreveport team he would have
been driven ouy Of town by every
baseoalI sufragette in its confines.
Worked Eyes Overtime.
Bill knew that his blue eyes gave
him an ace in the hole and he
worked it overtime He took all
the liberties OF a seasoned veteran.
lsidGed the old players, joshed Giibs
and made himself generally UNI
5earab.e.
But Guks knew he had a pitchar
so he gritted his teeth and waited.
Tie didn't have 10 wait long, The
season started with a rush. So dia
BARLEY. In his first two games he
stood tile opposing hitters on their
respective beans. Ills chest eNpan-
sion grew. and he had to orde %
new sized hat aul ,aeve was no
balm In Gilead for GiAs.
Finally the Shreveport club
reached Atlanta. Bluo-eyed Billy
warmed up the nrst day. He
glanced over the Atlanta stands,
caused few fannesses to throw
ITS. aaa then Joed the plate,
Made 20 Hits Fer IS Runs.
lu the first three innings the At
ANITA batsmeD cIubocd him for a
dozen hts and a uozen runs. Be-
tore the game ended they had made
il 90 hits and % ans. and old Bob
ol.ks was sml.ing
What did you keep ,.at kid in
for Bob?" a friend and well wisher
asked. Weren't YOU afraid YOU
would break his heart"
"Break his heart. hell replied
Gfks. That was just what he
needed. Why, that kid thought he
was tile greatest pitcher in the
world. He didn't think the bail
club had ever been organized that
could beat him. H had the idea
so strong he was pest Now,
maybe he'll have some sense and
viii he a real pitcher.
"And don't you believe Ar dogsed
It when they goy to him this SITTER
NOON" continued the Shreveport.
mogui He was as game under
punishment as anybody I've ever
seen. He kept putting everything
he had Oh every bah he pitched.
and they kept slappiug EN- 10 the
fence. AND ar the time | was
laughing my head on. Now. he'll
BE- pitcher" ,'
Connie Mack Landed Him
Gilks vas righ. Barley then
went 10 work and learned TO pitch
IN reality Afte. q few seasons he
attracted the eagle eve o. Connie
Mack. who bought rim from
-; i,s eporJ
in tae big ,.at .a- 1us er.
20 working again but Bill