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

Is LEY was probably the
best looking young pitcher
that ever came out Of the South, or
anywhere else. Pause. faithful fan,
before making the fatal mistake
that when ! say good looking
pitcher" ] mean exactly what the
three English words imply. Though
the azure orbed William was
somewhat of a hurler his pitching
has been eclpsed many times in
the Southern league, but when it
came to physical pulchrltude, Billy
was there.
Pulchritude is not essential to
pastimer. Mr.. Mack could never
qualify as Il matinee idol, and MI
Wagner would be laughed to scorn
If he attempted to essay the tailors
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 Gilks, then managing
Shreveport, dug the lue-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 hurler ever possessed
And before the season opened had
Gilks attempted to relieve Mr.
BARLEY of further service with the
Shreveport team he would have
been driven out of town by every
baseball suffragette 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,
kidded the old players, joshed Gilks
and made himself generally I'M
bearable.
But Gilks knew he had a pitcher,
so he gritted his teeth and waited.
He didn't have to wait long. The
season started with a rush. So did
BARLEY. In his first two games he
stood the opposing hitters on their
respective beans. His chest expan-
sion grew, and he had to order a
new sized hat, and there was no
balm In Gilead for Gilks.
Finally the Shreveport club
reached Atlanta. Blue-eyed Billy
warmed up the first day. He
glanced over the Atlanta stands,
caused a few Harnesses 10 throw
fits, and then toed the plate.
Made &c Hits For % Runs.
In the first three innings the At
lanta batsmen dubbed him for
dozen hits and dozen runs Be
fore the game ended they had made
it 26 hits and % runs, and old Bob
Gilks was smiling
What did you keep that kid IN
for. Bob?" a friend and we'll wisher
asked. Weren't YOU afraid you
would break his heert?"
Break his heart, he'll" replied
Gilks. THAT was just what he
needed Why, that kid thought he
was the greatest pitcher in the
world. He dldn', think the BAH
club had ever been organized that
could beat him. He had the idea
SO strong he was "a pest. Now
maybe he'll have some sense ana
viii be a real pitcher.
"And don't YOU believe he dogged
it when they got to him this after
noon" continued the Shreveport
mogul He was as game under
punishment as anybody I've ever
seen. He kept putting everything
he had on every ball he pitched,
and they kept Shaping EN- to the
fence. And all the time ! was
laughing my head Oft. Now, he'll
be a pitcher"
Connie Mack Landed Him.
Gilks was right. BARLEY then
went TO work and learned Ia pitch
in reality After few seasons hg
attracted tnc eagle eye of Connie
Mack who bought Hiu from
- llseyeporL
NJ j. iu Jhe big tent rs, blue eye.
t9 working again, bu. um