The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-10-19

and. Ainsmith of Washington, and
Schalk. the new catcher of the Chi
cago White SoX. Each of these
three hands a ball down to second
base in as beautiful form as one could
ask to see. Another years experience
and they will rank among the best.
Sweeney of New York was mentioned
as a first-rate and Ira Thomas of the
Athletics received honorable mention.
The American league pitching for
1912 was classic in the case of a few
twirlers. There was general regret at
the failure of the great Indian, Ben
der. and his teammate, Jack Coombs.
to duplicate their 1911 success Every
had been waiting for years to
hear that those splendid artists had
reached the end Of their rope. But
having been fooled by them SO long,
few were prepared for their let-down
worlds championship flags for Phila-
delphia.
One of the umpires stated hat If he
were picking a pitcher to pitch just
one game his choice Of all the twirlers
would be Bender. But for a seasons
work-no. Bender" said this veteran
umpire, lis the most wonderful man
I ever saw in .whizzing that ball right
into the very spot he tried for. He
thinks. Every ball he pitches is the
execution. of. a carefully and quickly
thought out plan."
But as for the pitcher to do a
team the most good in a season there
is nothing to it. Give me. Walsh. I
believe every American league man.
ager. If given his choice of all. the
pitchers in baseball today, would pick
Walsh without a seconds hesitation.
Just as there is only one Cobb among
the ~all-around ball players. so is there
only one Ed Walsh among the pitch
ers. OF course, johnson and Wood
have more brilliant records so far as
games won is concerned during the
past season, but they both had better
teams behind them and were required
to pitch only in regular turn. But
Walsh often took part in five OF six
games a week.
Walsh Valuable.
"Walsh's temperament makes him
the most valuable of all pitchers. to
my way of thinking. The minute one
of his teammates passes a batsman
and is reached for a couple of hits.
Walsh, 'unbidden. begins to warm up
for the rescue. work. Whenever I am
umpiring in a series in which the Chi
cago team is.a contender. I hear this
from the players: Well. Walsh pitch
ed yesterday, surely he won't be in
today But about the eighth inning
If things are looking dark for the
White Sox in comes Walsh and there
is always a %perceptible fall in the
spirits of the opposing players"
Given three days of rest (something
almost unknown to Walsh during a
championship season. and his effect
~iveness is as deadly to opposing hit
tiers as is that of johnson or Wood.
Walsh's mastery half-balk motion In
trapping men off first has saved him
many a game. Wood is also a hard
man for base unner to outguess.
Both are a little better in that respect
than Johnson. Wood is he best field
ing pitcher of the lot.
Johnson is the most sensational to
watch-the crowds idol. His delivery
is true pitching poetry. Without any
apparent effort he hurls a ball over
the plate with more speed, 1t is claim
ed. than n man thai ever mounted
the slab. He has no fear nor respect
for any batsman. He neve passes a
hard hitter to bring up a weaker one
and doesn't even waste any balls on
the batting stars. Most pitchers who
get two strikes on a batsman without