Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-23


twinge in my forearm. The curve broke all
right; but | knew what that twinge meant.
1t meant that | couldn't do much curving in
the coming game. | should have told the
manager about it; but it is not considered
proper form for player to make complaint
of his condition. The manager is supposed to
notice those things and if he doesn't the
PLAYER must go right ahead and do his best.
At any rate, | thought could get by with
my knowledge of the opposing batters. |
would pitch to their weakness, and save
myself as much exertion as possible.
When the gong sounded | walked to the
box and shot the first ball squarely over the
plate. Pitchers are allowed to toss five balls
to the catcher for practice, and | took the
| full limit.
The first batter was easy for me, as | knew
he couldn't hit low ball inside. pitched
him one there, and he popped a foul to the
catcher. The next man hit at the first ball,
straight one squarely over the middle, and
drove a long fly to the center fielder. On the
next man | attempted curve; but it failed
| to break, and he gave the ball a resounding
slap that started it like bullet. Fortunately
| it went straight at the third baseman, and
| he was out.
pretty lucky!" said the manager as l
walked back to the bench "A few more hit
Are you all right?" he inquired.
"Sure," | replied. ale just happened to
get that one in his groove. I'm feeling fine.
Jour team failed to score, and | went back
- for nv second inning. The next batter,
| being fourth in the lineup, was tough
proposition, and knew that | should have
| to pitch him a curve. The heavy hitter of
team usually bats fourth because it puts him
in position to clean up in case the other
batters get on the bases Men like Wagner,
Cobb, Lajoie, Magee, and Jackson are used
that way.
Knowing that this fellow never struck at
| the first ball, | put straight one squarely
over the middle, and he took it. He merely
smiled, and didn't even move his bat from
| his shoulder The battle of wits was now on.
| To fool him | knew that | had to get one out
side, and the ball went straight to the mark.
| He swung at it, but lifted foul over the
grandstand, and had another strike on him.
| | knew that he would not fall for another one
like that, and there was nothing left for me
to do but to try big drop curve that would
start at his shoulders and break over the
plate.
| AS gave my arm the twist again | felt
that twinge. The ball failed to break, and
went over his head. Again tried it, and the
ball almost hit him. That put me in the hole,
and tried fast one, which also went wild.
By this time my arm was quivering from the
pain, and was SO nervous that completely
lost control.
tried one squarely over the middle; but
| it hit the ground, and my oldtime batting
enemy had base on balls.
await him out" l heard the opposing
manager say to the next batter. He knew
that | was wild for some reason, and that it
was no time to hit at the first ball or attempt
sacrifice to advance the runner. Knowing
that he would wait, l tried to get the first
one over without anything on it; but the
ball went low. The catcher looked anxiously
toward the bench.
| l was now pitching with my head and
heart; but my arm would not respond to or
ders had hurt it badly in trying to pitch
that curve, and the muscles failed to work.
There was a jumping throbbing sensation in
nv forearm, and | realized that | was m
bad way.
The second man walked, and the catcher
once more looked inquiringly toward the
bench followed his glance; but the man.
ayers face was like piece of marble. He
had no intention of taking me from the box,
and knew that had to make the best of it.
As the next batter came up saw the man.
ager of the opposing team say something to
him, and I thought that he had told him to