Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-26


v Mathewson, greatest of all
hurlers, is to use the spit
ter against the Boston Red Sox.
Big JEFF" Tesreau and poor
Bugs" Raymond are the only spit
ball pitchers of note the Giants
have ever had. This is mostly
due to the fact that Manager Nc
Graw has always tabooed the use
OF the saliva shoot by one of his
old pitchers, and they have con-
scientiously obeyed orders.
When Raymond first became
member of the Giants by rea son
of a trade that included Roger
Bresnahan, about all that Bugs had
was the splitter. Anyway, that was
his chief stock in trade for effec-
tiveness, and McGraw, not want
Ing to injure his catchers prob
lematic usefulness and value to the
club and team, allowed the new
pitcher, who was real wonder
when right, to continue with his
moist sings.
Bugs, too, had the most natural
delivery, consequently the easiest
of any pitcher who ever went in
the box McGraw says this to-
day.
If Bugs had been less cratic in
mind and habits, McGraw might
have endeavored to break him
away from the delivery with which
he had obtained his big reputation
as a boxman, but Bugs was allowed
to pitch in his own way, and would
surely have increased his reputa-
ton and been of immense value.
not only to the club and also to
himself II he had been a differ
ent sort Of a fellow. But he couldn't
or he wouldn't, and the sad ending
of his earthly career recently In
Chicago leaves nothing to be said
only that he was his own worst
enemy.
Raymond an Example.
The chances Raymond had.
though, to become one Of the most
noted pitchers in the country and
the way he threw them away
should afford an object lesson to
all the prominent ball players, old
or young, that are and will be on
the diamond after him.
Tesreau was not a spitball pitch
er when McGraw first secured him
he
(La.) club. He was just a big,
strong fellow with terrific speed
and the build of an athlete with no
end of stamina. He had everything
to learn about baseball. and would
possibly have gone along an "un-
taught savage" unless his fortunes
had been thrown with such an
astute manager as McGraw, and
wise, perceptive coach like Will
bert Robinson.
The big bear stranger was still
untamed when he left the Giants
training camp in Marlin, Texas, in
the spring of 1911. His speed and
stamina were all there, but Nc
Graw with a championship season
just starting had not the time to
work off the rough edges OF the I'M
cut diamond, so he sent him to his
friend, Joe Kelley, manager of the
Toronto club, for one sea son in that
strong minor league organization.
Tesreau took up the spitball him
self. He had no curve to speak of
and his swiftest balls were too
straight. He had to groom" them
to get them over the plate-and
then they were picked" good and
hard.
Jeff then bethought himself of
the splitter, so that he could get a
break on the ball. He met with
success with his new delivery from
the start and finished the season
of 1911 with a reputation second to
no pitcher In the then Eastern, now
International league
Joe Kelley was not as prolific
in his praise of Tesreau as were
other managers In his league. and
told McGraw that another season
In Toronto would put the finishing
touches on the big youngster.
But McGraw was wise in his