The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-09-17

his fast little inf1clder to pitch to Il
with tile res. that lone of the M
Pitches No.hit Game.
That was the beginning of his ca
recr as a pitcher. He pitched IN a
earned for himself a chance with the
Kansas City club. of the American
association. One Of the main fac
tors in Ian ling this job for him was
q no-hit game which he pitched for
Hutchinson.
The next season he reported to
Kansas City, and Immediately started
out. on a winning career. About this
time "Rube" Marquard was burning
Indianapolis team. and the late John
/. Taylor. president Of the Boston
Americans sent Fred Lake out west
to look over the pair OF cute hurlers.
Mr.. Lake. snapped up Wood. but let
the "Rube" slip through his mitts.
In August. 1908. Joseph packed his
valise and pointed his nose Beanville-
ward. He made good from the start.
like his great rival of today, Walter
johnson. owing much Of his early
success to his remarkable speed. He
played in four games for Boston that
fall and made a good enough impress
sion in these few times out to warrant
the prediction that he had the maxi
ings Of a star tvirler. -
Since then he has improved Won
derfully, and there Is not a club in
the American that doesn't hold the
speedy party in great respect. He has
developed a good drop ball. n at his
best Is we'll nigh invincible.
The present season is his best since
Joining the big league. and being but
a youth, admirers all over the circuit
look to see him improve even upon his
present form in the years to come.
and rank him alongside of Walter
johnson and the king of the spitball
pitchers. Ed. Walsh. Some ven go so
far as to claim the pitching cham
pionship of the American league for
the Boston speed merchant.
Starts on Sand Lot.
The hero of all Boston today. Mr..
Wood says that he learned his first
lessons in baseball as a little fellow
on the sandlots.
Il could curve a ball when I was
only Z years Of age" he says. What
ever l know of the art Of pitching I
picked up myself. Nobody ever taught
me a thing about 1t. 1t came natural
to me to pitch. and l devised and de-
veloped every curve and shoot that
I use in my business.
Joe Wood. to get back to his full
handle. does not only play his
position we'll. but likes to chase flies
In the outfield or catch a young pitch
er in practice On off days. He also
plays his old position IN the infield
at various times before game time.
This season he has come out on
top in a u with Mr.. Johnson. the
Washington senator. On the occasion
Washington had jus. returned from
the great western series which 1t went
through without a defeat. but had
been bumped by the Athletics In a
great t%en-inning game through the
ker. who tied up the score in the
ninth inning, with two down. by wal
Looping the old pill over the fence for
a home run. thereby giving his team
a chance to win out in the next in
ming.
johnson challenged Wood to q bat
tie. and the Red Sox HEAVIER accepted
the def. They met before one of the
most enthusiastic gatherings good
Boston aggregation left the field at
the end Of nine innings with the
contest sailed away in the win box,
score. 80.
As to the Johnson Game.
As the recent defeat Of johnson is
still fresh in the minds of the follow
crs of the great national frolic, q few
lines in that connection will not BIO
amiss here.
In that memorable contest which
$4,000 fans and bugs witnessed only
one run was scored and that did not
put in an appearance until the sew
enth inning. Keyed up to the highest
pitch Of excitement, the anxious fans
awaited patiently for the battle to be-
gin. each person Of that record
and nervous awaited the announce
Ment Of the batteries in the hope that
the big Swede' and the "Kansas
Cyclone az Wood is known up in the
city of knowledge. would face each
other.
A mighty cheer went up as the an
nounce lifted a megaphone' to his
mouth and announced that 1.-THE bat
teries for today's game will be Wood
and Cady for Boston and johnson and
Ainsmith for Washington"
And now tho much talked Of battle
was on. For si1 innings both sides
went out In order . Then 1t was that
the crowd In the stands began to root
thor hardest. They strctched-for il
was the luck seventh.
Wood retired the side In this fate
full inning as he had done several
ttmos before. Now Il was Boston's
turn at tho bat. TN" Hrst two mon
pitched with Tor marvellous
speed n determination.
Look! Speaker .s ut the bat. The