Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-11-22
BY Fuzzy Woodruff.

NTLLLIAM EWAKT GLAD
wv STONE. if you listen to
highbrow historians. has a
strangle hold on all the rights, til
ties and emoluments of the Job of
being Grand Old Man" The his
torians are probably correct if an
investigator would confine his eff
forts to Surrey or Hampshire, or
some of those other places where
cricket is still considered a sport.
Should the searcher for informa-
ton as to the proper holder of this
Antiquity Title happen to visit that
land that all baseball players hope
to visit before they die-the land
covered and inclosed by the Big
Tent, he would undoubtedly be in
formed that with the exception of
Old Cy Young. all the Grand Old
Men are not even Baby Grand Old
Men.
But should he turn to the land
where the cotton blossoms bloom.
where they didn't start voting the
Democratic ticket in 1912, and
where they sometimes give up their
street car seats and ask the ques-
ton. he will be branded basely ig-
uorant by even the most unassum-
ing school boy. For in Dixie near
~ all the Grand Old Men of Civil
war time have died out and in their
place has risen the grizzled form
and stalwart figure of Theodore
Breitenstein.
Had Big League Reputation.
Breitenstein had made an honor
able big league reputation long be-
fore his freckled face was turned
Southwark. And it is remarka bic
that Breitenstein was able to pisY-
a brand of bah in the South that
made people forget his brilliant
career in the majols.
The South is strewn with blasted
baseball regulations. Famous old
major Lacquer after famous old
major Lacquer, his days of useful
ness passed in the big tent has
Strayed Southwark to start anew.
only to be driven out Of the league
by the resistless force Of young
blood. Lave Cross career was a
dismal failure in the Southern
league. Harry Vaughn, Tenn Par
rott and dozen others who had
once been called great were com
PEELED to turn to the North with
nothing left of their glories but
their names in the old guide books
that everybody loses.
Needed Southern Sun.
But Breitenstein defed youth
For years and years he was not
only one of the strongest pitchers
in the Southern league, but he was
frequently the leagues premier
hurler. SO successful was he in
this land that efforts were fire.
auently made to buy or draft him
by big league scouts. But the old
veteran knew that the hot South
eru sun was responsible for his re-
turn to effectiveness and he always
uafused to consider any proposal to
return to the scene of his former
triunphs.
When old Brett came South with
Memphis in 1908, he was regarded
as a historical freak, who could
Wen be looked on for the privilege
Of saying, 1--WE seen him." That he
would make his Southern record
was not even suggested
EIil fa mo mann Of
the Cincinnati Reds, the story of
mis- sale along with Heinie Pietz
for 100000, all of these things made
him curiosity, but it was doubted
that he was a ball player at that
time.
But Old Brett worked carefully.
He never pitched a ball with more
steam than he had to use. He new
er employed a curve when a fast
bail or change of pace would
serve. He was conserving the
strength of his good left arm.
And the hot weather brought the
wing around. Before the season
closed. the veteran was considered
one of the most formidable pitch
ers in the league Memphis, with
Charley Frank as pilot and Bret
his first officer. won thrilling race
from Little Rock.
Went to PeIs With Frank.
Next season Frank transferred
his activities to New Orleans. Brett
went with him, and though the