Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-11-26
By Fuzzy Woodruff.

"A n i
LEY was probably the
best looking young pitcher
that ever came out of the South, or
anywhere else. Pause, faithful fan,
before making the fatal mistake
that when ] say good looking
pitcher" l mean exactly what the
three English words imply. Though
the azure orbed William was
somewhat of hurler, his pitching
has been eclipsed many times In
the Southern league, but when it
came to physical pulchritude, Billy
was there.
Pulchritude is not essential to
pastimer. Mr. Mack could never
qualify as a matinee idol, and Mr..
Wagner would be laughed to scorn
if he attempted to essay the tailor's
model role.
But Blue eyed Bill had the
beauty. just gobs of it, and thereby
hangs the tale Of why he failed to
stay around in the big tent, for
baseball experts were unanimous in
declaring he had the necessary tall
emit.
Old Bob Gilks, then managing
Shreveport, dug the blue eyed boy
up somewhere In the Texas league.
When he reported to Shreveport he
had q suit of store bought clothes
and more sangfroid than any nine
teen year-old hurler ever possessed.
And before the season opened had
Giiks attempted TO relieve Mr..
BARLEY OF further service with the
Shreveport team he would have
been driven out OF town by every
baseball suffragette In Its confines.
Worked Eyes Overtime.
Bill knew that his blue eyes gave
him an ace in the hole and he
worked it overtime. He took all
the liberties OF seasoned veteran
eidded the old players, joshed Gilks
and made himself generally I'M
bearable.
But Ciilks knew ne had pitcher,
20 he gritted his teeth and waited
He didn't have to wait long. The
season started with a rush. So did
hartley. In his first two games he
stood the opposing hitters on their
respective beans. His chest expan-
sion grew, and ne had to order
new sized hat, and there was no
balm in Gilead for Gilks.
Finally the Shreveport club
reached Atlanta. Blue eyed Billy
warmed UP the first day. He
glanced over the Atlanta stands,
caused a few Harnesses to throw
ats. and then toed the plate.
Made 20 Hits For % Runs.
In the first three innings the At
lanta batsmen dubbed him for a
dozen hits and a dozen runs. Be
fore the game ended they had made
il &c hits and 2$ runs. and old Bob
Gilks was Smiling
What did you keep that KID in
for. Bob?" a friend and well wisher
asked. Weren't you afraid you
would break his hearth
bTtdk MS neal l., Atl41 NRIl'N
Gi1ks. THAT was just what he
needed Why, that kid thought he
was the greatest pitcher in the
world. He didn't think the ball
club had ever been organized that
could beat him He had the idea
so strong he was a pest. Now,
maybe hen have some sense and
win be a real pitcher.
"Aus DON'T you believe he dogged
II when they got to him this after
noon" continued the Shreveport
mogul He was as game under
punishment as anybody I've ever
seen. He kept putting everything
ne had on every ball he pitched.
and they kept slapping EN- to the
fence And all the time I was
laughing my head of, Now he'll
be a pitcher
Connie Mack Landed Him
Gilks was right Barley then
went to work and learned to pitch
in reality. After 4 few seasons he
attracted tho eagle eye Of Connie
Mack, who bought him from
Shreveport.
! NV. " In the big tent the blue ewes
% working again, but Bill