El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-04-27

the fact that he had very little en-
Cour2 cement from his hackers
More than half the games ne lost
last season We're kicked away IRON
him More than half were lost by one
run. From the time he first reported
TO the Higlla1ders. Ford has h2d 10
work for every victory The various
managers realizing that he was the
main dependence Of the tossing corps
have always handed him the toughest
assignments. Tt is Ford who Invariably
catches the star contemporaries OF the
opposition He has been forced TO
fight his way TO the top over sucl
zsliant rivals as Walter Johnson, Ed
Walsh. George Mullin. Joe W GOD. Nean
Gregg and Chief Bender. But for an
unfortunate accident last season MS
work. even with a sixth position array,
might have proved quite as brilliant as
that Of his debut he lost ABOUT nan
of his games while he was physically
unfit for duty. Early in the season
nc ''beaned7 COrhau, Of the White SOX-
For days ii looked as II the Chicagoan
would not recover. Ford, VINO IS
highly sensitive young man, was com
rletely unstrung from the accident. In
two weeks he lost 10 pounds. lie vas
on the verge Of physical collapse when
the injured athlete finally recovered
Is n Truly Great Pitcher.
Russell Ford IS a pitcher bound 10
60 down through history as one Of tn
brightest stars OF the game His work
IN the two years Of service has JusU-
fled a claim to one Of the highest
inches Of fame He will go on to
greater achievements in the future II
no Ill luck befalls. For Russ is a
pitcher blessed with an unusual
amount of gray matter. He is nObOdy's
fool He viii last many year
He has not jumped to the top Of
his profession because Of any unusual
physical qualifications In fact. he is
but Of average size and strength He
trim. That is perhaps a trifle under
the average OF giant tossers- Ford
realizes as much as any body that his
physical body is not equipped in a man
ner to proclaim him any iron man
of the national pastime. The fact that
he insists upon four full days rest be-
tween games proves that he possesses
common sense enough to insure the
conservation Of his good right arm to
the longest possible tenure Of eff
cheney.
Russell Ford IS commonly classed
among the American leagues great
horde Of "spitball" pitchers. Yet he
does not throw the "spitball." He viii
tell You so himself He losses some
thing that very closely resembles the
saliVary slant in gyration and break,
tut something also as far removed
from this difficult shoot as Matty's
fadeaWay differs from Marqusrd's fast
one. What his freak d ilivery IS Ford
alone knows He is telling no one.
Its virtue lies in the fact OF its mys-
terry Pitchers for two years have
been trying to solve the nature Of the
delivery. Aside from the results he
gets with 1t they have been able to
learn absolutely nothing
Has Mysterious Break
For Russell Ford is the only pitcher
in baseball who can throw what ex-
actIy resembles a -'spitbau." yet with
such perfect control and manipulation
that he can make it break either to
the right or left at viii The ordinary
..sDitbalI" is mighty freaky in its be-
havior tt is liable to break away from
righthanded batter. Therefore
pitcher who can at VIII hook the ball
10 either side is doubly effective in
that he can make batting for q left
handler just as difficult as for a right
handler.
10 pitcher can get away in fast
company with any one stock fin trade
Aside from his freak Russell For
has as much stuff as anyone in IN
business. He has one of the Wickede.