Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-10-07
Speed of Rusie and
Of Walter johnson.

t7NooSa illC 5iCdttI Spctut AfilOS RuSlt,
the idol of Gotham in the last decade
OF the nineteenth century. or Walter
johnson, the twentieth century hero
of the District of Columbia and ada
cent territory. There were few old
timers In the bunch who knew by ex-
perience how Rusie could burn them
across. and Some of the younger vet
Grams who knew Walter Johnson's
prowess from actual experience: but
the majority of the party knew the
Hoosier product only by hearsay and
We're inclined to the impression that
there never was Johnson's equal in ac-
tual speed.s
One of the youngsters claimed he
frequently caught himself starting to
strike at a fast ball after the catcher
was tossing it back to Johnson. and
usually hit SO late curve that the
ball hit the eatcher,s mitt before his
bat reached the plate in his swing.
Yes, and the way some of you fell
lers swing at the ball. said Kid Glea-
son, you ought to start your swing
when Johnson begins to wind up to
pitch. Then You might get an occa-
sional fly to right field
Lucky to Get a Foul
THE second game l ever played in
the National league" said Manager
Callahan of the White Sox, was on
the Polo grounds one day when Rusie
was pitching. / was sent in to pitch
in the second or third inning. 1t was
a cloudy, threatening day, and then
the Polo grounds were hard to bat on,
because the elevated structure was the
background in center field. and it was
dark under there.
Il went to bat three times and
struck out three times. The third
time up l hit foul, and the catcher
said, You're lucky, kiddo I felt that
way about it, too. / walked back to
the bench as proud of that foul as the
boy who for the first time has smoked
half a cigarette without regret.
Let me tell you that five and one
half feet difference in the pitching
distance is a lot of difference" said
Clark Griffith, who has pitched under
both old and new conditions. Those
fast ones of Rusie's used to be on top
of you about the time he let go of
them, but l believe Walter Johnson's
would cover 3he old distance just AS
fast. And Walters would look faster
because of his easy. slow motion.
which is a great help to him in de-
ceiving the batsman."
II remember one day." said Gleason,
"a big catcher was at bat, and one of
Rusies speed boys hit him in the leg.
The ball seemed to stick there for haif
a minute before it dropped out of the
dent it made
All kidding aside, 1t was finally
agreed to call it draw, as there was
no basis for comparison. and the diff
ference in the pitching distance re-
moved what little chance there was to
compare the speed marvels of the two
decades.
1t was admitted, however, that Rusie
had better curve than Johnson anu
used it with more deadly effect. Rusie
used the overland style of delivery
with a side arm motion most of the
time. In consequence, Rusie's deliv-
cry looked as if he were pitching
speed while Johnson's' appears much
easier. Rusie's curve ball broke down
rather than out, while Johnson's is OF
the more sweeping variety, although
Walter can work the drop along with
his curve to deadly effect when ne
finds batter foolish to go after them
low and on the outside.
The players all agreed that Johnson
is better pitcher this year than ever
before. and they attribute much OF II
to Griffith, who has taught him the
confidence to mix it more frequently
when in the hole.
Looks Small Coming Over.
Several players insist that Johnson
also has learned the art of palmistry,
and works it in conjunction with his
catcher. They claim that he shows
them a regulation baseball in his hand
before pitching, and while beginning
his wind up. then as he draws his arm
back he substitutes a golf ball and
delivers that instead, Anyway, they
say that is the impression they get,
for the ball looks as big as usual until
he let's go of it. and then it looks like
an overgrown buckshot.
Johnson will last longer than Rusie
did, partly on account of his splendid
habits, while Rusie was product OF
the days when club discipline was lax
and baseball was more of a sport than
profession. the ratio being exactly
reversed today Johnson also pitches
with more conservation Of energy than
Rusie did, and the frequent use Of his