Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-04
VETERAN PICKED
TOPLAY LEADING
ROLE IN DRAMA
For Thirteen Years the Great
Southpaw Has Been Win
ming Consistently,
By J. W. McConaughy.

GONE months ago Mr.. Ban John
son. the fat gaekwar OF the
American League, ordered his
rnplres to Jack up the speed OF base
hall games so as 10 send the Loyal
p1bIic home IN time for dinner.
With these instructions in mind
an umpire approached a famous vet
eran twirler in a game in Philadel-
mia and suggested that he smoke up
bit and not waste so much time be-
tween pitches
The veteran looked grave. Instead
Of favoring the umpire with his views
as to the size OF that officials hat. the
activity Of his brain and the char
aster OF his forefathers he gently re-
Piled:
see here-I'm getting along toward
forty and I can't hit IT up with these
Youngsters. II I'm going to pitch
nine innings I have to take my own
time to It,"
The umpire was abashed-which is
mighty remarkable thing for an
umpire to be. The veteran proceeded
with his pitching in his usually de-
libarate manner, unpursued by fur
Their suggestions from the umpire
Furthermore, the story went the
rounds OF the Umpires and none Of
them make any comments when the
veteran Is taking his own time"
Oldest, Greatest Southpaw.
The gentleman who thus spake to
the umpire and moved him to respect
was Eddie Plank, of the Athletics the
Oldest pitcher and the greatest left
handler in baseball He has been at
II thirteen years, every year in the
big league and in all the time he
came down to the finish Of the sea-
son but once with a record OF having
lost more games than he had won.
This was the year that the Athletics
finished sixth.
Other pitchers-Matty for instance
have been pitching big league base
ball as long as Plank but there are
features Of the slim Athletics per-
Torrance that make his career even
more remarkable than Matty's. In
the first place he is a left-hander,
and Ieft-handers are VIGOROUSLY
sn0rt-livad There is no intention
90 make this a surgical treatise, but
auv doctor can explain II to you.
THE constant hard throwing with the
Def. arm has a bad effect on the
heart and drives left handlers out Of
baseball Plank has long outlived
eserv other southpaw who started at
the time he cid
This is probably due to the fact
than he began playing baseball much
Hfer in life than the other big
'"1sGe7s-later than any American
Hy-. T. has been reported that he
h.ran pitching on the day the battle
Of G",tshurg was fOunght, but this is
sfshtly erroneous. It probably arose
from the fact that he was born in
Gettysburg in 1878, but it was 1925
before he had ever had q baseball in
bis hand. That's right. Twenty years
old before he ever handled a base
ball and in America all that time.
Began When 20 Years Old,
It was shortly after his introduc-
ton to the national nuisance that
young Mr.. Plank cast his eyes upon
Gettysburg College. In other words
ne headed for the fountains Of learn
ing about the time that most youths
are wiping their lips and backing
away. He was Is when he qualified
'+' pllAllCA LO1 tut tOlleBc team, anu
this explaining the fact that he is
still hale and hearty, In pitching
as in pugilism, It is the strain on the
boy that eventually crumples up the
man.
An old-time pitcher, Frank Fore
man, was coach Of the Gettysburg
squad at that time When Plank
came out to try for the team he
handed out few specimens OF what