Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-28
BY BILLY EVANS.

What is the one greatest requisite OF
Tie star pitcher? ! put that question 70
a dozen of the leading twirlers of the two
big leagues last summer. \ majority OF
them without the slightest hesitation
answered. Speed. OF course. Others
favored a change of pace
Chief Bender of the Athletics was the
only twirler who offhand expressed the
opinion that all the other twirlers finally
agreed upon. Control is the greatest
reauisite." said Bender. Without con-
troll you are like ship without a rudder
No matter how much power you may
have. YOU are unable to get results.
Bender's reply TO my question impressed
ne most forcibly. When other Pitch
ars would say speed, change of pace, a
GOOD curve. would ask what they
walled if the pitcher lacked control.
In every instance the pitcher agreed that
s.ontrol was an absolute necessity. Of
curse" said Bender. in discussing the
question further. control Is an acquired
possession. as is the curve and the
,.hange OF pace, while speed is d gift OF
nature Speed therefore is about the
only part of the pitchers makeup that
cannot be developed. Speed without con-
rrol however. avails nothing. Speed with
control alone will make great pitcher.
l point TO Walter Johnson as an example
OF this theory. For year Johnson
bafied the greatest hitters of the Ameri-
can League, although speed was his only
stock in trade. He knew little of the
curve and even less OF the change or
pace Nature endowed Johnson with
wonderful speed. and was equally gen
erous as 10 control. for Johnson was as
steady as a clock in his first game as a
big Lacquer.
Tc UnYHn,an
chief Bender to my mind is one of
The greatest tSiriers that ever sraced
the box. He is a master workman. He
knows how TO pitch. He takes advan-
age OF every weakness. and once
player shows him a weak spot he is
marked for life by the crafty Indian.
Umpires are perhaps in a better position
10 appreciate the greatness of pitcher
than any other men connected with the
game. ] know of one batter in the Amer
ican League who is lucky to make a
foul when Mack's star is the rubber,
Vet against tee average twirler he Is re-
sarded as good hitter. This certain
player has one great weakness. IT
seems practically impossible fer him to
nit a certain kind of ball. Seldom does
BENDER pitch him anything different. l
have seen Bender fan that certain player
50 often that IL is always a relief to
day. You are positive there is going to
D. considerable air. disturbance.
Ability TO beat Washington and Wash
ington's propensity for trimming Cleve-
land we're the biggest stepping stones TO the
pennant for Macks team. No matter how
brilliantly Washington played against the
other clubs. the Athletics always had
easy sailing. In this connection | re-
call game Bender pitched against the
Nationals at Philadelphia last summer.
! noticed Bender while warming up, and
soon saw that his speed seemed much
greater than usual. The way he was
warming up, Ii didn't seem possible for
any club to do much with his offerings.
Made Five Hits in One Inning.
The first Washington batter to face
Sender cracked one of his fast ones
on the nose for single Although
Bender kept serving up his dazzling
speed, Washington found him for FIVE
hits. Some tough luck on the bases
and brilliant play in the infield kept
Washington from scoring more than
one run, despite the bunch of hits, all
Of them being hard drives. 1t was a
warm day and Bender had worked at
tcp speed in an effort to stop the hit
ing Of the Nationals. AS the inning
ended he was dripping VITA perspiration-
[ was umpiring the bases that day, and
throughout the inning i closely watched
Bender work. / realized / never saw
aim show more stuff, yet never saw him