Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-04
TrTERANPICKED
.T0PLAY LEADING
ROLE IN DRAMA
FOR Thirteen Years the Great
Southpaw Has Been Win
ming Consistently,
Rv !. W. McConaughy.

CoWE months ago Mr.. Ban john
SON. the fat gaekwar of the
- American League, ordered his
rn9lres TO jack up the speed of base
ball games so as to send the Loyal
pg1rf. home in time for dinner.
With these instructions in mind
an umpire approached a famous vet
arn twirler in a game in Philadel-
,.-.a and suggested that he smoke up
hi. and not waste so much time be-
tween pitches
The veteran looked grave. Instead
,s saroring the umpire with his views
as 10 the size Of that officials hat, the
activity of his brain and the char
as.er Of his forefathers he gently re-
Piled
"Sae nere-Im getting along toward
forty and I can't hit it up with these
Youngsters. II I'm going to pitch
rne innings I have to take my own
time 20 it,"
The umpire was abashed-which is
mighty remarkable thing for an
urrire to be. The veteran proceeded
with his pitching in his usually de-
Haorate manner, unpursued by fur
taer 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
fine umpire and moved him to respect
WAS Eddie Plank, of the Athletics the
oldest pitcher and the greatest left
handler ir baseball. He has been at
thirteen years, every year in the
h.g league. and in all the time he
mo down to the finish of the sea
SON bur once with a record Of having
lost more games than he had won.
This was the year that the Athletics
7.s.ei sixth.
ether pitchers-Matty. for instance
-have been pitching big league base
bail as long al Plank, but there are
features Of the slim Athletics per
torm3nce that make his career even
moro remarkable than Natty's In
-Ee first place he Is a left handler,
and left handlers are VIGOROUSLY
sa0rt-livad. There is no intention
20 make this a surgical treatise, but
envy doctor can explain it to you.
The constant hard throwing with the
left arm has a bad effect on the
heart and drives left handlers out Of
baseball Plank has long outlived
every other sOuthpaw who started at
the time he did.
This is probably due to the fact
that ne began playing baseball much
later u life than the other big
.eaguers-later than any American
boy Il has been reported that he
o"s7n pitching on the day the battle
Of Gettsburg was founght, but this is
slightly erroneous. 1t probably arose
from the fact that he was born in
gettysburg in 1875, but 1t was 1895
before he had ever had a baseball in
his hand That's right. Twenty years
7Io before he ever handled a base
oaa, and in America all that time.
Began When 20 Years Old.
j. was shortly after his introduc-
ton to the national nuisance that
Young Mr. Plank cast his eyes upon
Fe''Fshurg College. In other words,
10 headed for the fountains Of learn
about the time that most youths
IRE "lDing their lips and backing
7""s. He was 25 when he qualified
as pitcher for the college team. and
IS explaining the fact that he is
'l.. hale and hearty. In pitching,
lH pugiltsm it is the strain on the
'." that eventually crumples up the
man
An old-time pitcher Frank Fore
nan. was coach of the Gettysburg
squad at that time. When Plank
m. out to try for the team he
i.H."a out a few specimens of what