Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-01-08
BY Sam Crane.

NEW YORK, Jan. S.-Amos
u Rusie. the Christy Mathew
son OF his day, as far as
pitching ability went, was commit
ted to the county jail III Seattle,
Wash, on Saturday on charge Of
threatening to XIII mis- wife. So
runs brief news report from
Seattle
While Rusie was not contempt
rary with MatheWson. still the lat
ter entered professional baseball
just about the time that the
"Hoosier Cyclone" with waning
powers and blasted reputation, was
lettering on his throne as premier
pitcher Of the country. having by
reckless abuse of his immense ath-
lctic powers and splendid ability
shortened his promising baseball
career by many years and drifted
into the solitude Of the public's for
getfulness, the same public that
only few short years before had
applauded him to the echo, raised
him to the highest pedestal of pop
ular favor and had clamored with
all the ferVor for which baseball
fans are noted to pat him on his
brawny back and pronounce him
the best ever
Drink ana dissipation have
brought Amos Rusie, the once peer
less pitcher, 10 the unfortunate sit
uation that he now finds himself in,
forgotten and forlorn. 1t was not
the fickleness of fandom that forced
Rusie on the downward path.
Came to New York in 1890.
he is alone responsible Coming
to New York city early In the play
ing season OF 1890 as the result Of
the sale by the late John r. Brush
to the New York National league
club of the Indianapolis team,
Rusie. together with Glasscock,
Denny. Burkett Bassett, Boyle and
other famous players Joined the
Giants who were struggling along
In a losing fight against the New
York Players league club The
Giants were playing then on the
present vacant Manhattan field, ad-
joining the Polo grounds, where the
Players league club was located
Rusie was a rosy-cheeked boy Of
nineteen, in the very prime of his
superb physique and splendid ath-
letic ability Six feet tall, with the
broadest of broad shoulders, strong
arms and sturdy. well shaped legs,
he was a perfect specimen Of
youthful vigur He had ability,
too, although he had been picked
up Off the lots i'm Indianapolis only
the Year before. He was a sure
Conner" His speed was something
terrific and he had an assortment
of curves combined with his speed
that made him little short Of irwin
chile while i'm the box
Players who batted against Rusje
pronounce him as throwing the
sWtcst BAH OF any pitcher who
ever lived AS fast as Rusie' is
the criterion by which all pitchers
are gagged but none ever APP
preached him in speed.
Jimmy Ryan. the old Chicago
player said Of Rusie; u stood up
before ali the pitchers for twenty
years during my time. but none Of
them inspired the terror in the
batsman's heart that was put there
by the mighty Rusie. The ball
looked like white streak tearing
past You, without giving time to
balance yourself, figure the course
If it or take aim at the pin, and he
used am out-curve with all his
speed What "a chance to hit 1t.
He hit me twice, and / thought it
was an over with me All the
bumps other pitchers ever gave
me didn't bruise me "a tenth as
much as Rusie's bullets.
Yes Busie was the fastest Of
them an Che greatest i'm his way.
ana how few There are who can
ever bolr approach him
Easy Going Younqster
That was Amos Rusle. The