The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
PITCHER THOMPSON
DROPS TENTH GAME
AMID CRACKER HITS

vOLLEY of safeties counted
~ four runs for the Crackers
4 = and Carl Thompson dropped
his tenth contest. Counting the
string of the former college star
the records show that Thompson
has annexed one battle while the
other 10 have been lost, few by
large scores and others by the
scantest margains.
The fans are wondering how
pitcher, endowed with so much
speed and such deceptive shoots,
can fall before any other twirler
upon nearly ever occasion. Some
have stated that the Barons have
not hit with the usual timeliness
behind the youth, while others feel
that II is the fault of the mounds
man. But perhaps 1t is both.
Preceding the reporting season
the Baron pilot received a letter
from the youngster in which
Thompson startled the manager
with the statement that he knew
as much as any professional pitch
er and did not need the experience.
A demand for lordly salary fol-
lowed. But before the opening the
collegian accepted the terms Of
fered.
Hopeful that the lad was cor
rect, Molesworth watched the
younster with a keen eye and
found that he was wanting in the
experience department. But Thomp-
son was enthused with his college
record and felt satisfied with his
work, probably believing that he
lost through no fault of his own.
This spirit pervaded the twirler.
There is more to baseball than
physical power and athletic abil-
ity. Perhaps there are many twirl-
ers who possess better curves, more
powerful arms and faster shoots
than Thompson who would fare
not even so we'll. But any player
will tell you that knowing how to
pitch is the most important part to
the game.
Thompson has as much stuff as
many members of the Baron hurl-
ing corps; perhaps he has as much
as any. But the others have won
consistently while the recruit has
dropped all but one in many at
tempts. Experience is the greatest
factor in a pitchers success and
Thompson lacks it. When the
pinch comes some twirlers believe
that the way to escape is to turn
on all the speed, split the heart of
the plate and trust that the bats
man cannot see the darting shoot.
The more seasoned twirlers care
fully study each play, work the
corners of the plate and mix up
every Offering. Although Walter
johnson uses his fast ball with
wonderful results, were he to shoot
1t across the platter in the same
groove every time, the premier
slabman would be forced to the
minors.
Any young pitcher works at a
disadvantage in the Southern
league. When a youthful SALESMAN
serves from the firing line, the op-
posing players grab their ash, rush
to the plate and smile with the
greatest amount of confidence. The
players backing the youngster, feel
uneasy and uncertain for the pitch
er has never proved his worth.
With the batters confident and the
fielders uneasy, the moundsman
rests at a disadvantage.
To entertain an idea that players
will not give their best services
behind certain pitchers is silly
Should a manger think for one mo-
ment that a player would LAY
down." the conspiring artist would
be tagged for remote parts at
once. Every little movement is so
easily detected by a skilled Judge
of players, that such a member
would hazard his position on any
play. So keenly do the players.
realize that their very positions
hang on single act, that they
would fear such an act Such
show of feeling would ruin a play
er's career.
At times, Thompson has hurled