Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-11
SELDOM REALIZE
PROPER TIME TO RETIRE
When Leading Stars of the Diamond Begin to Slip
They Are the Last to Notice the Falling
Off in Their Work
BY BILLY EVANS.


How do l look, Bill? Have l anything
on my curve or fast ball?" Such was the
remark made to me one day last summer
by pitcher who at one time was one Of
the biggest stars in the American League.
When at his best he was a great twirler.
having plenty of speed. a fast-breaking
curve an excellent change of pace and,
best of all, he knew how to pitch. His
question was asked at the close of the
sixth inning as he walked to the bench.
For that length of time he had held the
hard-hitting Athletics scoreless.
You look better than the last time
out I replied. You haven't your old
time speed, but your curve looks pretty
good. What does it matter what You
have if the other fellows can't scorer?
really hated to express my honest opin-
ion to the pitcher. He was a mighty fine
chap. had always been well liked by the
umpircs and every member of the staff
was sorry to see him slipping. OF that
there was no doubt. He was a poor ex-
cuse for the pitcher of a few years pre-
vious. who had been one of the most
talked "a bout twirlers in the league.
In the seventh inning the Athletics
had one of those batting rallies for which
the team is famous. In tWinkling four
runs were over the plate, two men on the
bases and only one out. Mack team OF
hitters had solved the assortment of the
veteran and was hitting him to all parts
of the lot The manager finally hoistcd
the distress signal That meant the re-
moval of the pitcher from the game.
Always Ready With Excuses.
81 am not quite ready to go the entire
route" said the veteran as he passed
me. Il trained bit too fine this spring.
being anxious to get into the best OF
shape, and 1 haven't quite regained my
full strength. lost all my stuff in that
inning l listened in silence. Perhaps
no man on the field, outside Of the catch
en- is better able to judge the condition of
a pitcher than the umpire. l knew full
well that the veteran had shown as much
stuff in the final inning as he had in the
six previous sessions Luck had smiled
on him in the early part of the game.
many a hard-hit ball going directly at
some fielder. In the seventh inning the
opposition began hitting them where
they amt to use the slang. The result
was that the former star was knocked off
the rubber. luck simply having delayed
such a happening.
Undoubtedly the hardest lesson for any
athlete to learn is when to retire. Very
few can realize the time when their use
fulness has passed The star pitcher al
ways imagines he is as good as ever, and
can't understand how his delivery is hit
to all parts of the field. The crack bat
ter cannot realize that the time must
come when his eyes are not SO keen, that
pitchers who once were easy for him be-
gin to be puzzle. The catcher with the
great throwing arm cannot believe his
arm has grown weak, even though play
ers steal on him whom he used to throw
miro ad tn
make a decision. 1t is the same in every
branch of sport. 1t takes the average fell
low too long time to learn that he is
through Often much OF his past glory is
sadly dimmed by wretched performances
after his days of usefulness are over
Cy Young Selected Proper Spot.
Cy Young was one of the few players
who managed to quit at the right time.
1t is questionable if any athlete Will ever
grace the majors as long as did Cy. Many
thought he would stick until recent fail
ures would overshadow many great deeds
in the past. Cy, however, selected the
proper spot to get out Of the game. He
could have gone to the minors, got good
money and been a big drawing card
Probably he could have won majority
of his games but it would have been a
rather poor tlHlSn TOT SUCH Hoehpie hS-
ure in the base ball world. AS long as the
game is played the name of Cy Young
will be revered by fandon.
Bill Dinneen, now an American League
umpire once shared honors on the Bos-
ton club with Young. Like Cyrus, Din
neen knew when he was through. After
years of good service in Boston, Dinneen
went 10 St Louis, where he continued to
pitch good ball for several years. 1t was
| while pitching for st. Louis that he
reached the conclusion that he was
! through 1t was in the fall of 1903
will let Dinneen tell it in his own words.
, l have often heard him relate the tale to
| people who inquired why he quit pitch
ing to take up umpirins.
when the season of 1909 started I
| noted that | was having more trouble
| than usual getting down to weight. That
was the first indication l had that l
| wasn't as good as ever. My arm gave me
! considerable trouble during the training
| trip / tried to work out the soreness,
| but it got worse. Jimmy McAleer. who
| was managing st. Louis, couldn't have
! treated me better He advised that ! go
| slowly and wait until the warmer weather
! set in l did as told. and came through
F., with II few good games, only to follow
| with some that would have shamed the
poorest recruit ! was positive ! was
| through. but couldn't make my manager
| believe that way. He advised d month of
I iASf usual friltS that