The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-29
MYSTERY ABOUT BIC Ed
WALsH's NEW Curve BALL
His Teammates Describe II in Veri
Gus Giiscs, and Pronounce II
10 Be Loo.Loo.
McGRAw IN A SAD PLIGHT
His Army Retreats Instead Of
MISUNDERSTANDING Seems To Be
Wrong With His Artillery AMI In.
fantry.

wrapped up around that new curve
ball which Big Ed Walsh of the
White SoX. claims TO have discovered.
and by means OF which he hopes TO do
come back after more than year
, in drydock.
AS FAR IL anybody has heen able to
figure out. that new twlster Of Walsh's
Is 4 loo loo. Walsh himself has ex-
planned It. but not in detail To do so
in the league. Some OF Eds team
mates have told about Il. but their
description OF 1t Is Just as lucid as
most of the cables that describe the
European war.
The new curve. taking il from tins
traSmentarY statements concerning IT,
first shoots TO the left after leaving
the hand. then shoots 10 the right
Halfway between the pitcher and the
home plate the ball stops for second
or two If II is warm day the ball
pauscs and coois itself off. If the day
be cold, the ball. after stopping, exc
cutes few tango whirls so a s 10 keep
itself warm.
Having cooled itself. or warmed it,
self. as the case may be. the ball pro-
ceeds on rs journey. taking the out side
course until near the plate, possibly
+ in fear that German cruiser is Turk
ing somewhere on the inside track
ready to shoot the bail to Helen Gawue
Provided the ball reaches the vicin
ity OF the plate in safety, it does aev-
eral things First of all 1t loops the
loop four tines Then II drops. or II
doesn't drop. II shoots right UP into
the air, shoots across the plate or IL
hits the PLAYER in the ribs on the
dome. or on his manly huzzum, all ac-
cording TO Edwards aim.
Sometimes upon arriving AZ the plate
the ball doesn't do all those things
Some ell -oi>t.
snd them other fellows
John McC;raw Knows how Germany
feels these DAYS. johns plight is much
like thai Of Manager Wilhelm. who IL
trying 10 win the European pennant.
despite some furious opposition. How
army lights and advances, Johns army
seems TO lie more adept al the opposite
tactics
John has three foes bese,tins him.
the Braves. the cubs and the Cards
And John realizes that he Is lighting
with his spinal column against the wall
paper. He's embossed his biggest guns
he's rallied his men. he's cussed EN-.
praised EN- and done everything that's
possible for = good little general to do
But his army hasn't responded TO the
call OF duty with any noticeable enthu.
siasm.
In other years when John was Ia.
'"SSt" ~ 1iE pUt4hS, nc just unltIl Der
ed his artillery and had his three main
picces-Ma thewson, Tcsreau ard Mar
uuard--shoot the opposition full OF
holes. To olInch the battle. John would
lead MS Infantry with drawn bats into
the thick ot the fray and have them
club the enemy into submission.
But this wear II seems bit differ.
emit John has called on his artillery
but the Are Of late seems to be shoot.
ms nothing but blank cartridges As
for johns infantry. lead by Captain
DOYLE. Lieutenant Merkle and Corporal
Burns-wel, something seems 10 b.
the matter with Its hearing.
John keeps yelling at II 10 charge
nut they seem to get things twisted
and have executed q beautiful retreat
during the pact feW weeks.