Evening journal., 1914-07-31
ED. Walsh IS BACK
IN OLD TIME FORM
AT Least the Famous Pitch
er'S Arm Seems AS
Good AS Ever
THE STORY OF
HIS SUFFERING


In an interview, big Ed Walsh,
the famous come back" pitcher OF
the Chicago Americans, tells of his
experiences in trying to get into con-
dition to assume his old position with
the team. Walsh does not admit that
he is back" but he hopes he is. His
story, which follows. IS extremely in
teresting
They say am back. Whether |
am or not can only be shown after |
have been in there regularly. No
Chicago fan hopes more than do
that | am in form to pitch winning
hall for the White Sox. 1t has been
long, hard fight Even now | am
not certain that the arm is in perfect
shape, but it is good enough for me
to be out there helping the boys.
You cannot understand how a fell
low feels after he has been losing
hall games.
Il knew the arm was wrong last
year What it was l could not tell.
Something had slipped and even
when it felt we'll it did not have the
strength that it used to have.
1T set me thinking.
"A man learns only through
troubles. | didn't know much about
pitching. | didn't haze to know.
had the strength and the confidence
and could break the splitter so no one
was sure OF hitting it. When | lost
that found myself up against it. My
stock was gone. | had to get some
thing else. | had to learn to pitch
without it, And | did. It was hard
work, hard study and worry all the
time. My curve came along fairly
well, out | didn't know how to use
It. My side-arm spit ball was like
learning to pitch all over again. I
commenced studying batters harder
end harder
Last year l thought the arm was
going to be great. It wasn't. Some
thing went wrong early in the spring.
II never was right. | had to work
and work and study and make my
head do the work my arm always had
done.
Many a game simply four
flushed and tricked hem When
got in hole l shut my eyes.
threw my whole weight into il.
and no matter how it hurt made
the ball jump. They still thought
| had something
1T was a season of suffering for
me. Suffering and worry combined.
Last fall I had the arm fixed. The
muscles were snapped back into
place, but they did not get strong. 1
hoped the winter would bring il
around. I didn't even try it. except-
ing to swing it easily cnce in a while
and wonder what it would do. This
spring | tried it out-and it was not
there.
I went to tho park every dav and
spent hours tossing the ball. easily.
trying to work it out and to get the
strength back. ! was afraid that
some quick, careless movement would
displace the muscles again. Every
throw had to be made with Just the
same careless motion. While the
hoys were away l worked alone at
the park, throwing 500 times a dav
playing the outfield, and Worrying.
Early in June | felt one day that the |
arm worked more freely. that I could |
throw with less effort 1t encouraged |
me. ! kept quiet / was afraid to /
tell the boys.
But ono day I cut loose hale
a dozen times and the ball acted
as 1t used to act. Il did not
hurt me to throw. and the arm
moved freely. / rested it three
days, then tried again.
"You can imagine how happy
=
until one day Cal noticed that the
'sll was gathering speed. and that
he motion was easier. | told him
was ready for the trial. He urged
ne TO wait-and | waited and fretted.
n Cleveland he threw me in to finish
game-and | breezed through two
innings. ! guess | was the happiest
elbow in America that night.
When Cal sent me against New
York / felt worse thar | did in nv
irst big league game. ! almost had
tage fright. You see it meant every
hing to me-more than you can
suess. 7 did not pitch a good game.
did not think enough My mind
vas on what my arm was doing and
I forget batters and run
lcrs. But l held them-and that
.vening / told myself that the arm
vas right. I pitched much better
han that against the Athletics, with
pore confidence, and had more
tuff on the ball. 4.
II think the arm is almost back in
hape. 1t probably never will be as
trong as II was, but if it just good
'nough to last and let me help the
cam, the work will not be wasted
OXFORD BLANKS ST. MIcHAEL's.
OXFORD, Md, July 3l.-Some 500
ans saw Oxford shut out st. MichaePs
to 0, the visitors getting only one
,ratch hit.
SCORE BY INNINGS.
R.H.E.
[. Miehael's 000000OO-0 ,
xford .0 o O000 x-2 6 ,
AMATEUR LEAGUE SCHEDULE.
Following is the City Amateur