South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-08-29
MYSTERY IN BALL
FOUND BY WALSH
Curve on Which Ed Expects to
Come Back is Sure FooIer to
Many BatterS - MCGraW
Having His Troubles.
BY FRANK q. MENKE.

NEW YORK, Aug 29.-There's an
awful lot of mystery wrapped up
around that new curve ball which
Big Ed" Walsh of he White Sox
claims to have discovered. and by
means OF which he hopes to do a
comeback" after more than a year
in drydCck.
AS far as anybody has been able
to figure out, that new twister of
Walshs is a Ioo-loo Walsh himself
has explained 1t, but not in detail. To
do so would be to tip off every other
pitcher in the league. Some of Eds
teammates have told about it, but
their description of il is just as lucid
as most Of the cables that describe
the European war.
The new curve, taking ii from the
fragmentary statements concerning it,
first shoots to the left after leaving
the hand then shoots to the right
the home plate the ball stops for a
second or two. If it is a warm day
the ball pauses and cools itself off
If the day be cold the ball. after stop
ping. executes a few tango whirls so
as to keep itself warm.
Having cooled itself. or warmed it
self, as the case may be. the ball pro-
ceeds on its Journey, taking the out
side course until near the plate. pos
sibly in fear that a German cruiser
is lurking somewhere on the inside
track ready to shoot the ball to Helen
Gawne.
Provided the ball reaches the vicin-
ity of the plate in safety, it does sew
eral things First OF all it loops the
loop four times. Then il drops, or 1t
doesn't drop. 1t shoots right up into
the air. shoots across the plate or it
hits the player in the ribs. on the
dome, or on his manly buzzum, all
according 10 Edwards aim.
Sometimes upon arriving at the
plate the ball doesn't do all those
things. Sometimes-well. you know
Ty Cobb and them other fellers, Al.
John McGraw knows how Ger
many feels these days. Johns plight
is much like that OF Mgr. Wilhelm
who is trying to win the European
pennant despite some furious opposi-
ton. However. there's q difference.
While BilPs army fights and advances.
Johns army seems to be more adept
at the opposite tactics.
John has three foes besetting him
the Braves, The Cubs and the
Cards. And John realizes that he is
WIN MS SDlndl column
against the wall paper. He's un-
loosed his biggest guns. he's rallied
his men. he's cussed EN-, praised 'em
and done everything that's possible
for a good little general to do. But
his army hasn't responded to the call
of duty with any noticeable enthus-
iasm.
In other years when John was har-
assed by the enemy. he just unlim-
bered his artillery and had his three
main pieces-MathewsO Tesreau
and Marquard-shoot the opposition
full of holes. To clinch the battle.
John would lead his infantry with
drawn bats into the thick of the fray
and have them club the enemy into
submission.
But this year II seems bit DIFF
ferent. John has called on his artil-
lery hut the fire of late seems to he
shooting nothing but blank cart
ridges. As for Johns infantry, lead
by Capt Doyle. Lieut.. Merkle and
Corporal Burns we'll something
seems To be the matter with its hear
ing. John keeps yelling at 1t TO
charge. but they seem to get things
twisted and have executed a beautiful
retreat during the past few weeks.