Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-02-02

TOO MUCH WORK KILLS PITCHERS

! took part in only 81 games. For a
number OF weeks he complained of
trouble with his arm, but insisted it
was a cold. not overwork The fact
that he worked in 45 games in 1910,
- games in 1911 and SO games in
1912 made it seem that Walsh was
right Walsh started the season 1919
in a most sensational manner. In the
ninth inning of the first game of the
season at st. Louis Manager Callahan
sent him into the box with the bases
filled and no one out. He did the
seemingly impossible by retiring the
next three batters on strikes. That
was the last great bit of pitching |
have ever seen Walsh perform. | UNI
pired back OF the plate in that game,
and Walsh never looked better. A few
weeks later l saw him pitch and he
seemed to have lost his stuff entire
ly His arm has troubled him ever
since and he has never regained its
proper use, despite all kinds of treat
ments to which it has been subjected.
Much as | regret to see the passing of
so great a pitcher, fear Walsh is
through. Always optimistic. big Ed
is himself beginning to lose. faith in
his ability to come back. Near the
close of last season in discussing his
chances to come back, Walsh remark
ed to me: We'll Bill, guess as a
pitcher l better Start to become an
outfielder."
Future Career Is Uncertain.
Walsh is probably through, when
with ordinary work he ought to have
five or six more years of service in
front of him. During the last five or
six years it was the exception when
Walsh wasn't either pitching or warm
ing up, getting ready to relieve some
faltering pitcher. Most twirlers will
tell you that they regard warm-up
stunts as harder on them than starting
game. Often it is necessary to work
unusually fast to get their arm timber
ed up properly, only to be told to stop
because the pitcher has worked out Of
the hble Often a pitcher warns up
and then cools off two or three times
during the afternoon 1t was not an
unusual stunt for Walsh by any
means. 1t might be truthfully said
that Walsh did about Is years ordin-
airy pitching in eight. Eddie Plank,
Chief Bender, Christy Mathewson
and a good many others were pitching
stars before Walsh broke into the
spotlight; they are still pitching, but
big Ed appears through.
I have always figured that Charley
Street worked himself out of the big
league about five years ahead of his
time. In 1906 Street caught for VIII
Transport In the Tri-state League and
worked 81 games back of the bat. The
following year he was In the Pacific
Coast, League, taking part In 154
games. He joined Washington in 1908
and gained much fame as the battery
partner Of Walter Johnson. He work. |
ed in 1928 games that year and 137
games the following year. Playing in
a hot climate the average catcher is ,
content to work about every other /
day.. Street during his first two years :
worked practically four seasons in
two. In 1910 he let. up trifle, work i
ing in So games, while in 1911 he took |
part in only II contests. Street never |
rested his arm. He was always
throwing the ball around. In 1912, |
after four years as big Lacquer, he
dropped back to the minors. In all !
respects, with. the exception of his .
arm, he was as good as ever. That i
right arm, once the fear of every base |
runner, had gone lame; they were |
running wild. 1t marked his exit from I
the big show. - -.