The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-15
ISM a. Up to the Minute -
IVMn SPORTINGNEWsd XWH
LIgSG% From Everywhere. aZl
GroUer Cleveland Alexander
Writes of Worlds Series
NOT IN CONDITION
Blistered Finger Caused Him to
Hurt His Shoulder.
He Tells Why He Did Not Pass
Duffy Lewis.
BY GROVER c. ALEXANDER.

BY GROVER c. LEXANDER.
= lin the January Baseball Magazine,
= special number devoted to Grover
Cleveland Alexander. the seasons
greatest pitcher tells why he lost out
in the recent worlds series:
The worlds series was a disappoint-
ment to me, a disappointment no less
that ! had looked forward for five
years to the time when 1 might be
lucky enough to take part in its all
Important games 1t was disap-
pointment not so much for the result
which went against us and seemingly
by vice margin (for in baseball one
team must always lose, since both can
not be alike victors). But I am speak
ing now not of the showing of the
boys who did very well indeed and
who contested every inch Of the way.
/ am speaking of my own individual
showing. which certainly was not
what l hoped it might be
= 1t was on Labor day that we played
an important series with brooklyn.
That club was right at our heels and
Moran and the players felt, with good
reason, that n great deal depended up
on that one series.
\ Strained Shoulder.
Il was matched with Cheney, but
lately acquired from the Cubs They
scored a run off me in the first inning.
After that the game settled down into
one of those contests where neither
side will bulge an inch Cheney, while
wild, as is natural with spit ball
pitchers, was invincible- We made
not a single hit off his delivery. In
the seventh, as I remember it. how
ever, he strained himself and was
-obliged to leave the box. It was then
that our boys fell on the opposition
and drove in three runs
We began the eighth with Il two-run
lead. Moran felt that the game was
won. I hoped it was myself when
Daubert went out on the first all
pitched. But then something hap
) no - n
understand it. but in some way l
Strained my shoulder and the muscles
in my back. 1 have the bad habit of
getting q blister on my middle finger
from throwing the ball 1 remembe:'
j had Il blister on that finger Labor
day and it bothered me Conside ra bly,
The ballplayer doesn't pay much at
tention to minor injuries. but Try as
he will a twirler can hardly get the
same results from his pitching hand
when his fingers are decidedly sore
that he can when they are in perfect
trim
T Saving a Finger.
Z 1 know that I uncOnsciously tried to
shumor that blistered finger, and, in
doing so. no doubt, brought the mus
icles of my shoulder into play in an
Unusual manner, so that in pitching
fast ball to the next man up strained
my shoulder. l Immediately felt it
and couldn't seem to control the ball
so we'll When 1 put forth all my
strength ana ITleO u S1l lIG Dlll OFCA
the plate it would go outside When
i cut down a little on the stuff 1 was
serving up the Brooklyn batters would
hit me.
did not tell Moran, or any of the
boys that l had wrenched my shout
der during that Labor day game for
a long time after 1 knew they mad
enough to worry about and did not
want them to think that l was likely
to fail them in the homestretch Just
when every game counted the most.
But 1 did not feel right at any time
the rest of the season And, although
/ pitched a fortunate one-hit game
against the Braves, which clinched the
pennant as the worlds series drew
near 1 began to fret little about my
condition
1t has never been my disposition to
worry about things. but if there was
one time in my whole career when
wanted to be in my best form 1t was
during those games 1 would Wiling
" have given my share of the receipts
to have been able to pitch my team
mates to a championship of the world,
which is my answer to the oft-repeat-
ed suggestion that the ball player
thinks only of the money there is in
the game
He Mas Nervous.
They said l was nervous during the
first game. and guess I was.
The pitcher knows when he is not
right and it is very diSconcerting
Experience to find yourself, at the
critical moment you have been think
ling about for months, facing a PEN
nant-winning team with the worlds
at stake, where every
eve is watching you. and to know in
YOUR own mind that you are not in
YOUR best form. not in a position to
realize what is expected of you. That
Thought came to me with OVer-whelm I'M
ling force in the first contest, and 1 had
Ito fight against it all through the
series. Perhaps 1 allowed too much
for it.
As l look back upon the series now
II can criticise myself at times because
III was too careful. too exact. too con-
sscious of myself. When l have been
lat my best 1 have been able to get the
ball to break as I want it to, in
with little effort And l
could get my fast ball to sweep across
the plate just where I told it to go. The
pitcher can always work best when he
has to use the least thought and care.
Ny second game. and the game that