Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-01
BEEBE'S GREAT
WORK WAS DUE
TO HIS CONTROL
Veteran Hurler, w h o
Amazed Cleveland Fans,
Once Had the Stuff
HE FOLLOWED OTHERS
By CHANDLER d. RICHTER


blanked in the game which marked the re-
entry of the veteran into the major league
ranks.
When Beebe held the White sox TO three
hits the fans we're inclined to believe that
II was merely an accident, but after Ms
performance yesterday there is little doubt
but what the former Cardinal, Red and
Philly pitcher is back In the big show for
some time to come Prior to yesterday the
Browns had been maullng the best pitch
ers in the league, as were the White Sox
when Beebe pulled his surprising victory
Now the fans are halllng Beebe as the
greatest comeback in the history Of the
game but, as n matter OF fact, Beebe Is
not a come back, for the simple reason that
he was a great pitcher when he was per-
mtted to drift out Of the National League.
Beebe was one of the few pitchers In the
game who had too much "stun" to be sue
cessful.
This statement sounds rather odd, but It
Ia the truth, nevertheless. There have been
several other pitchers who had 80 much
stuff" that they could not make good be-
cause the ball was constantly getting away
from them" rs the bail players express 1t.
Some of tho notable examples are Fred
Toney, Harry Harper, Jack Coombs and
Grover Laudermllk.
Toney Came Back
When Toney discovered that all his won-
natural tdleHl was VI llO Ndluu uiA-
less he had control and learned to pitch to
the weakness of the batters, he became a
star twiFler Toney has not 30 much nat
ural ability as he had a few years ago, but
is a greater pitcher, and the same is true
of Harry Harper, Grlfhths sensational
young southpaw
Harper was only big, loose-jolnted
youngster when Griffith picked him. but he
had the most wonderful natural ability OF
any youngster who has broken into the
major leagues in five years. 1t availed
him little, however, as he could not control
it. Last season Griffith sent Harper to
Minneapolis where the veteran Bill Sui
lvan found a way to make Harper cut
down the break on his fast ball and curve.
The result was that Harper gained CONTROL
and while he is still a trihe unsteady. he
Is one of the most promising young pltchers
in the country today.
Beebe is following in ToDey's footsteps,
though It took him a longer time to con-
vince a major league manager that he Is
better pitcher today than he was 10 years
ago. If 1t had not been for a chance meet
ing between Beebe and friend of President
Dunn of the Cleveland Club, he probably
would have been forced back below the
Class AA minor leagues for the season.
Beebe Not Old
The impression is general that Beebe Is
we'll over the 30-year mark In age, but such
is not the case. Beebe probably Is just
about 80. though he looks older Beebe
looked old when he broke into the National
League with the Cardinals IL years ago,
but at that time he was not more than 10
years OF age, as he quit college to go into
professional ball.
Beebe was q college sensation and had
strike-out record of 20 men in a nine-in-
ming game. which mark has been surpassed
only twice In the collegiate ranks. Willie
Mitchell of Cleveland, famed 20 men while
..lSA fANs AWakA 81 H.
League. against Galveston in 1909, which
is the professional record. while Joe Conzle-
man and Mike Lynch, of Brown University.
and he traded him along with Jack Rowan,
Honus Lobert and Dode Paskert to the Phil
lies for Lew Moren. George McQullan,
Johnny Bates and Eddie Grant.
each famed 21 Columbia batsmen. Lynch
performed the feat in 1903 and Joined Pits.
burgh few weeks later, while Gentleman
turned the trick against the same team in
1911. He also Joined the Pirates. but
neither ever amounted to much in the ma
jor league ball.
After leaving Illinois University, Beebo
Joined the ST. Louis National League team.
where he pitched sensational but erratio
ball. In those days the Cardinals changed
managers SO often that the players hardly
had time to become acquainted with their
manager No attention was paid to Beebe
at that time. and he finally lost control en-
tirely.
Clark Griffith was manager of the Reds at
that time, and he thought he could bring out
Beebe's wonderful natural ability. so he
made trade for him. After one season
Griffith also decided that II was hopeless,
Phils Rode Beebe
This trade took place just prior to the
opening OF the 1911 season and was one of
the many great trades made by Charley
Dooin For time Beebe looked like a great
pitcher and he probably would have been IL
few OF the well-known riders" who played
on that Philly team had minded their own
business and left Beebe entirely In the hands
of Charley Doom and Pat Moran. who was
then coach Of the pitchers.
Doom saw that the players had lost
confidence in Beebe and that he had gone
to pieces because OF the continual riding
by fellow players, and he was sent to Buff
falo, where he remained until this spring.
II II had not been for the mad desire of
the International League magntes to smash
salaries and get rid of the ''iron-clad" con-
tracts forced upon them when the Feds
almost wrecked the league. Beebe would be
pitching in Buffalo yet
Last winter Beebe signed a contract 10
coach the University OF Indiana ball team
this spring, and wrote to President Stein. OF
the Buffalo Club. asking permission 10 re-
port after June 1, as he had an excellent
contract at Indiana Believing that Beebs
coulo not dioTu 10 give UP MS position az
Indiana, the Buffalo Club refused to grant
the leave OF absence. Beebe was told TO
report with the rest of the players or con-
slider his contract with the Buffalo Club
void.
Beebe did just what Stein hoped he
would do-remained at Indiana and told
the Buffalo president he could go TO blaEes.
In the meantime Beebe worked out with
the Indiana squad and was In wonderful
shape, He had lost a great deal OF his
stun as far back as 1918; had gained
control and was pitching with his head. A
friend OF Owner Dunn, OF the Indians, saw
Beebe working out at Bloomington, where
Indiana University Is located. and tipped
Dunn on that Beebe was a free agent ana
should be given chance, as Il would cost
the Cleveland club nothing but trainfare
After Reebe had been induced 20 join
the Indians on trial Il did not take Man
ager Fohl long 70 see that he was better
pitcher than he was 10 years ago when
he had such wonderful natural ability
In 1914 Beebe won 22 games and lost 10
for Buffalo, while IN 1915 his record vas
27 victories and defeats Amy pitcher
who can make a record Ike that IN )
class "A minor league Is good enough 10
pitch IN any league. and Beebe Is proving IL
old Jack Powell used TO say. "a pitcher
doaant know how n ulfnh nffff ~ haafs..