Evening star., 1917-01-14
BY BILLY EVANS.


"Aet mysterious" that is the theory
Of Nick Cullop, if a pitcher is desirous
of increasing his effectiveness. Cullop
pitched mighty good ball for the New
York Americans last year. so 1t might
be a good plan for a great many ambi-
tious twirlers to follow Nick's advice.
Several years ago. when Cullop Joined
the Cleveland club. fresh from the
bushes, he was credited with being a
southpaw recruit with an excellent
chance to make good in the big show.
In. the minors Nick had been whale of
a pitcher. Things broke badly for him
as an American Lacquer, lack of control
seriously affecting his work. Nick be-
came peeved and when the Federal
League was evolved he was one of the
first to make the leap.
Does Well With Federals.
From an uncertainty as an American
Lacquer. .Cullop in a short time was
recognized as the most consistent win
ner among the southpaws in the new
organization. His record in 1915 was
twenty-five games won and eleven lost.
more
veteran Eddie Plank. who suffered the
same number of defeats. The sudden
reversal Of form was great surprise
to those familiar with Cullop's work as
an American Lacquer. l count myself
as one of the curious who marveled at
Nicks showing.
About the middle of the 1915 season
met q number of the Federal League
umpires In New York. for their clubs
were playing in Brooklyn and Newark
= (N,UlIo
He is a great pitcher. has plenty OF
speed, q fine curve and one OF the
queerest breaking fast balls you ever
saw. Acts pretty much like the emery
ball. but Nick doesn't use any emery.
because we have given him the once
over q half dozen times. He is using
some unnatural means to get that fast
breaking ball. and we are pretty sure
he Is rouGhing the ball at the seam
with his thumb nail"
Such was the consensus of opinion OF
the four Federal League umpires l
talked with.
American Leaguers Suspicious.
When the announcement was made
that .Cullop had been signed by the
Now York Americans the players in
the Johnsonian organization began to
give Sir Nicholas considerable atten-
tion. so-called secrets of the ball field
travel quickly. and American League
managers seemed satisfied that Nick
was pulling something out OF the or
dinary. because hardly had the 1915
eraI protest over Nick's method Of
caressing the ball prior to delivering
same to the batter.
Had Cullop's delivery been batted
probably but little attention would
have been paid to his work. II was
the irony of fate. however, that Cullop
should start of by winning ten
ther Increased the string of victories
had he not suffered an injury to his
side. From the start of the season to
its close. and in his last game of the
year. culiop pitched one OF mis- bes.
RED Sox. i to in ten innings. Rival
managers and batsmen were continu-
ally arguing over the methods they
insisted Cullop was using to get his
extreme effectiveness.
In order to satisfy my own curios-
ity. and to be fair to the other clubs.
! decided to give serious considera-
batter or rival manager. Any time
n batter missed a third strike in a
pinch. II would result in a protest
on his part and a careful investiga-
tion Of the ball in an effort to deter
mine what enabled Cullop to get the
peculiar break on his ball. which the
batsman. of course. insisted was the
reason he had failed to connect For
two weeks ] did everything but use
a microscope In an effort TO see IL
cullop was using any method that
the ethics Of the game would regard
as unsportsmanlike. The balls that
! tossed out to Nick were never tam
psEed with that j could see. / soon
got tired Of looking them over. and
found the most satisfactory way was
TO Toss the ball to whoever made the
kick, and let that Individual satisfy
himself ! frankly admit that the
ball didn't always seem to me to take
the my sterious break that the batter
insisted Il did.