The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-06-25
Big League Gossip
CHRISTY MATHEWSON


, course. any hitter Is liable To hit any
ball safe any time. but ne won't ouSI
one where he doesn't like II as tar UT
as hard as one in his groove. Al Is
great example OF what plugger can
do, q fellow who follows the example OF
! the postage stamp und sticks 10 ope
thing until he gets there.
Lurid Lew Ritchie, OF the old Cuos,
was much the same sort OF worker;
heady with a dinky curve, and he used
to get the Giants goats. He could Deaf
| our hoys-with his dinky curve and ms
head. They would come back 10 the
| bench and rave.
Well knock him out in the next IN
ming" was q common prediction
! That's the trouble with you fellows.
| McCiraw would advise. You are all
! trying to hit that ball out OF tho lot. IL
| isn't necessary st all
And. when the next Inning came
| along. during which Richie was sched-
uled to be driven 10 the shower. ne was
generally there or in the neiShoorhood
i and took his bath at tho nomal time
with the rest OF the boys.
AL Demaree worked Il nice game
J against US only the other day right here
| in our homo town. and you can bet your
roll he didn't have any help from the
! background OF the bleachers-nor never
did any place. Some OF my boys were
beefing after he beat US They de-
| flock OF horse shoes and four-lea1 clo-
rers-the old bunk.
III you used yJur heads as much as
Demaree did out there today" told
them in the clubhouse. we might be
! on the long end. You've got to study
that fellow to beat him. You cant
shoot fly with a cannon. Think l.
over. but don't take the credit away
from him."
When the bean bail was In the lime
light Il few weeks ago | pointed out It
would be very difficult to prove that
any pitcher. especially those whose de-
livery Is loose rs ashes, was tossing
them at a batter'S head Intentionally
The new rule simply serves TO make the
pitchers more careful. and. as matter
Of fact. few. II any. men In the game
| would take Il chance at cutting loose
fast one at a hilter's head. The dam
age, IL the batter were hit in certain
, spot. would be too great and might even
be fatal.
l heard Of all example the other day.
When Lew McCarty WAS with the
Brookly club. Pfeffer. the big pitcher.
! and he were the closest OF friends-and
Giants and brooklyn this season with
Prefer pitching. McCarty had to flat
ten himself three times In one game TO
keep from being beaned. TO any OBJ
server. it looked just IA if Pieffer were
cunning for the McCarty coming tower.
After the game. / understand. ne said:
Il was wild today. Lew. and you had
! ME worried. ! was afraid couple OF
those fast ones were going to bean
! YOU.
! warning from the box when he saw
; whore the pitch WAS going.
Look nut. Lew" he hollcrcd.
Seeing the boys of the old days fad
; ing out of the hig league picture re-
! calls how Jack pfeister, once the great
! lsft-hander OF the old Cubs. made his
! last stab for pigeon hole in the big
! league.
! Jack was ever Il tough one for the
| Giants 10 trim. but he began t" 20
with the naked eye. so Frank Chance
! asked for waivers on him. About this
time the Cubs came 20 New York for n
, hard series. and Jack was still with
! the team Chance was short of pitchers.
J and PfeiSter begged chance 70 work.
You cen start today. hrcid"d
| Chance. and. il sou win Ill withdraw
! my request for waivers.
This news soon spread To our benrn.
/ and We knew the old timer was fighting
| in that game for his baseball Ike. and
! lots us sort o hoped victory might
| serve as pulmotor. Pfeister was we'll
! liked He got through the lrst three
/ or four innings all safely. but about the
i the base hits were bouncing profusely
| in the outfield. Chance let him go
| awhile. but he finally walked over from
| first base. AS he left his station. he
beckoned in young ritchsr from the
| Jack he said. YOU'RE through. I'm
| sorry You can turn in your suit roll"
, 1t was one of those things In base.
! ball that makes most any follow feel
! bad. None OF those cheering hsme fans
| in the stands knew their roofing was
, Jack Pfeister's biz league obituary. rs
! he walked across the field, head down
/ at last The incident bears out what
Mctiraw has always said:
i There is no sentiment III baseball"
| Now the Pirates have cut loose from
. Schultz. one OF the last OF the old Cubs
! still in fast company. Few live over
! ten years In the big leagues.
Bill O'Hara. the former Giant. now
! a lieutenant in the Canadian army. was
attending a ball game at the Polo
grounds lately. He showed some
friends his less-badly SCARED.
Are those wounds. Bill:" they asked
/ him.
No he answered; the rate Of tho
trenches"
(Copyright 1917. by the Bell Syndicate,
lnc)