Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-18
WOOD REFUSES TO QUIT WHEN ARM
IS INJURED AND WINS OVER DOCTORS
Smoky Joc Considered a Failure in 1915. viii Not Adj
nit Defeat and Cures IIimself-Now Is One of
Most Valuable Players Cleveland Club
Bv ROBERT W. MAXWELL

Discouraged when he went TO an Osteo-
path in New York. This doctor said
nerve in tho shoulder was wound around
muscle and n cure could be effected.
But he outlined a course of training
that would make an ordinary man Ii"
down and quit. Joe went through it.
however. and proved that the man who
won't hc beaten can't he beaten.
II want YOU to go every day" said
the doctor. "and pitch rs long a $ yOn are
able. ! want YOU to use your arm until
its fnps hclplcssly at your side. It will
through with it if you wish to he cured"
Wood went out to Columbia Univer-
stty. where Andy Coaliley was coaching
the ball team and worked out every day
Heroic Treatment
"I never suffered SO much in my life -
said Joe. "Aftcr an hours work | had
to reach down and lift my right arm and
stick it in my pocket. At night it panied
me so ! couldn't sleep. but the doctor
told me to keep it up and I'm glad | did.
~ the end of four weeks he refused to
take any more money from me, stating
THAT was cured and a long rest would
put me back in shape.
when Ia- rtpurt,oi 10 tine cicveiand
club last spring he tried out his arm
and found it in good shape. lie grew
TOO ambitious, however, and worked too
! hard In his first game he pitched nine
| innings and the strain was too much.
He found himself in bad again and once
more many believed his pitching days
were over.
Lee Fohl didn't send Wood con.
tract this year, but Joe came up smiling
just the same.
Pays Own Expenses
81 don't believe am all in" h'
wrote Fohl. $50 | will pay my own eX'
penscS to New Orleans to prove it tc
YOU. IL | fail to make good you viii
lose nothing, but If | am good enough
to make tho team we will talk over the
terms of a contract"
Fohl considered this a fair propos
tion and told Wood to report.
81 was surprised when Joe met VI
at the training camp said Lee. I'll
was fifteen pounds lighter than last yea
and looked to be in the best condition
He said he had been working out o
doors all winter and was stronger thai
ever before. He did little pitching II
! the start, but worked all of the time il
! the outfield or the infeld. To my mint
he is one of the greatest utility player
in the game today, and | am glad he |
| with the club He deserves lots o
credit and hope you give it to him."
Gets Real Cure
Joe's secon0 and last cure was III
real one and it happened this spring
With the team was a Doctor Drury, O
Columbus, who once was n big leagu
pitcher, but was forced to quit the gam
because his arm went bad. He made
careful study of his own ailment, an
after watching Wood for two week
asked him If he wanted to try a neN
form of exercise.
This exercise cured Wood and it nigh
be Il good thing to remember in cas-
some ailing pitcher is out of work.
Just throw the ball about fifteel
feet" said Doctor Drury, "and don
throw it hard. Keep this up for abou
ten minutes and then increase the dis
tance to twenty feet. All you want I
do is to get your arm in shape and tina
work will do it, Go through this eXer
else every day and see what happens"
Gets a Contract
Joe followed instructions and In tw
weeks felt so well that he pitched t
the batters twenty-five minutes ever
day. He was going good and Fol
handed him a contract for 1918.
aft he
Graney ruptured a blood vessel In hi
shoulder and Wood took his place In lei
field. His work was high class and hi
! batting won several games. On Thurs
day he went to first after Peters wa
! injured and made good in that position
} Perhaps Smoky doe will pitch tn
year and perhaps he wen't. He is ~