The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-02-25
EPPA JEPTHA
RIXEY QUITE
UNUSUAL LAD
Philadelphia southpaw Can
Make Good in Many
Lines of Work.

Eppa Jeptha Rixey the star south.
paw Of the Philadelphia Nationals, is
said to be quite an unusual athlete,
being star performer In other bran.
ches OF the sport besides baseball.
Within the last few weeks he. has
been in the headlines OF the sporting
pages Of the big eastern daily news.
papers, It being reported that he was
offered for sale. This rumor brought
about a scramble between Chicago;
New York and Cincinnati for the ser.
vices Of this phenomenon. 81
Rixey is an athlete Of peculiar abil.
tiles. He is about six feet, three or
four inches, In height, and has an
awkward appearance. When Il comes
to running the bases he Is probably
one Of the slowest In the national
league. Despite this handicap Of lack.
ing speed, in addition to being one OF
the best pitchers in the national lea
que, he is OF the championship caliber
In basketball, tennis and goif.
He did not go in for football for
fear Of iniurihg his baseball arm. Be
sides being person OF remarkable
athletic ability, he is a student and
scholar OF no mean ability, holding the
degrees OF bachelor Of arts and mas.
ter OF arts from the University Of VIZ
GINA. His specially is chemistry, and
he has studied this subject far enough
that he could command quite a good
salary in case his baseball arm does
not last forever. He was first lieuten-
ant IN the chemical warfare service OF
the United States Army.
Rixey started pitching about ten
years ago over in his home town Of
Charlottesville. He is a relative Of
former CONGRESSMAN by the same name
and OF DR.. Rixey, who was Rooseyelt's
physician when the latter was presi,
dent OF the United States.
When Rixey entered the Uniyersity
that was in 1910-he was a sort Of
understudy; he didn't have class,
enough to pitch in the big games, but
did the twirling when such teams AZ
Randolph Macon College was met or
some OF the other smaller yfrrinih
colleges. And despite this fact. the
university had about the poorest base.
ball team In its history.
The next season, however, he began
TO develop into o sensational twiricS
winning Just about every game he
pitched. He attracted the attention Of
the country when he pitched no-hit
game against Rutgers College. ~
All OF this time, Rixey was PLAYING
forward on the basketball team. was
tennis champion Of the school and "A.
spare moments would drive the little
white pill over the golf links. He
did not neglect his studies, however.
receiving two degrees from the uni.
Yersity, in four years, when the orfiin.
airy student has hard time Of Il pet
ting one ma similar period of time.
Rixey's great height and long arms
served him in good stead IN basket.
ball and tennis. He could almost reacb
all over the tennis court. and be rvss
sure shot In basketball, hard 10
Diqck, ana accurate from the foul line.
IN ~ ne twirled for the University
OF virginia, scarcely losing a game
ana defeating Just about all OF the big
eastern colleges. AT that time the big
leagues began to notice him, and were
Ia efforts to line him up with
their new material. At that time
Charles Rigler probably the best nm.
pre- In the national league; was talrinz
q law course at the University. and
ne landed Rixey for the Phiilies
He began 9th them in the season
OF 1s!2, and has been doing some twiri.
ing for them ever since, except the
year or two he was in the army
AS pitcher, he has speed and
curves galore, with good head. lint
his difficulty is control. He has prob.
aoiy passed as many batters as any
pitcher Of note in the big leagues.