The New York herald., 1921-08-14
AMOS RUSIE BACK
AT POLO GROUNDS
One Time King of Pitchers
Appointed Assistant Su-
perintendent.
BY WILLIAM b. HANNA.


From 1900 to 1921 Amos Rusie never
saw the Polo Grounds. Nineteen hun
dred was Amos Ruse's fast year with
the Giants. and from 1900 to 1921 lie
once star pitcher and one of the best
pitchers Of all time--speed like Walter
Johnson's and the fastest curve ball
extant--is now assistant superintendent
the Pacific coast. John McGraw made
the position for him.
The baseball fans of n generation ;.go
have a warm spot in their hearts for
Rusie. He was the ranking pitcher of
his time, n widely known figure in the
national sport, which hadn't grown to
such dimensions as now but was on it's
way. The wonderful every other day
pitching of Rusie and Jouett Meeliin N
1894 landed the Giants in second place
In the twelve club league of that year
and won the Temple Cup series for
them. Incidentally, Meekin, now living
In Indiana. never came back from the
hard work he did that year.
Rusie reported for his new job a
few days ago, and Miller Higgins,
Idukee IndHaEeT, Hdllncu liiH a Dhse-
ball. 80 that's the lively ball?" said
Amos. well, Il feels to me exactly
like the ball ] used to pitch In the
nineties. II it's any iivelier have no
means of telling 1t, so I'll have to take
your word for II.
II believe the bali in my time didn't
have a cork centre. II was hard enough
then to keep the other fellows from
making hits. My specdT' added the big
fellow diffidcntly. "oh. dunno. They
said had a lot OF IT,"
They also say nobody ever had as
fast n curve ball as YOU"
"Yes. they said that when ] was pitch
ing. but II isn't for me to say.
mo. can't tell what I could do
with this ball. 1t feels Just the same
as the old ones. no difference at all. but
I couldn't do anything with a baseball
now It's been good while since l
could Couldn't even throw one. Arms
gone"
Notwithstanding Rusies speed he
threw what IS known as a light ball
cnsy to catch. Cy Young threw heavy
speed. Control helped make Rusie the
cracic pitcher he was. but when he first
reported to New York he was Wild as
they came. II took him some time to
get control. and. asked how he got II,
he answered:
"Practice. practice. practice"
"I can't sec much difference In the
game now and then. either" continued
the veteran. They're doing just what
we did, the hit and run and the bunt
and all that Maybe outfielders play
back further now. You know we didn't
have the foul strike rule. and that mado
Il harder on the pitchers. They had to
pitch more balls"
Rusie is so years old with him are
associated tho names OF Dici, Buckley.
lack Warner. parlS Wilson and Duke
Farrell, All OF whom caught him. Buck
Ewing also caught him few games
Ewing, Shorty Fuller, Mike Tiernan and
Dad Clarke, contemporaries on the
Giants. have crossed tho great divide.
Rusie asked about Sam Crane. Joe
villa and o. p. Caylor. These men were
writing baseball In his time. also Bill
Norr, Dan Mills, Frank Hough Tim
Murnnne, Jake Morse George Taylor
Lou Houscman, Leonard Washburn. Joe
Campbell, John Foster, Sy Sanborn. Jim
Kennedy. Langdon Smith. George stack
house. Ed sheridan, Jack Sheridan. Rem
milford Charles Dryden. Harry Weldon.
Doc Crafty. John Gruber. Bob L.arncr
Abe Yaser and Tommy Rice.
A few of these arc stili IN the game,
some are In other pursuits & ud . goodly
number---Caylor. Washburn. Norr. Tay-
lor, Weldon. Stackhouse, Murnane.
Smith. Kennedy md Campbell--have
crossed TO the other side.
Rusie looks well----big and rugged and
hearty Time has dealt kindly with him.
and for that the older generation OF fans,
who knew him when he was one of the
games stalwart figures, win be glad.