South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-17
Former Fast Ball
HnrLer Forced to
Change His Style
Red SOx Pitcher Now Using
Delivery He Was Three
Years Perfecting.
BY BILLY EVANS.

Brain is as great II not greater
than Drawn when it comes 20 pitch
ing
For a proof Of that theory the ca
reer OF Pitcher Joe Bush OF the Bos-
ton Red Sox is submitted for your
. consideration.
Bush was the sensational come
back Of the 1921 season in the Amer
lean league. after a lot Of experts
said he was through.
Joe Bush fooled the experts be
cause he called on his brain power
after his physical resources began to
fail him
Because of his terrific speed, Bush
early in his career was called Bull
] let Joe" No nickname could have
/ possibly been more appropriate.
Bush almost from his debut was
/ success. His fast ball was his main
I asset. Instead of conserving his
strength, Joe always went at top
/ speed regardless of the score.
Almost out of a clear sky Joe dis
/ covered that the old fast ball was
I losing some of it's zip" Batters
who once were, easy for him began
to take liberties with his stuff.
That caused Bush TO decide that a
pitcher needed more than speed if
he was TO continue for any great
/ length Of time as a big Lacquer. At
| just about the time Joe reached such
a decision he began TO have trouble
with his arm.
Had Very Bad Arm
| The season of 1919 found Bush
almost useless. He was unable 10
] throw without suffering great pain.
l The old speed was no longer there.
I He consulted any number of spe-
I cialists, but received little or no
| benefit. Complete rest was usually
/ prescribed as a possible cure.
During the season OF 1919 Bush
worked only nine innings, scattered
/ through three games. However. he
was in uniform most every day,
: keeping himself as physically fit as
/ possible.
/ Plenty OF time 10 think and re-
! fleet caused Bush TO do some expert
: menting Since he suffered great
pain every time he tried TO throw a
/ fast ball, Bush practiced through
! out the year throwing a slow ball
with a fast ball motion. 1t was pos
! sible for him 10 so throw without
any inconvenience.
Developed New Delivery.
/ Bush carried the experiment even
further, he developed what he calls
a fork ball" He has so named it
/ because of the peculiar way he holds
I the ball between his fingers before
delivering it to the batter.
The season OF rest seemed to re-
store strength 20 Bush's arm. He
worked more than so games in 1920.
but was unable 10 get better than an
even break. winning and losing Is.
Bush couldn't get the old stuff on
tho fast one. Because of the diff
Guilty in controlling the fork ball.
Bush didn't use it during 1920, but
constantly worked with it to develop
control
After working for nearly three
I years mastering the new delivery.
Bush started to use X in the early
summer of 1921. Batters soon OBJ
| jected. saying Bush was using a spit
ball, which he had no right TO do
The umpires. however, knew such
/ was not the case. The fork balI"
/ breaks very much like a spitbau.
Had Big Season I'm 1921.
/ The season of 1921 wac a big year
/ for Bush. after a lot of people
/ thought he was done as big
I Lacquer. His success was conferred
around the fork ball" This ball.
I coupled with his curve and fast one.
with a change of pace thrown in.
made Bush over into a new style
pitcher.
| Instead OF depending on terrific
speed. Bush stood the batters on
I their heads by mixing them up.
| Bush is again a great pitcher be-
! cause he refused TO give up when
I gloom was thickest.
When nature weakened on him.
/ he called on his brain for assistance.
The fork ball" most deceptive
/ delivery. has given Bush a threat.
which he constantly holds over the
batter. The fork ball" was the re-
suit OF three years of effort. 1t was
worth while.