The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-19

Why was Gibson, q light hitter,
kept in the Pittsburgh lineup, with
so little rest? For the very simple
reason that he was an ideal receiver.
He could get the most out OF every
pitcher sent to the, slab.
There was a time when I was
catching every pitcher on the Pitts
Durgh club except Left Leifield, Z,
unused Gibson the other day. Eddie
Phelps was always behind the bat
when Leifield pitched.
7 didn't think anything Of It till
one day somebody said In the club
house that Leifieid couldn't pitch to
me. That got me sore and went
to Fred Clarke and asked to be
worked with LeifieId.
Iefffeld says ne can't pitch e
You. replied Clarke. Thai made
me even sOrer and answered that
Il !. couldn't catch Leifieid. or any
other pitcher In the business, I'd
throw down my glove and quit.
Clarke TOLD me to FIX IL M with
Leifield so went to him and said.
Did you say YOU couldn't pitch to
me? Why, you big stiff can catch
you sitting down. There isn't q
pitcher IN the game that I can't
catch and I'm going to start IN on
you today
"Afterward the boys used TO refer
to the incident as being how Eddie
Phelps lost his job. We were opens
ing q series In Brooklyn, club Lei.
field could defeat without holt trying.
Leifield was to pitch this opening
game and then come back on Mon.
day for the final game. there being
no Sunday ball in Brooklyn at that
time
Well, in the first game We xave
Brooklyn two hits and won. i to D.
On the following Monday he came
back with q three-hit victory and
after that he never pitched 10 any.
body but me.
Away went Phelps Job then ana
there. Some Of the boys used to
kid me about never getting q rest.
but that didn't bother me. I pre-.
ferred to be in that old bali eana
to sitting on the bench
Gibson, u fine, biz figure oR
. man. has been given com.
Pete charge Of the Washington
pitchers. This responsibility
VIII be his, not BusIl,s ne
! VIII keep Bush posted as "a flhp
condition Of the Fingers. n win
be Busll's task to vancouver them
against the foe.
That Gibson knows his business
from A to q Is apparent after
watching him here for ten minutes.
He cut from cardboard several large
replicaS of the plate the very first
day the hurlers began work. They
have to pitch to the plate every
time they warm up, no hit-orlnaiss
throwing, but pitching, always pitch
ing.
Gibson can keep his keen eyes on
the whole hurting staff lat once.
How he does 1t, nobody kndws. But
he does it. A brief word OF advice
here. caution there, an abrupt
warning to third, and q singing
rebuke to a fourth come in rapid
succession.
''One of you fellows said the other
day that we hardly had enough
pitchers" grinned the new coach
the other day. Five is enough, If
the five can pitch real ball. Our Job
here is to find the five able to pitch
smoothly. 1t may take while to
find the right bunch, but It can be
done.
ut ought not be such a Job,
either, when you start with such
men as Johnson. Zachary and Mo-
gridge as a nucleus of the five.
really figure I've got to find two
capable pitchers out of this squad,
and I'll find them. if they are here"
Whether pitching candidate has
enough ability to warrant his being
retained on the club will be decided
by Gibson. If he gives the whole
gang the air. which is not likely,
President Griffith will then find him
some more. having implicit reliance
upon the former veteran backstop
and manager OF the Pittsburgh Pr
rates.