New Britain herald., 1923-08-27
Speaking s g of Sports

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 It may sound funny but it's true,
 Ed Walsh of Meriden in his day one
 of the greatest pitchers that ever
 stepped on the rubber. would like to
 do a comeback. Walsh, now acting as an assistant to Kid Gleason at Chica-
 cago. feels that he could be of con-
 siderable use to Gleason, particularly
 as a relief pitcher.
 So persistent has been Walsh that Gleason has had him do considerable
 pitching to the batters. While Eds arm isn't like it was back in 1908, he still has more stuff than lot of-re- cruits who are breaking in as pitch CTS with promise.
 Gleason was so impressed with Walsh's desire for another chance, likewise with the stuff he showed while In action, that he took the mat ter up with the powers that be. Walsh won his fame as a spitball pitcher. When that delivery was. made taboo. it was agreed that pitchers using that style would be permitted to remain in the league and use the spitball until they became passe.
 Walsh was really through as spit ball pitcher before the edict barring the delivery went into effect. If Walsh was to do a comeback it was neces- sary that he be allowed to use the moist delivery. It was held that since he had passed out of the majors, re- garded as through, it would be un- fair to allow him to return as a spit ball pitcher. That, of course, ended Walsh's dream to do comeback as q relief pitcher for the White Sox.
 Pitching of today is far inferior to the brand of ten to fifteen years ago" says Walsh. In those days every club had four or five good pitchers, capable of giving the opposition a battle any time they stepped on the rubber. It's different now. Managers of most clubs have. only one ace, a pitcher in whom the manager feels he has an edge The lively ball is the trouble maker. Perhaps the old-t time pitchers would have been as ineffec- tive had they been forced to pitch the rabbit ball' now used" There is much logic in what Walsh says about the lively ball.
 Control has always been one of the greatest assets pitcher could have. It strikes me that control is more es- sential than ever," continued Walsh. When l speak of control, I don't mean throwing the ball through the'I heart of the plate, rather l have reference to control that enables the pitcher to skim the corners and keep the ball at the knee. l still think l the low ball is the most effective de- livery since there is always the chance that the batter will top the | ball and roll weakly to the infield. l am sorry they won't let me use the splitter. A couple of years rest has done my arm a lot of good. I really think could help the SoX win lot of | ball games. That isn't any bunk"
 
 H Walsh is unquestionably the great est spitbal pitcher of all time, length of service and effectiveness considered.1 The possessor of remarkable control, he could break the moist delivery at the knee all day long. The, spitball is most effective pitched knee high. Walsh started a ball game with splitter and finished with one. There were never any cripples with Big Ed" doing the pitching. He fairly reveled in being dropped into a tough spot. A great pitcher was Ed Walsh.
 The New York Giants improveH slightly last week on their perform lnce of the week before, winning four games of the seven played. Cincinnati however, continued to creep up in an manner, winning all six of the weeks games. Pittsburgh also had a perfect percentage. taking all i've played. Yesterday the Giants and ,he Pittsburgh team both won, while he Reds took a rest. Boston slumped over and lower, losing four of the six panles played. Philadelphia lost five put of six.
 In the American league, the Yankees lost slight portion of their cad, dropping four of the six games played, during the week, and also osing yesterdays game to the Cleve- and team which won three of the five weekday games, Boston added to it's
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