Evening star., 1924-09-23
Fae of G Depends Pitching Right Hand Box Stars for Series
VII. T. w. ZACHARY.

ONATHAN THOMPSON WAL
TON ZACHARY of Alamance
~ County, Moth Ca'lina, sub, is
one of the few ball players in the
big leagues who never had any cx-
perience in the minor circuits.
Born near Graham, in Alamance
County, N. c., May 7, 1897, Zachary
never saw any professional base ball
when he was youngster, and when
he finally learned of the diamond
sport his greatest ambition was to
emulate his elder brother and be-
come a star college pitcher. That
Zachary did. and stepped right from
the varsity field to a major league
park.
Zachary was born on a farm and
still considers himself man of the
soil, never having resided in urban
communities except during base ball
campaigns. When youth he gained
fame in the central part Of the Old
North State through his performances
with the base ball team OF the Spring
graded school. BY choice he was
pitcher, but when necessary played
any position a left-hander could fill
acceptably.
He quieted the batsmen Of opposing
teams quickly and was so formidable
a hitter that opposing hurlers dread
ed to see him step to the plate. In
fact Zachary early established a rep
utation as a fence buster, and for
time was recognized as the best bats
man in his own and bordering
counties.
From the graded school team Zach
ary went TO the SaNapahaw nine of
Alamance and southpaw wed it to a
county championship. Then he en-
tered Guilford College, a Quaker in
Stitution of learning near Green's
boro, n. c., where he soon stepped
into the shoes of Ernie Shore. former
leading pitcher of the varsity team,
who had graduated into the ranks of
the Red Sox
That was in 1915 and the red
thatched Tarheel remained at Gull
ford through the Spring of 1918. He
then entered a Red Cross unit being
mohilized for service in France and
having achieved his ambition OF
starring on college mound, forgot
about base ball for a time.
But while his unit was quartered
in Philadelphia awaiting transporta-
ton abroad. our pitcher again heard
the call of the diamond. The Ath-
letcs were playing at Shibe Park at
the time. so Zachary visited there
and asked the usually saGacious Cor
nelius McGillicuddy for a trial.
Connie Gave Him a Chance.
Connie never had heard of Zachary,
but was willing to take chance
with almost any one, ball players be-
ing scarce at that stage of the World
War, and put the southpaw slabman
into a Mack uniform.
Pitching under the name OF Wal
ton. the Tarheel participated in sew
eral games and was credited with
two victories. Then came the call to
France and he sailed with the Rcd
Cross unit.
Now Zachary really had signed no
contract with the Athletics, so, after
the armistice, in November, 1915,
when he began to consider seriously
base ball as profession. he first
wrote to Clark Griffith, then man.
ager of the Nationals, seeking a trial.
He always had longed to see wash
inGton and "reckoned" he might get
d job there.
But at that he was surprised when.
in February, 1919. he received a cable
gram from Griffith ordering him to
report at the Nationals train
ing camp the next month. Now Zach
was under Army orders and had no
chanCe TO get out OF France at the
time, so he never bothered about a
reply.
But he did not forget the offer, nor
did he forget that Connie Mack had
looked him over, so when he at last
arrived in the United States on June
%. 1919, he hurriedly dispatched let
ters to Griffith and Mack Replies
came from both, Griffith's asking for
an appointment in Philadelphia on
the following Friday. and Mack's for
one day later. Zachary, Of course,
saw Griffith first and thereupon be-
came National.
Few people in base ball know
Zachary's real front names. He has
been Jezebel TecumSeh to sports
writers and fans ever since he came
to Washington. He signed his origi-
nal contract j. T. Zachary" and
Griffith failed to acQuaint himself
with the significance Of the y. T."
at the time. So Jezebel Tecumseh,
the "Tarheel," was dubbed by press
box wags. and Jezebel Tecumseh he
now is, SO far as base ball is con-
cerned.
(ThLs is the sirth of series Of ar
ticLes about the Nationals, 11hose SEN
sdtio7tdI tDork has been the outstanding
feature of the 1921 seoson)