The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-11-04

Last season, q handful OF pitchers,
almost single-handedly, brought the
Robins to within striking distance
Of the National League pennant.
They finished just behind the Giants
and just ahead Of the Pirates, de-
spite a mediocre infield and a sec
ond rate outfield. Pitching alone
was responsible for the success.
This is all the more phenomenal
when It Is borne in mind that Eb-
bets Is a strict believer in economy.
Sums that are large enough to pay
off the national debt of Italy are
never mentioned in connection with
q Robin rookie. Ebbets let the Nc
Graws pay fortunes for Bentleys
and McQiillans and Nehfs. He
sticks to soup bones and asks Rob-
bic to polish them into ivory. And
Robbie does.
Nearly every pitcher Robbie has
on his staff has been tried by an
other club and found wanting.
Ruether had to be let go by the
late Pat Moran, because Moran
couldn't control him. Vance was
up with the Yanks and found
lacking in something or another.
Dick was thrown away by Branch
Hickey. Ehrhardt Was rookie.
Robbie didn't send him back to
the minors. He developed him.
How Robbie does it may never
be fully explained But story he
told may help clear up the mystery
at least in part. Robbie told it as
a story of days gone by, but it
may have lot to do with his sue
cess as coach of pitchers:
"I'll never forget the time RUDE
Marquard joined the Giants.
was coaching pitchers for McGraw
at the time. The Rube was as
green as grass. He was a funny
duck to look at, thin, gawl1y, awk-
ward. Every time he moved was
afraid he would get tangled up
in his legs and flop.
But, boy, how he could pitch!
What stuff he had. He had curves
that he could twist around bat
ter's neck. And what a hop on
his fast one! He was the class in
everyth.ng--except control. He
was wild as only left handler can
be. He looked the goods in the
bull pen. He was terror therl.
But when he came in to pitch, he
aimed at the plate and hit some
thing a mile away. And the beau
tiful part Of 1t all was that he got
worse and worse as the time went
on.
Eat first he could last four or
he was driven out right on the
Jump. One day Mac asked me
what could be done about It. He
knew his value and hated to send
him back. Besides he paid $1,000
for him, big wad In those days
and record price.
IT told McGraw there was only
one thing to do-give hirb conf.
dence. Send him in there, said,
'and let him stay no matter what
happens. Let him finish the game.
Let tho Braves-we were playing
the Braves at the time-let the
Braves get a million runs, keep the
Rube in
Mac did it that very day. The
Braves scored something like seven
teen runs. but Mac kept him i'll.
The RUDE finished the game.
But 1t was a great investment,
that game. It was a game well
spent. From that time on the RUDE
had even more confidence than was
good for him. He knew he wasn't
going to be yanked. He quit look
ing toward the bull pen every time
he went wild. He just frightened
up and pitched ball. And how he
could pitch!
He was a world beaten. He
hung up records. He was a diff,
ferent man. 1t even got so Mac
had trouble making him lose a little
OF his cockiness. But the incident
made q fine pitcher OF him.
This brings up the observation
that Robbie's pitchers finish more
games than those of any other
team, There is very little yanking.
Robbie's pitchers are always full of
confidence. They pitch in turn and