The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-08-09
CARL MAYS
IS BOYS
Playground Youngsters Over
look His Personality
for His Style
By r. d. THOMAS.

10y Ave Os 1x1OVVAOS
Throughout the length and
breadth of this ball-playing land.
Carl Mays is called the most hated
man in the game, or was while he
labored for the New York Yankees.
He was literally kicked from the
American League despite his rank
as one of its foremost pitchers.
Seldom in baseballs history had
an individual been subjected to
humiliation as cutting. There
could have been little solace for
the erstwhile Yankee star in Gin
cinnati's acceptance of him on
waivers. 1t was a grudging trib-
ute to his prowess as a finger.
Today Carl Mays is a fairly
natti bench. He has pitched half
a dozen games or so and about
broken even.
Doubtless the once proud, too
proud conqueror of American
League batsmen uses considerable
OF that time on the bench looking
back upon other and more pros
porous days and dreaming of
what might have been had he
conducted himself differently.
"Might have been"-sad words
Indeed for Carl Mays. The
Yankees are out front with
another pennant and world
series mellon in prospect and
Cincinnati is second division
outfit.
Now. all this is leading up to
an odd fact. 1t was brought to
light today by Richard Tennyson,
director of boys activities on
Washington Fairgrounds, in the
course Of a conversation anent a
big track meet between the kids
Of Washington and Baltimore.
after a long and close observa.
ton of kid athletes what do you
find to be their outstanding
characteristic? Tennyson was
asked.
With a moments thought he re-
piled: "They are great imitators.
They initiate famous athletes, each
which athlete Is the greatest in
the sport he likes best"
(Which pitcher do the boys imi-
tate most?"
The playground director shot back
the reply:
"Carl Mays"
In view of MIR. Mays record, all
things included, in the big show,
lt was rather surprising answer.
It was confidently expected Ten.
nysOn would say: walter John.
SON."
Yet, 1t is the sad truth that Wash.
ington's army of infantile pitching
hopefulls have for their greatest
hero the most unpopular player in
the business.
But
1.-THE boys don't think about Mays
in a truly personal way" said Ten.
nyson. Its that trick delivery of
his. Nearly all of them try to mas.
ter 1t. Another odd thing. They
don't use it in an actual game.
They just practice it. They're afraid
to try 1t in regular games because
few, If any of them, can control the
ball pitched like Mays pitches 1t.
IF these youngsters Of the play
grounds Of today eventually learn
to control the ball Mays way, un.
derhand pitching will be the style
in Washington a couple of years
from now"
Tennyson is a busy man right
now. The intcr.citY track and
field meet with Baltimore, the
first ever arranged between the
two cities, will require preliminary
meets in which hundreds of
youngsters will compete for the
privilege Of representing their re-
6pective cities.
The winners of first, second and
third places in the final Washington
meet, to be held in Central stadium,
will make up the local team.
The irter."it" co"lpe'i''1n will
take place in Central stadium. AS
a rule, in intercity events. Washing
ton teams go to Baltimore.
The Nations Capital, usually a
victor over the Monumental City
in athletic affairs, has every rea.
son to hope for a triumph in the
coming spiked shoe meet. More
playground records have been
broken here this year than in any