The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-03-28

hope blasted by an error or q
count the batters' effort but
rather to. explain the luck as a
result of my temporary careless
ness.
1 pitched a game against Phila-
delphia in 1910 and with two out
in the ninth inning Frank Baker
drove q two-base hit into the crowd
on the field. 1t was the only hit
of the game and with ordinary
ground rules would have beon an
easy catch. Baker has often said
he wished he could have given
that hit back to me.
In 1916, against the Yankees. /
came close to a nO-hit game and
gain pla: ing against Detroit two
years later. In both games / held
the Opposing batters to a single hit.
In the Yankee game it was old
EEbe Oldring. once with Connie
Mack. who spoiled my hopes. In
the fifth inning he made the only
New York hit.
You must've let-up right then, !"
said a fan q few days later in the
lobby of a New York hotel.
Let up" l replied, why the
game was only half over in the
fifth. Facts are, / tried all the
harder and in the eighth inning 1
got home run. I we'll remember
how Nick Altrock, coaching at
third base, tried to hold me back.
But I kept going and scored the
run that cinched the game"
A fellow who let's up in the fifth
or any other inning is gutter.
The game at Detroit would have
been a no-hit affair had / fielded
Oscar Wits drive faster in an
early inning. took q little too
| 2 to 0, / passed up a chance to
hold the Tigers hitless. Again,
against the White Sox in 1917, I
would have scored no.hit win but
for a single by Ray Schalk in the
fifth. Red Faber was pitching ana
had I let up, against such batters
as Collins, Jackson, Weaver, Felsch
ard Gandil, Washington would
have lost the game. And it is just
such circumstances that have al
ways kept \me from setting my
heart and mind on breaking rec
ords. / believe a pitcher should
always do his level best but to go
after records means inviting dis.
appointment. And some Of US are
inclined to throw up the sponge
when disappointment becomes too
strong.
Last year 1 was credited with
a nO-hit game against st. Louis
but as rain interrupted the con-
test in the seventh inning the
honor is not complete. 1t was a
cool, dark day and 1 was in fine
shape. Only two batters reached
first base, both on balls. Always
remembering what Frank Baker
did on a previous occasion, there
is no telling what st. Louis
might have done in the two I'M
played innings.
Yet 1 felt strong enough to start
, the second game Of a scheduled
double header and believe / could
have held the Browns in the last
| two innings Of the first game.
The real no-hit game and the
| only one ] ever pitched in major
league baseball, took place on the
| afternoon OF July l, 1920, against
| the Red Sox. The game was
played in Boston and thanks to
| the great work of Joe Judge at
first base, / finally reached the
goal Of every big league pitcher
| after fourteen years of trying.
Harry Hooper hit a mean bounder
| toward first-base in the ninth in
ming that looked like a safe hit. 1t
was Boston's last chance and Joe
knew what it meant to me. He
made the play Of his life and
tossed the ball to me, as I covered
first base. Sam Rice also saved
me with a great catch in another
inning, when Foster droVa a ball
| to deep centerfield.
My little boy Walter, jr., had
been very sick and l entered that
game almost from his bedside. |
pitcher under a strain but was
mighty happy to win, although ii
wasn't much. compared to Cy
Young's record of pitching three
no-hit games, and others like
MathewsOn and Joss who had done
it twice.
Next Chapter: Walter johnson
Decides to Stick to Pitching.
| Midoaf TaaE1ne HIaeh