The Washington times., 1925-02-03

Efraneely enough, took 10
catching and seemed to like it bet
ter than any other position. sack
IN Humboldt, when a youngster l
had pitched, but as my arm began
20 develop strength, the job behind
the bat was most attractive. What
i liked was that long throw to
second base. ! discovered that i
could get a ball from home plate
to second base with considerable
ereed. and it afforded me more
opportunities for long throwing
than any other position. At the
time 1 didn't realize 1t, but that
desire for long and speedy throw
ing. which catching seemed to
satisfy, was the first definite indi-
cation Of an arm that was built for
nothing else in the world but
pitching.
My father noticed my i1creas-
ing speed, and I remember hear
hlg him remark, eff The boy
can. put that bah dewIl to second
base with 20 much speed he ought
"a be q pitcher, throwing half the
distance should double his speed"
In the beginning, disagreed with
him because. what enjoyed was
not so much the use OF speed but
the long, straight throw, combined
with speed, My argument used TO
be: The throw from third to first
Is just as far and tire throw in
from the outfieId is farther, but
those players don't get as maisy
opportunities to throw as the
catcher. A catcher is always
throwing to some base, and the
throw to second base, is the INCEST
throw in baseball.
s And papa used to point out
with considerable pride "they don't
ever steal when I'm behind the
bat
But IL wasn't long before my
fathers argument won out. One
afternoon, two surrey loads Of
!. YOUNGSTERS drove up with a noisy
!. challenge. a game WAS soon un-
: DER way, and I was behind the
kplate. rs usual. The Visitors, ab-
sOlute strangers. were . smart
. crowd and pretty good players for
their ages. After using three diff
sfefont pitchers, went into the
box in the fourth, inning.
It was my first taste Of real com
Detition. I soon found there was
lust as much pleasure in whip
ming. the ball to the catcher, as in
shooting It to second base. And, a.
one after another retired on strikes,
found the pleasure even greater.
wasn't conscious OF throwing any
faster than usual. but I pitched
the remaining five innings Of the
game, and as recollect, "a dozen
OF the boys struck-out. Anyway,
we won the game and after that,
i was through with catching. My
father was right. The throw from
the pitchers box was just hat the
distance TO second-base and conse-
ouentIy greater speed was possible.
But what I lacked was control.
And many's the tomato can that
liea dented and demolished in
0iindass dust today-victim of my
for control, Facts are, /
,,sed to gather up all the empty
cans in the district. / always car
rfed q supply under the seat of my
wagon and just as soon as the noon
whistle blew, target practice start
"a. Placing a can on the edge
OF the wagon / would stand back
shout ninety feet and begin pitch
Ing. BasebaIls, even king OF the
were far too expensive,
30 inst plain. California rocks were
used instead Of halls.
, Throwing rocks, would ruin the
strongest arm in the world but I
was mighty careful. Not speed
but the development Of control was
the object OF my throwing. Rrac-
dee would last as long as the
tomato cans lasted and then I'd
climb up to the drivers seat and
eat Inyl lunch.
(Copyright 1925. by the Chrlsty
Walsh Syndicate.)
Next chapter: Rejected by =
Coast League manager after strilk.
ing-Out tWenty-seven batters.