New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-04-16
fBY BILLY EEAES)
50 that's Wiley Moore"

|
The scene is laid in st. Peters
burg, Fla. the time Is early March
and the actors are the rookie bat
terry men of the New York Yankees.
I had just asked Miller Higgins
which one OF tho six pitchers who
were warming up was Wiley Moore,
He had pointed out big ganging
sx-footer, who showed me plenty
Of speed for so early In the year.
Hes the baby that had a tough
time last year losing four games
while winning 30. isn't he ?" asked.
Manager Higgins nodded assent.
"A fellow who can win 80 ball
games in any old league must have
pretty good stuff. He did 1t in the
South Atlantic. mighty fast or
ganization. Maybe Moore will be
just the man needed to bolster your
pitching"
Miller Higgins knows baseball,
He doesn't jump at conclusions. He
has an analytical mind. There Is n
reason for everything In baseball
with him.
I certainly hope So he replied
after considerable hesitation. He
seems to have pretty good stuff but
it's too early to get an accurate line
on a pitcher. After I have seen
him work in some real ball games
I vii have better idea Of his
worth.
Despite Mooro's remarkable
record last year. figure it is more
sensible to take a pessimistic view
OF his chances to make the grade.
His first handicap is age. al
though that mustn't be considered
too seriously Moore is ono Of
those old youngsters. He Is break
ing into the majors at 80 years OF
age. old for pitchers.
Secondly, he has been pitching
, minor league baseball for five years
and none OF the scouts have en-
Unused over his work. OF course.
scouts make mistakes like the rest
OF US, but most OF them know their
baseball.
Moore may be Just the man
needed to round ont my pitching
staff. which NJ this time is a rather
uncertain quantity. hope he is.
but the odds are against IT."
That was six weeks prior to the
opening OF the season. In that
time Moore has proved his showing
in the sally" league was no nukc.
He has already won a berth on the
Yankee pitching staff. The pessi-
| msm OF Higgins has changed to
extreme optimism as far as Wiley
Moore is concerned.
He has a great chance" Is the
way the mite manager OF the
Yankees now sizes him up; "hc
should help the Yanks a lot"
Making his career all the more
KEGS signed Moore, sight unseen.
! making the deal on his record OF
having lost only one game IN his
first q starts.
Moore is fast ball pitcher, who
/ keeps his ball low. His most effec-
y
call "sinker" This ball Is de
llvcred side arm and breaks down
much after the manner of the spit
ball. the batters usually topping 1t.
The freak break is made possible
by the manner In which the pitcher
lets the ball slide off his fingers.
There Is really no exclamation Of II
that can be copied the style being
peculiar to the individual. 1t is a
delivery similar to that used by
Ernie Shore when he was one OF the
Boston Red Sox pitching stars.
Moore Is not strikeout pitcher
He whitfield only ll2 men in the 305
innings he worked in the South At
lantic last year. He has that great
asset. control. however. to a marked
degree. He walked only 20 men
last season while piling mp his 20
wins and four defeats.