Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-12
DISCARDED GR|FF
Wins WITHOUT It
SouthpaW More Than Gets
BY With Change of Pace,
Speed and SaiIer.
BY GEORGE MORTALITY,

Chg League Umpire.)
IG Ed Wells, southpaw Of the
K YANKEES, has broken down the
age-old tradition of base ball
- IN effect, that pitcher must
have a curve ball to become q
MIXTURE in the big leagues.
When the prospects of a new pitcher
are being weighed. scouts, players and
omcials invariably ask: How about
ms curve ball?" If the answer is in
the negative the general belief is that
the pitcher is due for a sudden change
OF address following a brief trial.
Wells has achieved seeming miracle.
ENTIRELY lacking curve ball, he has
made the grade with the Yankees this
season, although previous trials with
major league clubs were failures.
Earlier in the season, when Manager
Higgins was desperate for pitchers, he
gave Wells a chance, and the big
southpaw came through in fine style.
His pitching has contributed much to
the second-place standing of the
Yankees. Only a fortnight ago he
pitched one-hit game against WASH
ington.
Had Small Chance.
No other pitcher has ever made more
Of a slim chance than Wells. He not
only accepted opportunity, but grabbed
1t by the neck and stretched 1t to the
limit, to make good. Hundreds Of
pitchers have possessed much more
ability than Wells, yet allowed them
selves to become lost in the shuttle,
while the tall southpaw never displayed
the least desire to give up and settle
down in minor league.
Wells was with Detroit under Cobb,
hIIt iYIcf than YHtfnhor
at the time. Two years ago, in the
Detroit Spring camp, at San Antonio,
I watched him labor ceaslessly. His
tireless efforts impressed everybody.
One Of the pitching coaches, Lefty
Leifleld, finger Of the old school,
worked overtime daily to teach Wells
the magic and mystery Of fast-break-
ing bender. But Wells had q stiff wrist
and couldn't apply the necessary wrist
action to produce curve. His best de-
velopment was what the players call q
wrinkle"
Leifield finally taught him q clever
the minor league and had great year.
The following year he was purchased
by Washington, and he went South
with that club in the Spring OF 1928.
Again he was tutored by another great
southpaw of bygone days, mick
Altrock. Altrock tried to make Wells
wrist flexible for curve-ball execution,
but finally gave up in despair.
Has Other Stuff.
However, don't get the idea Wells
"has nothing" and is getting by luckily
because he has no curve. He has ex-
cellent speed, a beautiful change Of
pace and q natural sailer. The great
teacher, experience, has taught him 10
cope with batters. Now he appears one
of the best southpaws in the major
leagues, and this is almost incredible,
as he enjoys that distinction without
the aid of a curve.
While on the subject of development
of pitchers, here comes Wesley Terrell,
young Highlander of Cleveland, right
out of clear sky, to be considered one
of the shining lights of the season.
AS far as the Terrell family was con-
cerned, the limelight was centered
around his brother, "Rick" Terrell,
catcher Of the Browns, who was flash
with the Columbus team in 1928. Wes-
lev Terrell seems to be one of those rare