The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-12-17
TALKING
IT OVER
BY JOE WILLIAMS
New York, Dec. II.

N/ HEN CoIIleIiuo NCNTAI4CuO'u5
w sent Howard Ehmke out to
pitch the first game of the world
series last fall he astonished the
baseball world.
Ehmke was the last pitcher any,
body figured would be chosen for
such strategically important
game. Indeed there was consider
able doubt whether he would be
used at all in the series. Prior to
the series he had not pitched for
weeks, and when the team left for
its last swing through the west the
tall Highlander was not even per
mitted to go along.
Why then did McGillicuddy decide to
throw Ehmke against the Cubs in the first
game of the World series? The answer
comes from Edward TrOwbridge Collins,
the assistant manager of the Athletics
II
"XTOU may recall"-this is Collins
i speaking-"that Connie took
Ehrnke out of a game against the
Yankees late in the season. This
was the game in which the Yankees
scored thirteen runs and Ruth hit
one out Of the park with the bases
full.
after the game Connie said to
Ehmke: That's the last game you
will ever start for us until you come
and tell me that you are ready to
pitch. You we're not ready today;
you knew it and you should have
told me so.
'Right after that series we started
west Connie told Ehmke he needn't
bother about packing. we don't need
you, he explained.
"Does that mean am not going to
pitch for you again this Year, asked
Ehmke.
ave told you how you stand on this
eIub-you wont start again for us until
you come and tell me you are ready
"XXTHEN We came back Ehmke
w put on a uniform again and
worked out. There we're two or
three spots where it looked as If
Connie could have used him, but
always the assignment went to some
one else. To all outward appear
ances Connie didn't even know
Ehnke was around, and l am pretty
sure most of the ball players figured
he was through for the year.
II
s,,,, - 3,,~4 about cinched the pennant
when Fbmke came up to Connie again to
ask II he was going to he allwed to pitch
another game for us and Connie answered
him in the same words he had used be
fore when YOU tell me you are ready
10 pitch I will use you
"The situation seemed simple enough
All Ebmke had to do TO get another
chance was to say so, but for some reason
he didn't and finally we cinched the
championship and moved on to Chicago
to get ready for the world series.
II
"T@HE night before the first game
l. Connie called me to his room
and we discussed our plans for the
next day. I haven't made up my
mind definitely on the starting
pitcher Connie said. 1T will prob
ABLY be Grove or Earnshaw unless
something turns up to cause me to
make a switch
SCI left him fully convinced that we
would start with either Grove or Earn
shaw in the box. The next morning we
had a general meeting with all the players
In Comics suite. This was at II o'clock
In the morning. 1t lasted about thirty
minutes. Nothing was said about the
starting pitcher.
IT HMKE was at the meeting.
Il When it was over all the play
ers drifted out. That is, all but
Ehmke. Connie and I were stand
ing over by a window with our
backs turned discussing some fur
ther details about the game which
was then only a couple of hours
away. 1 didn't even realize that
Ehmke was still in the room.
s'But evidently Connie did. At any rate
he suddenly turned, looked at Ehmke and
asked, is there anything you want to say
10 me, Howard?' Ehmke stood in the
middle of the room with his hat In his
hand For all his size he looked strangely
like a small boy who had come to make
= confession to his dad.
=
"T just wanted to ask if you plan
to use me at all in the series, Ehrnke
spoke.
"'You know what I told you when
] took you out of that game that
day-when you come and tell me
you are ready to pitch I will use
you
"'We1l, I'm ready to pitch, and
I'm ready right now
"'Al1 right, Howard, you pitch the
opening game today"
q
As everybody knows, Ehmke stepped out
and pitched one of the greatest triumphs
in the history of the series, not only
turning back the Cubs in the all-important
FIRST game, but striking out thirteen of
them to set = new record.