The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-04-29
/ ALKING
IT Over
BY JOE WILLIAMS

NEW YORK. April 29.-It Is no
~ trick to start controversies in
sport and probably the most ap-
proved formus is to step right out
and boldly assert that whoSit Is
better than whatsit. Inevitably this
will prompt someone to an agrees
Sive "oh. veah?" and the battle IS on.
You can say for instance that BIZ
Tilden is the greatest singles player
tennis has known and there Will Dc
many to argue to the contrary
rOME Of the BOYS we're punching
y the bag about baseball the otner
night and the subject of pitching
Greats came up. A former major
league star had the floor. 1t was his
claim that Walberg has the best last
bali in the game, Vance the pest
curve. .Pennock the best undernano
courve. Alexander the best screw
hau Quinn the best splitter, Hudlin
the best sinker. Rommel the best
knuckle ball and Sherdel the best
change Of pace.
80
Not ali Of his assertions went BY win
ant ouestioa. Until recently Walberg was
not distinguished especially as fast pau
pitcber. but now there are many VINO ne
usye he is without a peer in the majors
On the same star with Walberg IS LeitS
Grove and most ball players agree Grove
throws a faster ball than WaiberE. That
Vance should be listed as conspicuous
curve ball artist is surprising because lot
wears he has been the fast ball King oil
The National LEAGUE
n y
xETHEN it comes to speed Ie"
Wv others must be considered.
Two years ago when Larry Benton
was in the midst of a remarkable
season with the Giants he had plen-
tv of speed. George Pipgras OF the
Yankees can also put lot of power
behind a pitched ball. Young Fer
ren Of Cleveland has mean fast
ball and a splendid curve and on
top OF that an unusual amount Oh
pitching sagacity.
Az American League umpire said OF ter-
relI: - think he is the best looking pitch
since the early days of Cv Young and
Walter Johnson. He is one of the few
pitchers in the game today that like to
watch in action. One of these DAYS you
writing fellows viii be putting him on your
aI-time all-star teams"
II
THERE is no way to determine
J. definitely the relative speeds Of
pitchers. Some pitchers stand out
in this respect better than others.
There was never any doubt about
johnson being the fastest pitcher in
the game when he was at his best.
But whether Johnson threw a faster
pail than Amos Rusie or some of
the other old timers is mere guess
work.
Walter johnson didn't develop a curve
until late in his career. His arm began to
trouble him and he decided he ought to
have a curve to go with his fast one.
ANY pitcher who can throw a real fast
ball can develop a curve. The mechanics
of one are not great deal different than
the mechanics of the other. But Johnson's
curve was probably more of a handicap
than help. The batters used to let his
fast one go nv and wait for the curve
which was easier to hit.
ID OOT OF the Cubs is a good
N curve ball pitcher, and so is
Donohue of the Reds. Whitehill of
the Tigers has one of the best
curves I ever looked at, but for
some reason he is not able to throw
it with any consistent effect. No
pitcher ever carried a greater va
riety of curves than Pennock of the
Yanks In many respects this slim
lefthander still ranks as one of the
finest pitchers the game has ever
produced.
Il
Uhle. now of the Tigers. is star
change pace man. If he had taken the
game more seriously he undoubtedly would
have ben one of the outstanding pitchers
of all time.