Evening star., 1936-09-07

IF NOTHING else this waning dia-
mond campaign has served to
elevate Carl Hubbell among the
L pitching greats, as star whose
name is worthy Of bracketing with
Matty and McGinnity, Young and
johnson. Lacking the color and the
tonsils of Dean, the Giants SOUTH
paw quietly has pitched himself to
undisputed front rank this year. and
on former stars for comparison, is
quite a feat, because it involves,
among others, the irrepressible Dizzy.
Hubbeli has been recognized
before, of course, especially in
1888, when he helped to pitch
the Giants to their last PEN
nant and world championship.
The Nationals, it will be recalled,
were among those to recognize Hub
bells talents, for Carl won two games
in the 1888 series with Washington.
But Hubbell never was mentioned
with Matty and the other greats un-
til this year, when folks have noted
that he won % of % decisions and
taken the trouble to look back and
discover that Carl's been doing al
most as well all along.
An exception was a brief period
of time at the start of the 1884 sea-
son, when something happened to his
screwball. 1t was explained by many
that National League hitters were wise
70 hi that II1tNhall's
road would be harder in the future,
but it merely turned out that Carl
was experimenting with his screw
ball and a little later he came up with
an even better delivery.
Some Under All Conditions.
THE slim left-hander with the
peculiar pitching motion that
Jawn McGraw used to like so much
probably stood out more this season
than ever before and not only because
of his recent accomplishments, which
have embraced the winning of II
straight games. Earlier in the season
Hubben achieved the mark of great
ness when, almost single-handedly,
he held together Giant team that
was in the second division at the
time and showing no unmistakable
signs of rising.
The infield was q sieve, the
outfield was weak and Presi-
dent Horace Stoneham got
around to admitting the club
would have tobe rebuilt"
That was when Hubbell shone-
when the going was tough and there
were no winning streaks, no burning
spirit, and few to cheer the Giants
on. He stood out in poverty and now
again in prosperity, which for some
ball players is even more difficult
as Tom Yawkey can tell you.
You wonder why a pitcher like
Hubbell took SO long to get the recog-
milton that seemingly should have
came earlier in his brilliant career,
but the story behind Hubbell's very
entrance into the major leagues, much
less his introduction to a pitching
hall of fame, is tale of adversely.
Tigers Twice Spurned Him.
DAY PHEBUS, Washington's young
pitching rookie who broke in yes
terday, might well have taken heart,
because of Hubbell, when he (Phebus)
was released last Spring by the Tigers.
They had drafted Ray from Chat
tanooga, only to turn him back dur
ing Spring training.
But that was nothing compared to
the appraisal of Hubbell by the Tigers.
Twice they turned Carl back, Hub
bell admitting that perhaps he was
not ready the first time, but still
stoutly maintaining that he was as
effective as he is today when tried by
Detroit the second time.
In fact, is was quite by acci-
dent that Hubbell came to the
Giants at all.
If 1t were not for Houston being