The daily independent., 1937-07-09
BY JAG KCUDDY

BY JAG KCUDDY
p Newark, N. j.. July 8.-U.H-
f.Atley Donald had to fight has
way into baseball because nobody
wanted him-But now he's the
Eaames brand new pitching censa-
tion.
Young Donald. tall blond fire.
ball finger of the Newark Bears
threatens to give Dean, Hubbell,
Gomez, Fellers ETC., a torrid bat
tie for their pitching laurels when
he climbs into the major leagues.
The lanky right-hander from
ChOudrant, La, has won 80 of
his last 80 start. With Newark
eof the International hague he
has clicked off 13 straight victor
les this season. He hasn't lost
game with the pennant-bound
Bear. The remainder of those
80 triumphs were registered with
Binghamton of the New York
Penn. circuit in 1886.
Il guess I'm more surprised
than anybody else at the the way
I've been going" Atley said today
as he reclined in an easy chair in
the Parkhurst hotel lobby. But
I'm lure delighted. I'll bet it's
making some certain parties in
baseball down South eat plenty
Eef crow. l mean the fellahS who
tossed me around after l got out
of college-promiSing me baseball
jobs and then crossing me out.
had a helluva time getting into
the game-had to fight my way
in"
Did Alley find it more difficult
pitching to bat, men in a double
"A" circuit than in the liver
divisions? No-he didn't. He
emphasized that it was a pleasure
to pitch with the Bears because
he was supported by excellent
felders. Often on the lower
clubs. sloppy fielding lost games
for the moundsmen-regardless
of their pitching ability.
What does Atley throw, in ad-
dition to his binding fast ball?
"Oh-I've got a fair curve" he
laid. And sometimes, for a
change Of pace, I try a screwball
against left-handed hitters. But
my Screwball isn't very depend
able. So I don't use it too much.
No-I've never had any trouble
with my arm" And he raped
on the wooden arm of his chair
Newark is a farm club of the
New York Yankees. Donald said
he hoped to be with the Yanks
next leason. Making the YankS
has been his ambition ever since
he worked out at the Yanks' st.
Petersburg training camp in the
spring of "a.
Those were bitter days for
Donald, early in "a before he
went to St. Pete. He was gradu-
ated from Louisiana Tech. In the
summer of '33. While attending
the Ruston, La. school he pitch
ed for the college nine. After
graduation, he had promising Of
ers from several Southern clubs.
But as the winter wore on, and
the training season approached,
1.-THE offers blew up-they all turn
ed me down-they crossed me up
completely"
So Donald paid his own way to
St. Pete and hung around the
Yankee training camp so per-
sistently that Scout John Nee
finally arranged for him to work
out with the New Workers.
Il guess John did it out of
sympathy" Donald added.
Anyway, Atley did well enough
at St. Pete to be sent to Wheel
ing. w. Va, for the "a season.
He won II and lost 10. With Nor
folk. Va, in '35 he won l3 and
lost IS. With Binghamton, N. Y,
in SO he won 19 and lost 9.
Il really wasn't much good until
last year." he admitted. Il al
way had plenty of speed, but l
couldn't control it. Last season
at Binghamton, I got of to an
awful start. I think I lost my
first six or seven games. Then
all of a sudden-I got control. L
don't know how 1 got it. 1t just
came to me. No, I didn't change
my delivery or practice throwing
at anything. 1t just came. After
that 1 started going places-put-
ing the ball right over the plate
lust where I wanted it. I didn't
have any more trouble"
Alleys father owns "truckin'
and cotton plantation OF about
46O acres at Choudrant. Truck
in" means fruit and vegetables,
according to Atley. Alley is "a
years old and packs 100 pounds
ION a six-foot -one-inch chassis.
Because of his altitude, he doesn't
look that heavy. He is single and
no romance yet"