The daily independent., 1937-05-20
ISSs 2Idytas -
EaAST+ ~
11 s.

New York, May 19.-lU.R)-Tak-
ing a gander at THE Gander':
Now and then certain wits
among the Chicago White Sox re-
mark to Monty Stratton, You'll
be quite help to your mother
when you grow up. Or "hows the
weather up there?"
The Chisox testers give off thee
and other be-whiskered wise
cracks because Monty is the tall
est and skinniest pitcher in the
American league.
He stands six feet five inches
in his corn plasters and scales on
ly ITO pounds. He is so thin that
only the other day Trainer
Schacht suspected a tumor after
Monty swallowed a peach pit. Hi
neck is somewhat elongated and
punctuated by g bobbling Adams
apple. His broWn-thatched head
appears a bit small for his chassis.
He looks like a drawn-out Bill
Dickey. And his mates call him
The Gander".
But the beanStalk right-hander
from Celeste, Texas, grins down
wisecracks. He knows they are ear
marked with affection. He's a gen.
ial lad, anyway, and simply bub-
bling over with health and good
spirits this 1eason- after having
tonsils and appendix removed
from office last year. And his
mound performances indicate that
he's one of the clasSiest Finger on
the circuit. He has won four out
of five this season, and will try to
improve those figures against the
Yankees tomorrow.
The Gander" will have a BIRTH
day Friday. He confided to me at
the Yankee ltadium that he Will
be 25 years old. But the record
books say he will be "a. Take your
choice.
Whatever his age, the cotton
cultivator of Celeste is a very gift
ed man. Manager Jimmy Dykes
says he is the only pitcher in the
yeague who is triple threat
BY that "Poppa" Dykes mean;
that Monty is the only one who
can hurl fast ball or curve with
equal effectivenesS-overhand, side
arm or submarine. One OF MS
most deadly deliveries is the un'
derhand fire-ball sinker.
He throws from any angle,
said Manager Dykes. And NEAR
he throws. And he's got excel
lent control, from any angle. Thai
is most unusual. His throwing
style is very much like that Of
Paul Dean. His left foot slams ou'
and down toward the batter. Ther
his glove shoots out toward thf
batter. Then the ball seems to eX'
plode out of his uniform
Jimmy is using Stratton as
regular rotator-along with Tee
Lyons, Vernon Kennedy ane
Thornton Lee. The Gander'S flint
form has meant much to th'
White Sox during the brief sus
pension of John Whitehead, wht
showed up packing too much blub'
Der and was told to go and get II
shape. Whitehead is back witt
the club now and should return
to duty soon.
This is Monty'S second season
with Chicago. Last year he Wor
five and lost seven. He was in pool
health and absent from the clut
from early June to early Septem'
Der because of tonsil and appen'
dix operations. with st. Paul II
1885. he won 18 and lost eight. II
his fir,t season as a professional
1884. he played with Galveston
and Omaha. His wife, dark-hair-
ed Ethel, was an ardent Omaha
fan.
Monty is so tall that his fee'
usually protrude beyond the bed
stead. Because of this, his mate;
ribbed him several times last year
They would phone his hotel room
about 2 or 3 a. m. and say, This
is the assistant manager. Are yot
sleeping comfortably? If not,
have a much longer bed down II
the janitor's room in the base
ment. You can come down there
and sleep. And I'll send the jan
itor up to sleep in your room
Okay?"
But the Gander would merely
humble, "AW-no, never nina.
I'm sleepin' all right. Good night.
They say he never did discover
that the assistant managers
around the circuit were not fret'
ting wrinkles about his comfort.