The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-11-06
LANkY TWlRLER
ALMOST STEALS SHOW

He was a tall, lanky guy in a
navy blue overcoat, and ne stood
on the side lines and watched the
football game yesterday after
noon. That is, he watched the
game for awhile. then he became
known and the kids and grown
ups alike gathered around, shak-
ing his hand, asking questions.
The football game was being
PLAYED out on the field, but on
the east side the crowd gathered
around the tall lanky guy as he
stood under Il tree out OF the
rain.
He was Cliff Melton and he
came over 10 watch the boys from
his former school play Hcnder-
sonville yesterday.
To practically anyone likely TO
be reading this effort, Cliff Mel
ton needs NJ introduction. But
in case this bit should happen to
get on the society page (as was
the case yesterday, some of you
ladies might ask: Who is Cliff
Melton? 49,,
Cliff Melton, my friends, is the
tall, lean. lanky Tar Heel, native
of adjoining Pennsylvania coun-
". and resident of Black Noun
tain. who pitched last season for
the New York Giants, and the
New York Giants, ladies, won the
4 ,n,r,,n
Cliff Melton is more, ladies'
and gentlemen,--he is the second
pitcher in the history of baseball
to win 20 games in his first season
in the major leagues. As far as
we know. he is the first major
league Freshman" to start
world series game.
He played football and base
ball for Black Mountain a few
years ago, and one of his first
questions yesterday was about
Everett Simpson, former Bearcat
star. and others against whom he
played.
And what does Cliff Melton
think? That Bill Terry is a grand
fellow, that Carl Hubbell is a
great pitcher, and that the New
York Yankees are plenty tough.
ladies, the Yankees beat the
Giants in the world Scries.)
Naturally, Cliff Melton is
proud to have won 20 games last
season. That is, he is as proud as
one might expect a modest West
ern North Carolina boy to be,
which means that he isn't brag-
cling. But, strange as it seems,
Cliff doesn't think he was at his
best last season. He still thinks
he was at his best and pitched ms
best ball in the season of 1884
when he was with Baltimore.
And in that season he won only
six ball games and lost 20. But,
II was better in that season" he
said, adding that Baltimore Of
ficialS thought so too, and that
on the basis of his earned run
average that year he was given
a chance with the Yankees.
Now, Cliff isn't the type to be
very critical of anybody or any
club, but he does think the Yam
KEGS failed to give him a fair
chance in spring training. How
ever. he doesn't harbor any i'll will
toward the Yankees, and de-
scribes newspaper stories to the
effect that he wanted q crack at
his former mates as plain public
ity.
How does he like Bill Terry?
He thinks "Bill is the finest fell
low in the world" Strange as 1t
seems, Terry is the man who
seems to get along better with
his boys than any big league man.
ager, yet is the least liked by the
newspapermen.
Will Terry trade Hubbell? No,
says Cliff, and he adds that Hub
bell still has plenty of stuff on
the ball. He is plenty good for at
least another season, says Cliff,
who predicts Hubbell will win 20
games next season. I'll bet a