The daily independent., 1937-07-26
Visitors Score Five
Runs In First Frame
BrumseyHalts Rally
BY JACK CUDDy


watching meditativeiy a tall raw
boned fellow who came ambling.
like a weary plow hand, across the
grassy Polo Grounds from the dis
tant green club house.
There was a direct connection
between this utterance by Cincin-
nati'S husky catcher and the man
who was approaching slowly. Be
cause that man was Lee GriSSom,
the Reds able and eccentric left
hand finger.
This is my II season as a
catcher in organized baseball, and
my 10th as a regular in the major
leagues" said 33-year-old "Spud"
Davis. Il guess I've caught for two
or three hundred pitchers in that
time. But I'm still trying to figure
out why Southpaws are screwy."
The semi-bald backstop pointed
to GriSSom and continued.
Now. you take Lee out there
for example. He hands everybody
a lotta laughs. but I never saw a
pitcher improve so much from one
season to another. I wasn't with
the Reds last year-I was with
the Cards. But everybody with this
club tells me he was awful. Had
no control. All you had to do was
stand there at the plate and let
him throw-and take your walk.
But now. he's one of the best in
either league. He's one of the best
ever caught. And when he gets
more experience he'll be really
great pitcher. That's all he needs
is more experience"
BY this time Grissom had drag
ged his body to the dugout. And
then the fun started. Little Chuck
Dresser, the manager. sauntered
over to the tall. muscular finger
from Texas and said. "Lee-you
look like you're on your way to
the hospital? What's the trouble?"
Grissom drawled, I'm thinkin
about goin' to the dentiSt-maybe
tomorrow, or the next day. l amt
never been to a dentist, but the
boys all tell me it's worse'n an
operation. So I don't feel right
perk."
Dresser. who knew all about
Grissomn's teeth, inquired, why
what's wrong with your teeth?'
wall just chewed so long
on them that 1 got couple OF
holes in the front ones. And III
have to have bridges or something
put on 'em.
The boys say oughtta get gold
or platinum. But l figure that'l
cost too much so maybe I'll just
take a little china or some steel.
Grissom appeared hurt at the
dugout chuckleS that greeted his
remarks. Dresser patted him on
the back and said. that's all right
Lee. But when that dentist starts
using those big drills on you
you'd better take gas or chloro-
form-or something. Because the
pain is awful" Grissom groaned
Davis nudged me and said
Don't think that guy is as dunn
as he talks. He's plenty smart
although he hasn't been around
much. But he knows that kind OF
talk gets laughs. And he's found
out already that pitcher OF a
player who can make 'em laugh Is
twice as popular and gets twice
as much publicity as those VINO
don't"
Davis emphasized Grissoms' ma
tive intelligence.
During the off-season he touno
out that by bending his left knee
when he throws he gets a smooth
pitch-and control Davis said
$50 he's had swell control this
wear. He sends that fast one rlght
where he wants it. And he's I'M
proved his curve. And he's learn
ling in a hurry how to pitch to
I batters-that is just where the
different batters don't like to nave
the ball thrown, when it's still a
strike. And he's swell to work
| with-accepting the signals and
things like that.
He never loses his temper on
the mound, although he's mighty
quick on the trigger when he's
running bases or off the field
He's had several fights already,
Some pitchers blow up when they
get poor support from the field
ers But not Lee. He's too smart
for that. He's big and strong and
! fast. He can pitch al day-llke
mule. With a little more ex-
perience, he'll be great"
Would he be as great as DIZZY
Dean? Davis, who used to eaten
Dean with the Cards, said you
couldn't tell about that yet. He
! didn't think Lee was as fast as
Dizzy. Then said, Dizzy is one
of the most eccentric of all pitch
ers. But he's right-hander.
And Davis replied, That's right,
but there's exceptions to all rules.
Anyway-screwy or not-Grls-