The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-01-04
Two Players,
Cash in Deal
BY ELLIOTT METCAIT

itAN AtlAA lSthikts a.
coma southpaw hurler of the
Western international Base
ball league. has been sold to
the San Francisco Seals. An
nouncement was made by Jack
Quill, Tiger preNy.
The Seals outhid three other
Coast league club, to gain the
services OF the brilliant southpsw
pitcher who compiled an earned
run average Of 2ol during 1888
and won 16 games while losing IS
for a tail-end club.
Los Angeles. Oakland and Seat
tie all wanted TO buy Isekite. ac-
cording toSuil
The young giant brings two
players outright and vet 10 be
named. TO the Bengals. jus, for the
chance the Seals have OF looking
at Lefty in the spring training
camp.
Also. $500 cash accompanies
the players with the proviso that
1t slides into the Tiger treasury
for keeps. If Isekite is retained by
the Seals after the opening of the
Western Interna tionsl league 1889
season.
Tiger officials not only expect
that part OF the deal to materialize,
but look TO see Lefty make the
team as starting hurler. They
believe his extremely fast ball his
good curve and other mound assets
are ready for faster company He
is still bit shaky on control.
Isekite, % years old, whose
eth birthday will come In
April. came To the Tigers two
seasons ago at the start OF the
Western International circuit.
From the outset he was win
ming pitcher and the strike-out
king OF the loop. His effective
ness In earned run average has
been under three runs n
game. Last wear II WAS 2.O1,
when he won Is and lost Is
with a tail-end club. He struck
out 24S in 2S7 innings last
season.
The young fellow has made his
home in Tacoma from the time
he was 10 months old. His parents.
Mr.. and Mrs. Dan Isekite, brought
him here from the place Of his
birth, Missouri.
COULDN'T MAKE TIGERS
AS high school pitcher the big
kid wasn't considered good enough
for the first team. That was in
1880 But he made the Edward
b. Rhodes Post American Legion
club and then went into the tight
little Tacoma City league, where
he also made good.
He PLAYED also in the Valley,
Timber. Vancouver. Is. c.. city
and Northwest leagues. The Tim
Der and Northwest were semi-pro
circuits.
Scout Butler Of the 81. Louis
Browns grabbed the big fellow
around 1882 and hooked him
on n contract. Lefty then was
taken into the winter leagues
of California and put under
such constant work that he all
but threw out his arm. He
started a game for the Seals,
but was too wild and failed 10
stick.
He was sent to San Antonio,
Texas. when his left flippcr VAS
so sore he hardly could lift IL above
his head But he was told TO start
the opening game of the season.
He was removed before the inning
was completed
He was sent 10 Rock Island,
where an exact repetition took
place. Then. discouraged and be-
lieving his arm WAS gone, he came .
home. tried TO hurl In the CITY
league but found his arm still bad.
ARM SUDDENLY HEALS
So he did the wise thing He
laid off until the next season.
when the soreness left him almost
suddenly He joined the Van
couver club and later vent 10
Belllngham. where Tacoma OBJ
tanned him IN 1887.
Isekite gained nation wide
publicity through pitching
no-hit gam. yet losing the
contest, 2 To o. Three con
secutiye errors by the lnfield
turned the scales against Ise-
kite. Two batters gained life
on hobbies and a third hitter
sent a slow roller TO third. The
hot corner guardian heaved
the ball far OVER the first
baseman's head and there
went Lefty's masterpiece.
Isekite - a powerful younRster
who has gained confidence and
polish the last two seasons Be
sides mis- hurting ability he has
proved top flight performer IN
fielding NJ position and ls deadly
line hitter al the plate Inc KIND