Evening star., 1939-03-24
Only Weakened Legs
Keep Waller From
Being Top Hur|er
OIdtimer Thinks Ortiz,
Musterson Have Fine
Chances to Succeed

Chances to Succeed
ORLANDO, Fla, March 24.-The
Mats really had a fellow in uniform
today who was "as fast as johnson" 4"
He is a big, broad-shouldered right
handler with fast ball that cracked
during his first pitching workout.
In fact, he was Walter johnson.
The old measuring gauge for all
fast-ball phenoms is So years old
now and radio commentator. But
Walter put on the uniform in
which he spent % heroic years-or
the entire period of his pitching
days-and called for a ball.
He tossed dozen or so half-har
pitches while the rockies and vet
Grams stood open-mouthed and then
he cut one loose. 1t almost took
the glove off a proud little recruit
catcher named Grimes. Again, in
that lazy, incredibly smooth sidearm
motion he whizzed the ball over.
Walter threw as much and as hard
as any Nat pitcher who has been
IN spring training for seven weeks.
When it was over he mused, MY
arms all right. If the old legs only
were still good. But my arms as
good as it ever was"
Ortiz Can't Believe It.
Johnson was the object of Rookie
Roberto Ortiz's undiluted idolatry.
The big Cuban fast-baller mouth
wide open, stood fascinated as he
watched the amazing performance.
"Hees a-no peetch now?" asked
Ortiz, unable to believe there is no
place on pitching staff for the
Big Train. OOH" added Roberto,
"hees a-fast. Ball go whoosh."
Proud was Roberto when johnson
inspected him at close range as he
warmed up for batting practice. On
the hill Ortiz was not allowed to
throw hard, in the interests of get
ting batting practice over in a rea-
sonable time. But he cut loose
when Bobby Estalella got up to bat
and Johnson was impressed
Hes got hard one, all right"
commented Walter. where's this
Walter Masterson? I want to see
him, too"
Walter missed Masterson, who was
scheduled to work later, but he will
see both of them in action this
Sunday when the Detroit Tigers,
twice beaten by the Mats in ex-
hibltlon games so far, come to
Orlando. For Manager Bucky Har-
ris. anxious to continue the hopeful
attempt to make big leaguers out of
couple of amateurs in a few weeks,
has announced that Masterson and
Ortiz will divide the pitching.
Walter Was Only Swift.
johnson seems to think that both
have chance of making the jump
-Masterson from the Lambreth
Seed Co., semi-pros of Bristol Pa, |
and Ortiz from an amateur sugar
factory team from Senado, Cuba-in
one season.
They don't have to have curves
or anything, if they're really as fast !
as people say" said Walter. "Shucks,
I didn't have anything else when
I came off the Kansas farm back in
1907. was only 10 years old and
as green as these kids. I just threw
hard and got by" he added, setting
new all-time record for under
statement with the term, ''got by"
when I first reported" continued
Walter. they asked me If had a
curve ball. told them ] didn't. |
They said I'd have to have some
thing besides a fast ball and sug-
gested that wet the ball and throw
a spitball for change. I did but it |
didn't break any different from the
fast ball. 1t was the bunk. All a
fellow who can throw hard needs is
to just keep throwing hard and get
ting the ball over the plate"
Sidearm Pitchers More Relaxed.
President Clark Griffith, who had
deemed that Ortiz be developed into
an overland pitcher, sought John
sons advice on the sidearm subject.
II think he can pitch sidearm," said
Walter. He'd be awfully tough for
right-handed hitters."
But it isn't natural protested
Griff. Nobody throws sidearm |
except them sore-arm guys"
1T was natural for me- said
Walter. And for Grover Alex
ander, too"
But they amt a-coming like you
fellows any more" sighed Griff.
Nevertheless the impression was
left that further experimentation
may be made with Ortiz. With
johnson on hand to furnish both
style and example, it looks like the
time for remodeling, if there is to
be any.
Johnson maintains that pitching
off the side requires less physical
effort. He should know. TRY it
without ball." he invited. Hold
your left hand on your right shoul-
der and try both ways. See how
many more muscles seem to be put |
into severe play overland as against
sidearm."
His Legs Made Him Quit.
A sore arm was virtually unknown
to johnson. The only time he had
one was in 1920 when he caught
cold in his right shoulder. That
left IN 10 days and the next time he
pitched a no-hit, no-run game
against the Red Sox.
There wasn't anybody who had
an arm like mine" said Walter. He
wasn't boasting. He merely stated
a fact. Il threw hard today because
I knew I could do it. NY arm is as
good now as it ever was. never
needed more than three or four
days at the most to be ready to
pitch.
IT remember back in 1908 I went to
sprinp training camp. reported IN a