Evening star., 1939-12-12
Quit Even Golf 10 Save
Wing, but Says He'll
Report in Shape
Come Up Hard Way, Can
Toke 1t if He Hos to
Return to PIow
BY GRANTLAND RICE,

sore arm hadn't removed any OF
the joy of living from Ole Diz. some
times known as Dizzy Dean He still
was the irrepressible-the unbeaten.
Almost the first words my old
golf, fishing and bridge partner said
when dropped in on him in Dallas
were, For the first time in three
years I think the old arm has come
around. It doesn't hurt me a bit
now and there isn't kink left in It,"
"How much weight have you put
on?" asked the Cub pitcher.
TOO much, he admitted, much
too much. My best pitching weight
used to be from 180 to 1876. I'm now
up to 220. I've got to get rid of at
least 80 pounds and L m starting out
right away"
Diz can't afford to let much time
slip away, with 80 pounds to remove
from his tall system. He gave me
his word he'd do lot of walking and
road work, also play lot of golf,
starting at once.
He admitted that his legs were not
as good as they might be and that
only a lot of work would bring them
around
Good Legs Underestimated.
"Few people appreciate the i'm
portance Of good, strong legs for a
pitcher" Diz said.
"Of course the arm is more i'm
portant still. But those legs mean
a lot. I rear back, way back on my
right and I finish far out on my
left toes when I'm right and going
good That calls for legs in good
condition. I've been too heavy for
two years and my legs haven't been
right for two years, but this time I
hope it will be different.
This time I'm going to report
IN shape-and not try to get in
shape after I reach camp"
That sounds great" I said, 'if
you are not kidding, if you are not
too lazy"
Diz grinned. IT know I'm kinder
lazy" he said. "but I've got to show
something this year. I was so
afraid of making my arm sore that
I quit even playing golf. I'm no
220-pound pitcher. I've got to get
down to 100, anyway"
How old are you, Diz?" I asked
him.
Just 49," he said. MY old ser
geant who handled me in the Army
can prove it. I was just a kid
when I Joined the Army here in
Texas about eight or nine years ago.
I know I'm getting a little gray, but
that don't mean a thing. When
anybody likes to pitch as much as
do and always is afraid his arm
will fall off, he's liable to get gray"
Felt Something Snap.
I got Dizzy to show me where the
arm injury took place.
Fright here" he said, touching
the big muscle under his right
shoulder blade, about inches from
the tip of his right shoulder.
1T happened in Boston. I felt
something snap and it hurt. Char
ley Moran was umpiring and he
knew right away I had run into
trouble. 1t may have been what
they call bursitis, where all the juice
runs out of the muscles and the
nerves. III admit I haven't tried
to throw any baseball this winter,
but I've tried golf and it doesn't
Aurt any more to swing club. I
honestly think the old wing will be
o. X. again.
Gosh, but I'd like to have that
old fogball back-like I had against
those Tigers. You don't have to
throw 1t all the time. You lust
have to let 'em know you've got it.
III tell you a funny story" he
continued. TN my game against
the Yankees you know and know
should have shut them out, 3 to O.,
II our infleld hadn't started block
ing and tackling and turned an easy
1nfield grounder into a two-base hit
and two runs. When Crosetti came
up near the finish and we were
leading, 3 to 2, I had to pitch to
him with the tying run on first
and the count 3 and 2. I knew
Crosetti had hit only two home runs
al year. So had to put one over
with prayer. When he hit that
nome run I followed him all the
way from first to third, calling him
every name I could think of that
wasn't clean.
Crosetti Laughs OFF Insults,
I finally yelled, You dirty So
and-so! only wish I had the arm
I had two years ago and YOU
couldn't get a foul off me in two
months
"Crosetti only laughed and that
burned me up even more. I don't
guess anybody hates to lose a bali
game as much as I do"
you can prove that" I said. "bv
going into hard training, starting to-
morrow. You're on one of the hot
spots now-and you know it. Your
tough year is just ahead. You've
got to cut of 80 pounds-you've got
to build up your legs-you've got to
exercise your shoulder and right
arm, starting slowly here. You've
got the greatest pitching motion
baseball ever knew. (Which is 100
per cent true, barring nobody But
I'm not sure you'll stick to your
promise"
II swear I will" he said. Mote
II Pat, meaning Mrs. Diz, reads this,
I want her to let me know if Diz
carried through and kept his word0
Thinks He Can Win 20.
How many games do you want
me to win this year?" Diz asked.
AT least 20," said.
Il think I can do that" he an
swered-and this time seriously. Il
was afraid you were going to say go"
How about Paul and the Giants?"
! asked Dizzy.
Paul is going to surprise 'em this
year" Diz replied. Hes back in
good shape. His arm is much better.
He had a lot of stuff at the finish.
guess the Deans still are q gamble,
but this time I'm hoping we are on