Evening star., 1940-08-02
BY GRANTLAND RICE.

vi l1lC VI dll u u QeeT.
In the last few years any number
of batters have had harder time
in the wake of his fast ball, curve
and control.
Paul Derringer has played a lead
Ing role in the Red drive for the
last two years, despite the fact that
seven years ago he was rated all
through and on his way over the
hill. That was the year that, pitch
ing for both Cardinals and Reds, he
won seven games and lost 81, for
the meager average of .206, far below
tail-epd form.
Six years after this dashing de-
bacle Paul won Is and lost seven
one of the most startling reversals
know in all sport.
Derringer- -Durocher Trode
Good for Both Clubs
Paul Derringer was born in Spring.
field, KY. "a years ago this coming
October. HIS is around feet 4,
weighing 210 pounds.
He began unveiling his right arm
In Danville in 1927, 13 years ago.
In 1888 St. Louis traded Paul to
Cincinnati for Leo Durocher and
others now unknown. Both teams
got star men.
Mandarin Durocher, now guard
Ing the destinies of the Dodgers.
would just as soon that Derringer
had been traded to another club.
preferably Brooklyn.
Today Paul Derringer comes close
to being the best all-around pitcher
In baseball. He certainly is the
smartest.
Six years after he turned in his
.206 average with the Reds lie gave
the same city a winning average of
.78l: This upward leap of SIS points
Is close to the high-jump record of
all time. But it still belongs to Paul
Derringer.
He was on his way over the high
hill seven years ago. He had made
three World Series starts and had
lost them all. He had taken more
than his share of hammering. But
a year ago in his older age he won
rs games and he'll win Is or more
this season.
His main speciality seems to be one
and two hitters. He has been closer
to more no-hit games than any
pitcher in the trade.
Unless some peculiar series OF epi-
sodes takes place, the same Der
ringer will be heard from III loud
tones in the next World Series.
Freddy Fitzsimmons Boosts
Greet Long, Time Record
You can add the name of Freddy
Fitzsimmons to this all-star list.
Freddy was 80 years old on Sun
day. The Dodger star began pitch
ing for Muskegon in the Central
League just 20 years ago. He stuck
with the Giants for 13 years until
Bill Terry decided there was no
longer any winning stuff left in
Freddy's right arm.
So Terry traded him to Brooklyn.
This season, after 20 years of
pitching, Fitzsimmons already has
won 10 games for Brooklyn against
a lone defeat. He has the highest
pitching percentage in baseball,
Having packed away 202 ma ior
league victories, Fitz is just warm
ing up. He has an all-time life
average of 600, which is nothing to
leer at after you have been around
since 1920.
Fitz is one Of the fine characters
of baseball. He is one of the main
credits to the game that has car
ried him along into middle age
middle age as far as active compe-
tition Is concerned.
And with 10 out of II for 1910 he
now Is headed for his greatest year
1t always is cheerful note to
see these old-timers, many OF them
discarded as debris, prove that while
life may not begin exactly at 40, ii
Is far from being over at that ad-
vanced spot, even in the battle with
raw youth.
Brooklyn has one of the great
pitchers in Freddy Fitzsimmons
and Brooklyn is smart enough to
know it.
sehooIboy Is Notable Proof
Thot They Do Come Beck
The most somber line ever written
In sport was this, They don't come
back"
Nothing ever was further from
the truth. No other line ever has
had more depressing effect on
some stars.
The true fact is they keep on
coming back. We have just related
the two cases of Derringer and
Fitzsimmons.
Then there is Schoolboy Rowe
The Tiger giant was given UP for
lost some time ago. He had his big
year in Detroit six years ago-back
In 1934-when he won "a games.
In 1888 Rowe never won a Tiger
game. He was pitching for Beau
mont. He had been skidding in a
hurry. Last season he won IL
games and lost IL for the Tigers.
But the Schoolboy is another man
this season. He has been one OF
Detroit's winning factors, with the
best season he has known in many
summers. Life isn't all q bed OF
violets or a long list of winning
days.
YaIIowe Rans pra~;.r.