Evening star., 1943-08-01
SeweII Is an Example
OF Long Delay in
Making Bigtime
BY GRANTLAND RICE,
Special Correspondent OF The Star.

NEW YORK, July 81 IN AM -
Carl Hubbell, veteran Giant pitcher,
brought out a neat point the other
day. 1t was Carl's idea that too
many good ballplayers were left in
the minors too long, and often were
facing baseball's middle age before
they were given a big-league chance
Well give you leading example
along this line. The name is Roar
ing Rip Sewell of the Pirates, now
the leading pitcher in both leagues
Rip was born in Decatur, Ala, 35
years ago.
For the first eight years of his
wanderings Sewell pitched for
Nashville, Raleigh, Toronto, Beau
mont, Detroit, Seattle, Toledo,
Louisville and Buffalo. Rip was 80
years cid before he reported to Pitts
burgh, at an age of baseball servitude
when most pitchers are supposed to
be over the hill. Or at least facing
in that general direction.
In spite of this late start Alabama
Rip turned in 81 victories in -four
years for Pittsburgh up through
1912. A year ago, at the age of "a,
Sewell wen II games for the Pirates
Winning II games for the Pirates
last season was no kindergarten
work
SewelI Fools Frisch.
Late last winter in company with
Frank Graham and Lou Little, we
listened to Frank Frisch give out
his sobbing notes. The Fordham
Flash that winter afternoon was in
a melancholy state.
He was especially shy on pitchers.
He admitted that Rip Sewell was
smart and game, but at the age Of IS,
after so many pitching years, he
wasn't to be compared to such men
as Mort Cooper. Pollet, Wander
Nicer, Passeau, Riddle and many
others.
But the SHOWS of winter have
given away to the blazing heat of
late summer And who is in front
of the parade? A fellow by the
name of Rip Sewell, the first pitcher
in either league to win his 18th
game, the first pitcher in either
league to make 1t 10 in row.
AS Mort Cooper of the Cardinals
told me-"Rip is one of the smart
est pitchers ever saw. He can
drive nail with his control"
What we can't understand is why
pitchers such as Hubbell and Sewell
were allowed to drift around year
after year before they finally were
given big league chance.
Hubbell was a first-class pitcher
and promising prospect in 1928
and it was 1923 before the Giants
finally decided he might have
something packed away in that left
arm.
Another Major Lacquer Looms.
The same is true of Sewell. Rip
had to rove around seven or eight
years, with the exception Of a short
stay at Detroit. He had to pass his
pitching prime, before he caught on
at Pittsburgh at the age of 80. The
answer is that the minor leagues for
years have had ballplayers who were
much better than many playing in
the majors.
Which reminds me again that
many football coaches last fall were
a bit shy on using freshmen. Backed
against the wall they suddenly found
that many freshmen were nue..
better than their Juniors and seniors.
There are any number of ball
players today In minor leagues who
are much better than any number
of big leaguers.
One answer is that after the war
there should be a new distribution
Ct big-league cities. To this list you
can add such places as Los Angeles,
Baltimore, San Francisco and Buf-
talo, all major sporting centers.
The major-league situation was
set up many years ago before CEN
ters of population and sporting in
terest took a big switch. If the
present setup is continued, there is
almost certain to be third major
league.
There can be large number of
changes in the general sporting situ-
alton after this war is over. And
more than few will have to be
run in better fashion, including
most of our major sports.