The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1943-08-26

sRM leagues.
Carl Rip Sewell was
born In Decatur,
Ala.. IS years ago.
For the first eight years Of his
wanderings Seweu pitched for Nash
vile, Raleigh. Toronto, Beaumont,
Detroit. Seattle, Toledo, Louisville
and Buffalo. Rip was 80 years old
before he reported to Pittsburgh, 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
won II games for the Pirates. Win
ming II games for the Pirates last
season was no kindergarten work.
Late last winter in company with
Frank Graham and Lou Little, we
listened to Frank Frisch give out
Ills SoDDlnS notes.
The Fordham Flash that winter
afternoon was in a low and melan-
choly state.
He was especially shy on pitchers.
He admitted hat 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, Van
der Nicer, PASCAL, Riddle and
many others.
But the SHOWS of winter have CIV
en- away to the blazing heat of late
August.
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 14th game, the first pitcher
in either league to make it eight in
a row.
AS Mort Cooper of the Cardinals
told me-'Rip is one of the smart
est pitchers I ever saw. He can
drive a nail with his control"
The Mystery
What we can't understand is why
pitchers such as Carl Hubbell and
Rip Sewell were allowed to drift
around year after year before they
were finally given a big league
chance.
Carl Hubbell was a first class
pitcher and a promising prospect in
1923 and it was 1928 before the
Giants finally decided he might have
something packed away in that left
arm.
The same is true Of Rip Sewell.
There are any number of ballplay-
ers 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
Of big league cities. To this list you
can add such places as Los Angeles,
Baltimore, San Francisco and Buff
falo, all major sporting centers.
The major league situation was
set up many years ago before GEN.
tiers of population and sporting in
terest took a big switch.
II the present setup is continued,
there is almost certain to be a third
major league.
There can be a large number of
changes in the general sporting stu
alton after this war is over.
Left Handed Golfers
In this midsummer season it is
easy enough to start an argument.
Especially camp arguments. The
latest one that has broken out. or
rather has been renewed, is whether
the right handler or the left handler
has a better average in sport.
There r more right handlers
than left handlers, so the former get
the jump when it comes to quantity.
The quality side can stand a brief
debate.
Different games have different an
SHoAPASs uo & udluCE
that I al recall has ever Won a
National Open Dr. a National Anna
teur golf championship.
There are and have been good
left handed golfers. But no Bobby
Jones, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen,
Byron Nelson or Ben Hogan.
No one has been able to explain
this peculiar side of golf. 1t just
happens that way. You would think
that once in a while, at least, a left
handed golfer would slip in and nip
off a big title.
It hasn't happened yet.
Baseball is entirely different.
Here the proud southpaw can hold
his own in either hitting or pitching.
Nb,rpiopcbip fappic b,c Lno,