Evening star., 1947-06-09
Nat Pitcher Enhances
Stature in 16-Inninq
Effort al Chicago
By Burton Hawkins
stor staff Correspondent.

ST. LOUIS, June 9.-The mex
haustible patience of many men
finally is yielding dividends in the
case Of Washington's big. bronzed
Walter Masterson, who last year was
tottering on the brink of pitching
oblivion. This season, Masterson has
established himself as one of the
more respected pitchers in the ma
or leagues.
Regarded as beautiful bud when
plucked from Philadelphia semi
pro bushes eight years ago, Master
son has been late blooming, but the
tender cultivation of the 26-year-old
right -hander seemingly has been
worth the wait.
Masterson has a 4-3 record this
year, which would be more impress
sive with batting support by the
Mats, but regardless of the record
Walter is jnstifying the frequently
tested and sometimes tattered faith
of Bucky Harris and Ossie Bluege,
who have managed him; Clark Grif-
fifth. who pays him, and his long
suffering mates, who at times have
been threatened with decapitatiop
with Masterson on the mound.
Headed for Good Season.
In five full seasons and part OF
another with the Mats in a war
interrupted career, Masterson never
won more than five games year,
but this season only broken arm
apparently would prevent him shat
tering that mark. He's en- route to
his first satisfactory season and 1t
could be a magnificent one.
Masterson chucked is scoreless
innings at the White Sox yesterday
at Chicago as the Mats split a
double header, winning the opener,
10, in 18 innings and dropping the
second game. 81. Early Wynn, who
supplanted the weary Masterson IN
the 17th, received credit for his sixth
victory, but it was Walter who heard
an ovation which will linger long
among his fond memories as he
trudged from the field.
A throaty roar from most OF the
% ,629 customers was slight con-
ISOLATION for a superb pitching per-
formance in which Masterson yield
ed only six hits. When the Mats
finally mustered run after 33
successive scoreless innings 1t was
Wynn who was around to reap the
reward.
Major League Mark Tied.
The combined effectiveness OF
Masterson and Wynn figured in the
Mats and White Sox tying a major
league record for lengthy 10 games.
The last time teams travelled 18
innings to that result was in 1888,
when the New York Giants and ST,
Louis Cards staged marathon.
That game duplicated May Is
1918, struggle between Washington
and Chicago, with the Mats stirring
up a run to win on that occasion.
Yesterdays game marked only the
fourth time in major league history
that clubs had played that long to
a 10 result.
Frank Papish, who started for
Chicago. matched MaSterSonS Ell
fectiveness for 13 innings before
being yanked for a pinch hitter.
Papish permitted only five hits and
it was Earl Harrist who became the
victim of Al Evans triple launch
ing the Mats 18th.
Only One Extra base Hit.
Evans looping blow to- right field,
which Bob Kennedy failed to stab
by inches, was the only extra-base
hit of the game Sherry Robertson
followed with long fly to Kennedy
and Evans romped across with the
run that gave the Mats their first
triumph over the Sox in eight games
this year.
The Mats promptly plunged back
(See HAWKINS, Page A-15.)