Evening star., 1948-03-11
Fixed His Wing
By Hurting Ball
AT Wall Target
Droke Is Impressive
With Homer os Squad
Clash Is Tied at ~
By Burton Howkins
Stur Stoff Correxoondept

Stur Sfaff Correspondent
ORLANDO, Fla, Mar. l1.-When
little Chick Pieretti last walked
of a major league mound it was
in the midst of a gust of glory, for
with the bases loaded and none
out he retired Detroit's Vic Wertz
and Dick Wakefield on strikeouts,
then erased George Kell on a pop
fly. That was last August, when
the Mats l51-pound righthander
also strolled to the Briggs Stadium
dugout with a sizeable bone chip
in his right elbow, through for the
season.
Il had hurt my arm two nights
before in Cleveland while throwing
"a curve to Lou Boudreau," said
Pieretti, "but I didn't realize how
bad it was until l had to pitch
under pressure against the Tigers.
so far my arm feels great" con-
tinued Pieretti, but I really can'bI
say 1t will continue to be all right.
One doctor said to have the bone
chip removed. Another said wait
and see. 1 rested the arm for six
weeks, then practiced pitching at
home and I haven't had any pain"
The spectacle Of the dark, mus
cular pitcher firing baseballs against
stone wall may have shocked
Pierettis San Francisco neighbors,
but Chick believes it helped. Il
painted a target on a wall and
threw against it because couldn't
find anybody to catch me last
Winter" advised Chick. "I found
l could throw hard without getting
sore arm and think it helped my
control"
Has Had Little Chance.
P1eretti hasn't been elated by the
treatment he has received from the
Mats. He won q games with Port
land Of the Pacific Coast League in
1914 and in his first year In the
majors clicked off IA victories with
the Mats in 1945.
Despite that 1s45 performance,
Chick was relegated to relief roles
in 1916. He didn't start a game un-
til September % and at the time
kidded about it, saying II ought to
do all right because I'm we'll rested.
It's been 354 days between starting
assignments"
A sensitive, proud pitcher, Pieret-
ii admits he didn't like the situa-
tions in which he repeatedly found
himself. Il got into games when
the score was 80 or TO or 1873
against u.s." said Chick, land it got
under my skim 1t knocked my con-
fldence for a loop and made me
mad. f.
Don't get me wrong. though"
pleaded Chick. "I don't mind relief
work but I'm a better reliever when
I'm also starting games. I relieved
a lot in the Coast League when I
was starting regularly, but it was in
games when the going was tough.
I like competition and want to do
anything I can to help any club
I'm with but I don't like the idea Of
being used when games are hope
lessly lost. All I ask is a fighting
chance"
Crowd Recognizes Gamester.
Chick never has been accused
of loafing in his three years with
the Mats. In fact, last year at
Boston he received a memorable
demonstration of sportsmanship
when Red Sox fans gave him
heartening ovation at time when
Washington was being slaughtered.
Pieretti entered that game with
the score SO against him and the
game rapidly became ludicrous,
what with the Mats fielding afro
ciously and displaying little en-
thusiasm for the proceedings. 1t
was one of the Mats most disgrace
full exhibitions of lackluster sea-
son, but one man-Pieretti-res-
cued his club from complete dis
integration.
Chick so obviously was playing
his heart out despite the sizeable
score and the distressing actions
Of his mates that he captivated the
customers. When Pieretti left Fen
way Park after being lifted for a
pinch-hitter he heard the roar OF
an appreciative crowd. They loved
the scrappy fellow who wouldn't
quit when it was so apparent the
club behind him had tossed in the
towel
| Pieretti received his exhibition
game baptism mere yesterday as
Clyde Milan's team and Rick Fer
rell's club batted to %, six-in-
ming tie. Chick permitted scratch
single by Johnny Sullivan to launch
things in the third inning, but then
famed Al Kozar, made Gil Coan
force Sullivan. then whipped third
strike past Mickey Vernon. In the
other inning he pitched, Chick re-
(See HAWKINS, Page ca