Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-03-25

GlOeSC1OneQ IN Iampa, ria, yes
terday about the Miami Daily
News inside story" of the final
game of the 1925 World Series
story that had Bobby Veach
tipping off the Pirates as to how
Walter johnson photographed"
his fast ball and curve-Bucky
Harris, who in 1925 was serving
his second year as Washington
manager. was skeptical. to say
the least. In fact. he said the
story was "the biggest joke I've
heard in years"
Jack Onslow, in 1925 Pitts
burgh coach and now manager
of the Chattanooga Lookouts,
also found bugs" in the story,
but indicated it was partially
true and that Veach was in nc
way involved.
Harris Gives Reasons.
THAT story's a joke on the
face of it," Harris told Burton
Hawkins, The Stars baseball
writer after he had been in
formed of the Associated Press
article. I'm the first place. Boz
Veach, while a good hitter, GER
tainly wasn't the smartest guy in
baseball by long shot.
ANY man who ever stepped
up to the plate will tell you that
a hitter looking for a pitchers
arm to go back a bit more to
determine whether a fast ball or
curve was coming would be in
Iviting suicide. johnson did tip
his curve occasionally by going
higher with his arm than when
he threw a fast ball, but the
fellow who took a gamble OH
that happening once in a while
was inviting DEATH"
Coach Clyde Milan, who roomed
with johnson for IA years. wasn't
present at the 1925 World Series,
but he agreed with Harris that
any one gambling on what John
son was going to throw was in
viting trouble.
No Tip from Veach.
Harris said a check with Onslow
might furnish more light on the
subject. so Onslow was contacted
by phone at Winter Garden, Fla,
yesterday. Onslow said the story
is interesting, but only partially
true.
I'VE did have the tip on John
sons telegraphing his pitches, all
right" he said, "but Veach didn't
give it to us. I'll tell you where
we got it; I got it myself just by
observing johnson pitch in those
first two games. I got it that
way. and no other way.
II did take a taxicab ride with
Veach, but I don't believe it was
after that fourth game, and 1t
wasn't from the ball park to the
hotel. but from my hotel, the
Wardman Park, to the ball park,
just before the fifth game. Hard
to remember what we talked about,
but I know we didn't talk about
johnson pitching. I already knew
about it before that.
Told johnson About 1t.
That tip really worked for us
too. because we knew what he was
going to throw every time. He was
a great pitcher, johnson was, but
we had him in that last game.
That, and a couple of other things
helped too. Errors and rain and
one thing and another messed up
the whole game.
But don't let anyone tell you
that Veach tipped me off. I picked
up that business myself. I don't
know where Carey got that idea.
I told everybody on the club about
Joknson's pitching. and if you
look it up you'll see that Carey did
all right in that last game. CThree
doubles and single in five trips,
scored three runs.)
Later on I came to Wash
ington you'll remember. about
1927. and I told johnson that
could hit him every time. He
didn't believe me when I told him
he was telegraphing his pitches,
it was the first he had heard about
it,"