Evening star., 1955-07-06
WIN, LOSE OR,
DkAW By FRANCIS s1AAA
The Beechnut Curve

SPIT IS A HoRRID word It also is the one-word
answer to why Ewin Preacher Roe account as
lefthanded pitcher for Pittsburgh l94 was able
10 earn $0O0O0 during the next Brooklyn
Now that he has retired, Roe is telling all in Sports
Illustrated, and that includes unashamed admission that
ne did, indeed throw the illegal spitba Maybe the book
says was cheating Preacher explains sbut never felt
that way wasn't the only that did it, There still
are some guys wetting em up right now"
There aren't very pitchers today are deluding
the htters. Those who throw spitters well known
out proving it is something else lot of those pitchers
who have come up with sders in recent years calling
the splitter by another name
Roe himself. was clever in wetting the ball. throwing
what he called his Beechnut curves but the hters knew
what ne threw-after he threw it.
THE PREACHERS RECORD gave him away, too For
the Pirates in 6 and AT he only seven games When
he arrived in Brooklyn he began make the splitter his
money pitch In successive he 12 h 10 and %
games mute testimony that Roes splitter improving.
Pitchers feel they prosecuted race They make
much Of the legislation that favored the batters during
the last IS years. including the frequent substitution Of new
oa hveler balls, shorter fences and shrinking strike
zone Feelng as they do few hesitate t6rheat Like Roe
they don't regard themselves as cheaters.n
Bobo Newsom hung around for 20 years partly because
ne wasn't above throwing cut ball. splitter pitching
anead OF the rubber when he could get away with it. Tommy
Bridges who owned great threw spittrs instead
OF 1ast balls whenever he could wet his fingers
WHEN THE SPTTBAIL was outlawed in 1920 there were
II masters Of the pitch left and they permitted to
continue No boys could throw it, according to the
rules but there is record of anybody having severely
punished for ringing in a wet ball.
Washington may well have owed at least one pennant
to the spitba In 1925 the Senators had Stanley Coveeske
who was believed to be washed u but Covey one the
old egazed spitbaers and his stuff never worked better
as ne racked up 20 wins against only Ave defeats.
Around the American League now they are thinking
that perhaps Virgil Trucks up with pitch when
In 1853 he won 20 and lost 10 against 5-9 record
In 81 And then won 10 last season. Splitter? Could
be, shrug the batters.
IN HIS ARTICLE Roe points out that it wasn't I'D to
him to expose pitchers who still throwing spters But
before ne finished he obquey puts the finger on an old
rival, Sal Magle of the Giants.
Leo Durocher and Alvin Dark of the Giants according
Preacher protested most frequently umpes that Roe
was wetting the ball
There's one thing always wondered about where
Duocner and Dark were concerned Roe says hey
hoered at me when pitched against Sal Mage Any other
pitcher working for the Giants they'd beef about
spters; never when Sal pitched against still think
about that"
But not very hard it is likely. Mage who voluntarily
retired in 1894 when 1t looked like wasn't going any,
where, never had than five games the majors
Suddenly he came back in 9501952 reeed successive
records OF 49, 2s and 18 wins The story book tells on
Maggie is precisely the same Roes