Evening star., 1960-07-04
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ;, FRANCE, ,1Auu
How Grant Takes Woshinqton


1T DIDN'T SEEM to be too stupid question under the
circumstances specifically, do you have private
book on the SenatorS?" James Timothy Mudcat Grant
shook his head negatively. NO. man. I'm lucky and
-"
And what2 The Cleveland Highlander would need
than mere luck to 140 record in games for his ca
reer against the Washington club.
We'll, maybe the Senators try too hard to beat me-
Mudcat explained 1--WE got lot Of confidence when
pitch against Washington And maybe they got phoba
I dunno" ...%
The Senator'S he was informed maintain that a fair
fast ball and slider all that Grant has of Importance
in his bag of tricks Bob Swift WashngonS pitching
COACH was saying that his isn't much and that
cat has trouble controlling his change-up.
IF they say so" Grant shrugged "Mel Harder our
pitching coach, is working my And sometimes
get the change-up over the plate"
MUDCAT WAS sUTTING up the day after racking up
his 14th straight victory the Senator'S who never
have defeated him. It's uncanny five wins in Grants
rookie season of @ six more last year and three far this
campaign
"It's uncanny," Mudcat agreed. Actually it's comb-
nation of luck, confidence phoba fast ball and slider
Grant big last Saturday 1872, but he's also won
some squeakerS and shutouts 81 dunno why but always
seem to pitch better against Washington the pleasant
4-year Negro from Lacoochee Fla admitted Like
yesterday only walked two baters and those after
two were out and didn't hurt Sometimes walk eight
or nine and get hurt"
eefle
domination of this ball club the spoor led from the
Cleveland clubhouse to Washingons There Swift for
instance having pregame shave I'm not sure Mudcat
would be in the American League If it wasn't our club
he muttered He's losing pitcher with 1920 record
cept for us"
SWIFT, WHO SPENT most of his major league career
with the Tigers wiped the lather off his face Il
he muSed when Newhouser and Dz Trout good But
Trout couldn't beat the St. Louis Browns all Newhouse
had to do was throw his glove the field Yet Dz could
lick the White Sox and Hal couldn't"
Faye Throneberry shook his head in baffement when
the Grant hex brought up Il hardly wait get
to bat against the guy Faye confded q" hardly wait
to pop out" he amended "I always think I'm going to
crown him, then pop out"
Another stop was Joe Gordon's Office in Griffith
Stadium, TITS amazing when you think of it," Gordon
admitted although Grant has a better fast ball than
some of those Washington htters say But the main thing
is that Grants got tremendous confidence now when he
faces the Senators You know what confidence does to
pitcher"
The old second baseman saw a pitcher roll up
14-0 record against club Il of timer who
beat club % straight times Joe said His name began
with an M. Maybe it was Marberry"
1t wasn't Fred Marberry but Carl Mays who with the
Red Sox and Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Athletics
% consecutive times from August 80 1918 July a. 1928
SURE, THINK beat Washington" Mudcat
said when Gordons confidence theory relayed to him.
What else can thnkP think make 49, 16, IT, in
row.
But as said I've been lucky too They've had me
beat few times like when I'd be losing 4-3 game and
get taken out for pinch hitter We'd either tie the
or winand I'd be off the hook winning pitcher in
the clubhouse"
1t isn't any catcher who shares Mudcats magic.
1--WE pitched to Russ Nixon, Dick Brown, Hal Naragon
John Romano and Hank Foles since I've been up" Mud
cat supplied They call signals like any other club
we're playing Once in while I'll shake of sign but
I've got special book"
This is confirmed by Naragon, with Washington.
Il don't know what it is except that try too hard Hal
sald A know is that Grant gets out all our htters the
long and short knockers alike He's got pretty good stuff
See WIN, LOSE OR DRAW, Page Ais