Show MYSTERIOUS STRANGER HAD CURVES I THAT EVEN LAJOIE HIT We were out for a morning practice in Philadelphia hia one day soon after I joined Colonel Rogers team when a atall atall tall tail angular awkward man who looked more like a sailor than an ath lete gained admittance to the park and asked I permission to Work with us said Manager Larry Lajoie L joie the theother theother theother other day It was an unusual proceeding 1 but we told him to get busy He went vent to the outfield for a 3 while and did fairly well catching Then Ohen he came In and asked to pitch to us In practice practice tice We any of us been b n hit hitting hItting ting much for a week and were glad of a chance to bat the ball in practice from a new pitcher Big Delehanty made two or three swings at the twisters the stranger served up to him and then turned around to me Nap that fellows a aringer aringer aringer ringer he said We all laughed at Dels remark but the laugh lauh 1 last I was as helpless before him that day dayas as I am nowadays before Jack Ches Chea I bros spit ball when it is working right 1 Dick Cooley was mad all U over be because because I cause he lie hit the e new tangled curves Finally we got behind the man and watched in openmouthed zigzag zi zag round the corner hide and seek curves he pitched against the grandstand It was hard to tell whether er you ou were on a ball fieldon on In the delirium tremens ward of ot an inebriate hospital hos ital What do you ou do for a living I asked him hint in amazement 4 Oh most anything he said spid Any Anything Anything Anything thing that Avill will earn me bread and but butter butter butter ter and a place to sleep Help load ships sweep crossing anything J 5 you like to t earn or a month 7 4 OH On I dont know kno he replied care carelessly carelesslY carelessly lessly Could I J You certainly could if you can pitch Ditch like that in a game ame Come out here this afternoon and Ill introduce you to Manager He was there at the appointed time and showed She its his paces Bern Bernhard Bernhard Bernhard hard Donahue and the other pitchers looked on him with astonishment He was a 3 Rube Waddell a Cy Young a aJohn aJohn John Clarkson a Charles Radbourne an Eddie Beatin and a Clark Griffith all combined in one told him to t tome come to the theoffice theoffice theoffice office next day and sign sig a contract That night we all had bad b d dreams of the pennant and of the consternation the new pitchers debut would create in the ranks of the other clubs But we never saw the fellow again He disappeared as suddenly as he ap appeared appeared appeared and as completely as if i hi hC had jumped into the muddy waters of 01 the Schuylkill Detectives hired by the club hunted high and low for him and we even advertised In the papers but we wego wego wego go no trace of him whatever And never before and never since have hax e I seen seen such a marvelous exhibition exhibition of or masterful pitching as as that unknown man in shirt sleeves and over overalls alls aIls gave gaye hat day in the presence of ot the most famous batting team ever or organized organized organized |