Nci U Ege.Lext2 My Own Scheme of Things
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10 August 27,1938 "Mathewson didn't hesitate in his reply. He said, ' There's only one thing for a young pitcher to remem- ber and never to forget. That's that he has eight other fellows on the team with him. Any pitcher who tries to be the whole show isn't a great pitcher. By remembering that he has eight other fellows behind him he'll last a lot longer, and win more games for his club than if he tries to do the whole job himself. I know I won more games for my club and myself that way.' " Remember, young man, that's advice coming from Mathewson and not me. Just remember what he said, and everyone must respect Mathewson for what he did in base- ball, as long as there's a game of baseball." Christy Mathewson's thoughts about what makes a great pitcher and the way Judge Landis expressed those thoughts explain better than I possibly can just what my ambition is in baseball. My good fortune to become the first pitcher to achieve two consecutive no-hit, no-run games Johnny and His Family Read How a Midland Park, New Jersey, Boy Made Good in the Big Leagues. Left—His Girl, Lois Stewart. Center—His Father and Mother. Far Right—His Sister, Garherdina GeOX.E0 N97r MLITKIE PllYCZE2 Warming Up, Cincinnati's Rookie Pitcher- the Vander Meeracle Man Exhibits One— hasn't changed my ideas in the slightest. It was a feat for which I am respectfully grateful to my team- mates and all the other fates and elements that com- bined to make it possible. But those two games have to take a back seat in Nci_u_ege.Lext2 my own scheme of things. Judge Landis says one game does not make you—that not even two games make you. He's right, but there is one game that gave me my real start. I want to talk about the comoll GEOliG3 IZETEZZY afternoon of May twentieth at the Polo Grounds, New York, because if certain things hadn't hap- pened that day I am sure there wouldn't have been N OLD gentleman with white hair grabbed me The elderly gentleman who was tugging at my any no-hit, no-run games pitched by Johnny Vander by the throat of my sports shirt one day and collar and giving me the benefit of his sage advice Meer. gave me some advice, and then told me a was Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain story. I think both of them are worth repeating Landis. Johnny the Giants Killer right here at the outset of this story. He was talking about those two no-hit, no-run The old gentleman said, " Young man, remember games I pitched in June, but we'll get around to T LIKE to believe that May twentieth was the one game doesn't make you!" and he gave me a those later. First I'd like to tell the story he told me 1 greatest day in my baseball career, because I made stout tug at my collar for emphasis when he com- because it fits my case exactly. Here's the Judge's good that day in my own heart. I pitched a five-hit pleted his statement. Then he said, " Young man, yarn: shutout against the league-leading New York Giants, remember two games don't make you! It's over the " Listen to this, son. I was riding on the train to scoring a 4-0 triumph. years that count !" and then he gave me a harder Florida one time with Christy Mathewson and I It was my first complete major-league victory_ of yank with his hand and I had to give ground a little asked him what tip or what suggestion would he the 1938 season, and when the last Giant was out to keepihim from pulling my dollar-and-a-quarter give to a young pitcher just starting out in the big I felt I had arrived as a major leaguer. Until that sporte Alirt right off me. leagues. • game I still was a question mark. I had appeared in THE SATURDAY EVENING POST 11 six games, starting four and relieving in two others. short months, hat had miracles beyond his wildest me. I kept bearing down harder and harder. Sten- I had one victory to my credit, but I hadn't been dreams come true for him. gel sent up three pinch hitters in the ninth. The first able to pitch a complete game and win it. Many of the things which the world thinks now one, Kahle, grounded to Frank McCormick at first My manager, Bill McKechnie, had brought me are so important are hazy to me. I can't remember and I covered the bag for the put-out. I fanned the along patiently, bearing with me in my mistakes and for sure exactly what happened in my first no-hit, next one, Maggert, and then the last one, Mueller, wildness and forever encouraging me. I'll always be- no-run game against the Boston Bees. I even have a grounded to Lew Riggs at third base. I had so much lieve his decision to throw me in against the cham- hazy recollection of a fly ball dropping safely in the confidence in Riggs that I started walking to the pion Giants at the Polo Grounds was the result of outfield that day, but I know that isn't so because no bench even before the play was completed. long and careful planning. But whether that was one lets me forget for one minute that I'm the fellow Something happened before the first no-hit game McKechnie's psychological motive I don't know. I who pitched two no-hit, no-run games. that came back to me vividly after it was over. do know that when I walked to the clubhouse, in Trainer Doc Rohde, as usual; loosened up my arm deep center field, all the study, toil and deprivation An Arm That Didn't Need Luck with a rubdown before I left the clubhouse. I had gone through in the climb to the majors "Just give it another touch for good luck, Doc," I seemed more than worth it. DIDN'T realize I was pitching the first no-hit said to him. I said to myself, " You've made the gride, but 1 game until the sixth inning. As I went to the "No, it's perfect," Doe replied. don't let it go to your head. You've still plenty to mound Casey Stengel, Bees' manager, who once And .I couldn't persuade him to touch it again. learn and a far way to go." helped coach me in my first major-league training Now I'm not superstitious, but after the game I re- Manager McKechnie played a highly important camp with Brooklyn, said to me: " We'll get a hit called he had said, " It's perfect," and that's just part in that vital victory for me over the Giants. this inning for sure." what it was. He concealed from me until the very last minute Then George Kelley, Bees' coach, who was one of So the night I left the clubhouse to pitch against that I was to pitch. I was calmer and more relaxed my coaches last year with the Reds, took up Sten- Brooklyn we went through the same procedure. I than before any game I had ever started in the gel's chant and at the beginning of the last three asked him to rub it again for good luck and he re- majors. innings they tried to get my goat by calling my at- fused once more, saying, "It's perfect.'% I pleaded The day before, he had me pitching batting prac- tention to the fact that I had a no-hitter in the palm with him to rub it again, but this time I was hoping tice. That is usually a certain sign that a pitcher of my hand. he wouldn't. And again it was perfect. So give Doc won't work the next day. Then he allowed me to go It didn't worry or bother me in the slightest. In Rohde an assist in the psychological league for my to my home in Midland Park, New Jersey, on the those last three innings the Bees got only one ball two no-hitters. outskirts of Paterson, about twenty miles from New out of the infield. My teammates gave me added From the time I retired the first batter, Kiki York, and spend the night. confidence by the manner in which they supported Cuyler, in the (Continued on Page 41) PHOTOS BY WALTER ENCH1. ,„ggeajell.or l Isis so • of the .57 Varieties of Delivery That Won Him— Two Consecutive No•Hit, No,Run Games— and a Niche in Baseball's Hall of Fame Now I'll let Bill in on a little secret. I went fishing the morning of May twentieth, the day I consider I earned my spurs as a full-fledged major leaguer. I haven't told Bill that yet, and he won't know it until he reads it here. I hope he isn't sore. When I arrived at the Polo Grounds about noon that day I had no more idea of starting against the Giants than I had of pitching in the all-star game in July or in the world series in October. To tell the truth I had my mind on fishing.