Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 249, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1912 — BRILLIANT RECORD OF PITCHER JOE WOOD [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BRILLIANT RECORD OF PITCHER JOE WOOD

Faris may sing the praises of Ed XYalsh, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Rube Marquard and other pitchers, but down Boston way New Englanders are taking off their lids to one Joe Wood. For the edification of anyone who doesn’t know full particulars about Joe Wood, take a glance at the standings of the American league. Wood is the man who put Boston on top. He has made a brilliant record as a dispenser of curve balls. Wood is about thb handiest man on Stahl’s club. He earns his pay. Success doesn’t seem to have turned the head of this quiet and unassuming athlete. He is always ready to help out the good cause. When lie isn’t actually warming up to pitch he is out playing some position on the team in preliminary practice or warming up one of the extra twirlers. Wood has seen service in Boston since 1908. He made a hit from the start. His specialty is a perfect drop ball." He developed as a pitcher while attending the University of Kansas. Then he joined the Hutchinson (Kan.) team. That was before he was seventeen years old. He showed great class there and was grabbed up by Kansas City, and from there he went to Boston. Since he has been in Boston he has made good. Wood said, in answer to a query as

to how he mastered the knack of curving a ball: “When I was seven years old I could curve a baseball, and I have never been shown anything; about pitching. I suppose baseball is a natural gift, for I have devised and developed every shoot and curve that I use. All through my school days I played ball, and, while often assigned to other positions, I was usually called upon to pitch the Important games.” It has often been said that Wood is a trffie too light for a pitcher, but that is not so. He stands 5 feet 11% inches, and weighs 168 pounds. It is an ideal height and weight an Athlete, especially a pitcher. In addition to being a master pitcher, Wood is an expert at all-round playing. He fields his position better than almost any other'man playing the game, especially when it comes to covering the first bag. Wood’s hitting has been an important factor in more than one game which the Red Sox have won. It is a treat to see Wood go through his preliminary work before a game. He will begin throwing straight with little speed. Then he will work his curves until he has the ball breaking to his satisfaction and finish with speed. Joe Wood has never been fined or put otit of a game by the umpires.

Joe Wood, Idol of Boston Fans.