Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 April 1913 — TURN LEON AMES INTO SPITBALL ARTIST [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TURN LEON AMES INTO SPITBALL ARTIST

Probably the most Important move made by McGr&w since the training season began is his decision to turn Leon Ameß into a spitball pitcher. If Ames can develop a good spitter to slice in between bis speed and famous curve ball he ought to be a very valuable man. He is working at it daily, and Wilbert Robinson !s so pleased with his progress that he wants to confine himßelf entirely to the spitter except for an occasional change in pace. This new move by McGraw is interesting, in view of the fact that until Bogs Raymond joined the Giants “Me” had always been opposed to the spitter and never permitted his

twirlers to use It. The success of Te»reau, who was changed into a spitter overnight, did much to influence the Giant manager in training other pitchers in that direction. It has been a theory in baseball that the spitball was destructive to the pitching arm, and this was confirmed by the quick decline of Jack Chesbro, the pioneer. The fact that Ed Walsh has used nothing but the spitter for years, however, and is as strong as ever, has thrown a new light on the subject. Ames has just about passed the zenith of his career, and the acquisition of a spitter certainly could not do him any serious damage. It saved Tom Hughes.

Pitcher Ames of New York Giants.