Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 April 1917 — MAKES MANY MOTIONS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MAKES MANY MOTIONS

Gene Packard Has Mastered Galaxy of Curved Slants. Pitcher's Stock in Trade Consists of Straight Overhand, Side Arm, Side and Underhand and Straight Underhand. Five different pitching motions blend in making Gene Packard’s pitching repertory a baffling proposition for hostile batters. Because he has delved into the depths of the curving craft, has mastered this galaxy of slants and is gifted with unlimited gameness, the wee southpaw oTThe Chicago Cubs ranks among the best in the rnajoia and is now running “Jim” Vaughn a close race for the “star” role on Manager Mitchell’s staff. Packard’s stock in trade consists of the straight overhand, side arm, side and underhand, cross-fire and straight underhand deliveries. Because of his unusual number of deliveries Packard is well fortified against right-handed batters as well as the left handers. -Like most -Southpaws; he has the Straight overhand motion, and with this throws a big drop curve patterned after that which made Pfiester invincible against the New York Giants of other years. In addition, he boasts a remarkable change of pace. He can snap the ball over the plate or he can hook it across the middle, using only the tantalizing floater.that made Bucker famous. Batters who faced Packard in the Federal league, as well as those who have looked oyer his benders in the National, say that this crossfire is

about the hardest thing in the business to solve. It is especially puzzling to the left-hander, for the reason he doesn’t know whether the ball is going to break away or into hijn. Packard also throws the crossfire with an underhand motion, and has a delivery that is so quick and snappy that a man at the plate hardly has time to see what is to be thrown. His fifth method of flinging is a plain side arm ball that is heaved from the shins to the head.

Gene Packard.