CHAPTER XX
JOE'S TRIUMPH
Then began a lesson, the learning of which proved of great value to Joein his after life as a ball player. If Old Pop Dutton had not the nerveto "come back" as a pitcher in a big league, at least he could show arising young one how to correct his faults. And a fault Joe certainlyhad.
For several years he had been throwing the fade-away ball in the wrongmanner. Not entirely wrong, to be sure, or he never would have attainedthe results he had, but it was sufficiently wrong to prevent him fromhaving perfect control of that style of ball, and perfect control is thefirst law of pitching.
For some time the two practiced, unobserved, and Joe was glad of this.He felt more hopeful than at any time since his team had commenced to"slump."
"Am I getting there?" Joe anxiously asked of the veteran, one day.
"Indeed you are, boy! But that's enough for to-day. You are using somenew muscles in your arm and hand, and I don't want you to tire out.You'll probably have to pitch to-morrow."
"I only wish I could use this style ball."
"It wouldn't be safe yet."
"No, I suppose not. But I'm going to keep at it."
It was not easy. It is always more difficult to "unlearn" a wrong way ofdoing a thing, and start over again on the right, than it is to learnthe proper way at first. The old method will crop up most unexpectedly;and this happened in Joe's case more times than he liked.
But he persisted and gradually he felt that he was able to deliver thefade-away as it ought to come from a pitcher's hand. Now he waited theopportunity.
Meanwhile baseball matters were going on in rather slow fashion. All theteams, after the fierce rush and enthusiasm of the opening season, hadnow begun to fall off. The dog-days were upon them, and the heat seemedto take all the energy out of the men.
Still the games went on, with Pittston rising and falling on thebaseball thermometer from fourth to second place and occasionallyremaining stationary in third. First place was within striking distanceseveral times, but always something seemed to happen to keep Joe's teamback.
It was not always poor playing, though occasionally it was due to this.Often it was just fate, luck, or whatever you want to call it. Fielderswould be almost certain of a ball rolling toward them, then it wouldstrike a stone or a clod of dirt and roll to one side.
Not much, perhaps, but enough so that the man would miss the ball, andthe runner would be safe, by a fraction of time or space. It washeart-breaking.
Joe continued to work at the proper fade-away and he was getting moreand more expert in its use. His control was almost perfect. Still hehesitated to use it in a game, for he wanted to be perfect.
A new pitcher--another south-paw, or left-hander--was purchased fromanother league club, at a high price, and for a time he made good. Joewas fearful lest he be given his release, for really he was not doing aswell as he had at first. Truth to tell he was tired out, and Gregoryshould have realized this.
But he did not until one day a sporting writer, in a sensible articletelling of the chances of the different teams in the Central League forwinning the pennant, wrote of Joe:
"This young pitcher, of whom bright things were predicted at the openingof the season, has fallen off woefully. At times he shows brilliantflashes of form, but it seems to me that he is going stale. Gregoryshould give him a few days off."
Then the manager "woke up."
"Joe, is this true?" he asked, showing the youth the article.
"Well, I am a bit tired, Gregory, but I'm not asking for a vacation,"answered Joe.
"I know you're not, but you're going to get it. You just take a run homeand see your folks. When you come back I'm going to pitch you in aseries of our hardest games. We go up against Clevefield again. You takea rest."
Joe objected, but half-heartedly, and ended by taking the train forhome.
His heart felt lighter the moment he had started, and when he got toRiverside, and found his father much improved, Joe was more like himselfthan at any time since the opening of the ball season. His folks wereexceedingly glad to see him, and Joe went about town, renewing oldacquaintances, and being treated as a sort of local lion.
Tom Davis, Joe's chum, looked at the young pitcher closely.
"Joe," he said, "you're getting thin. Either you're in love, or youaren't making good."
"Both, I guess," answered Joe, with a short laugh. "But I'm going tomake good very soon. You watch the papers."
Joe rejoined his team with a sparkle in his eye and a spring in his stepthat told how much good the little vacation had done him. He was warmlywelcomed back--only Collin showing no joy.
Truth to tell Collin had been doing some wonderful pitching those lastfew days, and he was winning games for the team. The advent of Joe gavehim little pleasure, for none knew better than he on how slim a margin apitcher works, nor how easily he may be displaced, not only in theaffection of the public, always fickle, but in the estimation of themanager.
"Hang him! I wish he'd stayed away!" muttered Collin. "Now he's freshand he may get my place again. But I'll find a way to stop him, ifGregory gives him the preference!"
Joe went back at practice with renewed hope. He took Gregory and thecatchers into his confidence, and explained about the fade-away. Theywere enthusiastic over it.
"Save it for Clevefield," advised the manager.
The day when Pittston was to play the top-notchers arrived. There wereto be four games on Pittston's grounds, and for the first time since hisreformation began, Pop Dutton was allowed to play in an importantcontest.
"I'm depending on you," Gregory warned him.
"And you won't be disappointed," was the reply. Certainly the old playerhad improved greatly. His eyes were bright and his skin ruddy andclear.
Joe was a bit nonplussed when Collin was sent in for the opening game.But he knew Gregory had his reasons. And perhaps it was wise, for Collinwas always at his best when he could deliver the first ball, and openthe game.
Clevefield was shut out in the first inning, and, to the howling delightof the crowd of Pittston sympathizers and "fans," the home team got arun.
This gave the players much-needed confidence, and though the visitorsmanaged to tie the score in their half of the second inning, Pittstonwent right after them, and got two more tallies.
"We're going to win, Joe!" cried Charlie Hall. "We're going to win. Ourhoodoo is busted!"
"I hope so," said the young pitcher, wishing he had a chance to play.
It came sooner than he expected. Collin unexpectedly "blew up," and hadto be taken out of the box. Joe was called on, at the proper time, andwalked nervously to the mound. But he knew he must conquer this feelingand he looked at Nelson, who was catching. The back-stop smiled, andsignalled for a fade-away, but Joe shook his head.
He was not quite ready for that ball yet.
By using straight, swift balls, interspersed with ins and drops, hefooled the batter into striking out. The next man went out on a popfly, and Joe teased the third man into striking at an elusive out.Clevefield was retired runless and the ovation to Pittston grew.
But it was not all to be as easy as this. Joe found himself in a tightplace, and then, with a catching of his breath, he signalled that hewould use the fade-away.
In it shot--the batter smiled confidently--struck--and missed. He did ittwice before he realized what was happening, and then when Joe felt surethat his next fade-away would be hit, he swiftly changed to an up-shootthat ended the matter.
Clevefield fought hard, and once when Joe was hit for a long fly, thatseemed good for at least two bases, Pop Dutton was just where he wasmost needed, and made a sensational catch.
There was a howl of delight, and Gregory said to Joe afterward:
"Your man is making good."
Joe was immensely pleased. And when, a little later, at a criticalpoint in the game, he struck out the third man, again using his famousfade-away, his triumph was heralded in shouts and cries, for Pittstonhad
won. It was a triumph for Joe in two ways--his own personal one, andin the fact that he had been instrumental in having Pop Dutton play--andPop's one play, at least that day, saved a run that would have tied thescore.