Clipping:Leech of the Olympics throws a tantrum
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| Date | Sunday, September 18, 1870 |
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| Text | [Olympic of Washington vs. Mutual 9/13/1870] The disgracefully childish conduct of their [the Olympics] pitcher, Leech, tended in a measure also to deprive them of confidence in their own exertions, although few persons can be of any other opinion than that the loss of his services (?) Was an actual advantage tot hem. This leech is one of the worst pitchers we have seen with any nine which had the slightest pretensions to a first-class reputation, and, inasmuch as he is inferior to men like Wolters, Zettlein, Cummings, &c., &c., so is he correspondingly conceited. To hint, therefore, that he is an inefficient pitcher, is to wound him in his most sensitive point; what, therefore, must have been his feelings when, after the second inning, in which the Mutuals had scored 14 runs alone, Ewell, the catcher [of the Olympics] remarked that the pitching was so wild, he would require a long bat to enable him to reach up and stop the balls. His feelings could not find expression in words: choked with emotion, he could merely gasp out, “I–won’t–pitch–any mo-o-ore.” The officers of the club remonstrated with him upon such a course, as it would make the nine look like fools in the eyes of the large number of spectators who were present; they begged him to go on for this game, and he could then vent and redress his grievances afterward. He was apparently satisfied, and, taking up his bat, went forward to the home-plate, to be in readiness to strike. When it came to his turn, however, he turned tail, and walking back to the reporting stand, informed the treasurer and the other officers of the club that he would not play at all. Although these gentlemen were naturally indignant at such outrageous conduct, and the other members of the nine felt ashamed that they had such a poltroon among them, they did not appear to fearfully appalled by Mr. Leech’s declaration as he had anticipated. Glen, the sick man, who was to have had a rest, was put in in place of the Leech, and Frank “Strong” pitched. So well did he perform with the ball, that the “Mutes” were got out in the next four innings for four runs, and wonderful improvement from 14 runs in one inning. This made the Leech rather sick as he sat sulkily watching the game in front of the reporting stand. If, therefore, the officers who have the direction of this club allow Mr. Leech to play in their nine again, they will have themselves to blame if he again serves them such a scurvy trick. |
| Source | New York Dispatch |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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