Sport: Like Falling Out of a Tree

He was a ringer for Ichabod Crane. From a slouchy, 6 ft. 5 in. frame, Ewell Blackwell's arms dangled almost to his knees. When he wound up and pitched sidearm, he was so awkward that another player remarked: "He looks like he's falling out of a tree." Last week the awkward one, up to the majors for his second year (after three seasons in the Army), shuffled out to the mound in Cincinnati to face the league-leading Boston Braves in his first night game of the season.

By the sixth inning, 18,137 fans were getting as anxious as Boston's batters, who had...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!