Hollows
Hollows (ホロウズ, Horōzu) is a primary antagonist and the narrator of History's Greatest Hitting Machine! Ty Cobb, the second episode of The Lives of Eccentrics.
He is a member of the Philadelphia Athletics, who, by 1912, comes to be known as the best pitcher in the American League. The same year, he faces the legendary Ty Cobb and becomes convinced that Cobb is possessed by a vengeful ghost.[1]
Appearance
Hollows is a man of average height and build with short, dark hair and a widow's peak. He wears the uniform of his team, the Philadelphia Athletics.
Personality
Hollows has no qualms about cheating. He prides himself with his reputation as the best pitcher in the league, despite it being achieved unfairly. He is very aggressive and is unable to tolerate being isulted, violently responding to Ty Cobb's antagonism. When Cobb insinuated that he slept with his wife, Hollows threw a ball directly at his opponent's body, and when, right after that, Cobb rushed toward him, Hollows didn't hesitate to start a fight, even taunting him.
His attitude, however, changed after Ty Cobb pulled a gun on him before putting it in Hollows's mouth. Hollows started crying and became convinced that that the rumors of Ty Cobb being possessed by a vengeful ghost were true. Not wanting to be reminded of that incident, Hollows never threw a spitball again.
Abilities
Baseball
Hollows was the master of a special technique known as the spitball: by using a small file, he creates a scratch on the ball before pitching, causing it to waver in front of the batter. Otherwise, Hollows doesn't seem like a noteworthy player; Ty Cobb calls his pitches pathetically slow, and, after Hollows stops using the technique following the match with Cobb, his fame as the best pitcher in the league fades away.
History
Background
Hollows entered the American League as a pitcher and, by 1912, became known as one of the best. He acheaved such level of success by using spitballs, which, at the time, were not yet made illegal.
History's Greatest Hitting Machine! Ty Cobb
In 1912, during a game between the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Athletics, Hollows faces Ty Cobb himself in a match. Thanks to Hollows's usage of spitballs, against him, Cobb's batting average becomes much lower than usual,.245 instead of.420, which greatly confuses and angers him. At the top of the eighth inning, with two outs on the board and no runners on the field, Hollows managed to gain two strikes on Cobb, whose team was behind by two points. Suddenly, Cobb calls a time out and uses it to taunt Hollows, claiming that he told the pitcher's wife not to come and brought her panties to use as a handkerchief. As the game resumes, Hollows throws the ball directly at Cobb, striking him in the stomach and indefinitely halting the game. Cobb, insulted by Hollows's disdain, rushes directly toward the pitcher, drawing the pistol he carried at all times before striking him with the handle. As an all-out brawl between the two teams ensues, Cobb sticks his pistol into Hollows's mouth and intimidates him. This incident convinces Hollows that the rumors of Ty Cobb being possessed by a vengeful ghost are true.
Hollows never threw a spitball again. Even before it was banned within a year of the incident, the pitcher had already given up on the technique, scarred by the memory of his battle with Cobb. Soon, Hollows fades into irrelevancy.
Quotes
Quotes- “My name is Hollows. As a pitcher, I entered the American League, and by 1912, I was one of the best. But in my career, there was one who surpassed all other talent. That man was none other than "him."”—Hollows, The Lives of Eccentrics Episode 2: History's Greatest Hitting Machine! Ty Cobb
- “You're no match for my "magic pitches." My special "spitball!"”—Hollows, The Lives of Eccentrics Episode 2: History's Greatest Hitting Machine! Ty Cobb
- “You understand now? You and your fucking arrogance. I'll make sure you won't ever insult me again.”—Hollows, The Lives of Eccentrics Episode 2: History's Greatest Hitting Machine! Ty Cobb
- “It was true... Those rumors were true. The rumor that he really was possessed by a vengeful ghost...”—Hollows, The Lives of Eccentrics Episode 2: History's Greatest Hitting Machine! Ty Cobb
Gallery
Throwing a ball at Ty Cobb's stomach
Having a gun pulled on him by Cobb
