"Jazz" in the LATimes, 1912 & 1917

[James A. Landau]

A story from April 2, 1912 was headlined "Ben's Jazz Curve" and began "'I got
a new curve this year' softly murmered Henderson yesterday, 'and I am goin'
to pitch one or two of them tomorrow.  I call it the Jazz ball because it
wobbles and you simply can't do anything with it."

A long-shot suggestion:  could Ben have coined the word "Jazz" out of
onomatopeia because the ball goes "j-a-z-z-z-z" as it dodges past the batter?

          - James A. Landau