Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-08-18

: "The editor of this paper came neal
getting .roundly abused a few days
ago, because ventured to dispute the
correctness of the curved ball theory
from n scientific standpoint. The
base ball enthusiast claim for Getzien
that he is able TO SO pitch ball that
it will describe the arc of a circle on
horizontal plane before reaching
the catcher, and that therein lies the
secret of his marvellous pitching
which has done so much to secure
victory to the Detroit Club. Scienti.
fically, this theory is utterly absurd
The forces that act upon ball pitch
ed by Getzien are not different from
those which operate upon a projectile
thrown from any other source, and
the result must be the same, and gov
erned by the same laws. The curves
are in the imagination of Getzien's
admirers. When the ball leaves his
hand it is beyond his control, and it
moves forward from the impulse last
given it as it leaves his hand. 1t is
then controlled by the force of pro-
pulsion, the resistance of the atmos-
phere, and gravitation. The tenden-
cy of the first is to urge it forward in
a straight line, and it so moves until
the force of gravitation becomes
greater than the force of propulsion,
and then it begins to descend. The
resistance of the air simply retards
its motion or may change its direc-
ton but this change of direction is
entirely beyond the pitchers control
ordinarily. Getzien's antics and de-
ceptive motions may deceive the bat
ter, so that he is unable to discover
the exact course of the ball in TIME
to strike it, but he cannot throw a
ball so as to make curve on hori-
zontal plane"
Mr.. Chadwick comments as follows:
The ball. in its horizontal flight
through the air from the hand of the
Enthusiastically known as the
pitchers retarded in its forward
movement by the resistance of the
air, which not only exerts pressure
on the face of the ball but also a re-
sisting force on its sides by friction.
Now, if the ball is simply thrown for
ward without any special bias being
given it, the friction of the air is
equal on each side of it; but if it be
made to rotate Oh its own axis from
right to left or left to right, the con-
ditions are at once materially chang
ed, inasmuch as in the latter case one
side of the balls surface is made to
move forward through the air with
twice the rapidity Of the other side,
and to the extent of this increased
lateral friction is the ball retarded in
its progress on the side on which the
increased friction bears. The result
of this changed relation is naturally
a curve in the line of its delivery in
the direction of the side on which its
progress has been retarded. This is
the simple philosophy of the curve of
modern base ball pitching. The APP
plication of the theory in practice is
to learn to give the necessary bias or
rotary motion to the right or left-in
order to produce the ain curve" or
tout curve"
1t is almost impossible to fully il
lustrate the action Of the wrist and
fingers in imparting the bias to the
ball which produces the curves in
question, but a curve pitcher gives
me his method of holding the ball
when he first takes his position to
throw, and when the ball leaves his
hand. He says that in order to pro-
duce the out curve, you secure the
ball in the hand by pressing it firmly
between the first two fingers and the
thumb, with the third and little fin
gers closed in the palm of the hand.
In delivering the ball to the batsman,
throw the arm forward midway be-
tween the shoulder and waist, and at
the moment o! releasing the ball turn
or twist the hand quickly to the left.
In producing the in curve, the pitcher
should grasp the ball securely with
all the fingers, and with the
thumb pressed firmly against the OPP
posite side. Throw the ball at
hight equal to the shoulder, and at
the instant of releasing it from the
hand twist quickly outward, allowing
the ball to twist off the ends of the
first two fingers.
There are other important essentials
Of success in the art of pitching out
side of the power to curve the ball to
the right or to the left, and the first
of these is thorough control of the ball
in delivery, without which strategic
skill in pitching is next to impossible;
besides which, even the curving of
the ball is robbed of its advantages.
Of what use is the power to curve
the ball in sending it to the batsman
unless you can control its direction so
as to make it pass over the home
plate, and at the height called for by
the batsman, at will? Speed in de-
livery is another essential which is
comparatively useless as an element
of success unless accompanied by
thorough command of the ball. But
suppose you possess these essentials of
the "curve" and of speed in delivery,
in combination with the required COM
mand of the ball, so as to secure ac-
curacy of aim in your pitching, you
will still be wanting in thorough
knowledge of the "art of pitching"
unless you can bring skillful strategy
into play in your work in the "box,"
termed "headwork."
1t may naturally be asked, "What
is strategy, or 'headwork,' in pitch
ing ?" and its elements may be sum-
med up as follows: Primarily, it is
to deceive the eye and the judgment
of the batsman who faces you as to