The Washington critic., 1886-06-28
PICTURES OF THE PITCHERS.
Somc OF the Noted Twir1ers In Our
Grent National Game.

PICTURES OF THE PITCHERS.
somo OF the Noted TwirIers In Our
Great National Game.
The peculiar manner in which some
of the crack pitchers deliver the ball is
well worthy of note, says the Courier
Journal. Every twirlcr possesses
style of pitching which belongs to him
self only and what is more he uses the
same old tricks over and over again.
OF course the batters soon become ac-
customed to the peculiaritos Of pitch
crs and are seldom fooled, but every
,wirler is confident that his tricks are
puzzling and so the effect is just the
same after all.
Ramsey, the greatest pitcher In the
country, has rather attractive style,
lie spreads out his legs and looks like
n inverted "Y." While in this po-
si,icn he wipes the ball on his hip, and
The terrible left hand describes pecu-
lar gyration through the air, the ball
twists and huns. travels most erratic
course through the space and finally
whizzes like creased lightning over
The plate just where and when the bat
ter does not want 1t.
Uecker has pretty and lively STYLE
He holds the ball idly in his hand for a
moment, then suddenly turns around
on one heel, and, If man is on first
base, he frightens him back to the bag
by several lightning motions, when the
ball leaves his hand and speeds over
the batters' square. Sometimes Hecker
glances significantly at the umpire,
then makes hop, skip and a jump,
winding his arm beautifully about his
head, and throwing the ball swiftly but
accurately just where he has signaled
TO the catcher. His style is great
| favoritc.
Morris is left-hand puzzle, who
keeps base runners constantly hugging
the bags. Usually he stands squarely
to the front, throws out his chest, adj
vances the ball out to the level of his
chin with one hand, then plants his
right foot forward and sends the sphere
like thunderbolt over the plate. He
Is always quick, and his movements
are graceful in the extreme. Batsmcn
all like his fairness, but find him hard
to hit.
Caruthers first advances his right
leg, fumbles the ball on.his hip second,
and then with q sour look throws to
the batter. He pitches without effort,
and seemingly does not care whether
the batter hits the ball or not His de-
livery looks like it would be easy to
bat. but the reverse is the case.
"His Needles" Foutz doubles him
self up in knot, and suddenly
straighten out his tall form and fires
the ball sharply at the batter. He usu.
ally wipes the dirt of on his hips, de-
liberately fixes his fingers on the ball,
then exchanges winks and mods with
the catcher, when he throws. Foutz
always smiles when he does well and
closely watches the course of the ball
as it leaves his hand
Tony Mullane has the jumping ack
style. He pauses, then throws both
arms aloft, and, taking short run, de-
livers the ball hot as u cannon shot to
the batter. Tony never smiles. Variety
is the marked feature of his delivery.
McKeon, the tragic pitcher, is slow
and ostentatious. He first thrusts
out his left foot, with which he occu.
pies several seconds in pounding and
scraping the ground, then he glances
at the audience as If to say, "Watch
me closely now," and, after turning
his face in all directions without shift.
ing his position, he bangs the ball ovei
the plate. McKeon takes good dea
of time in pulling his fine mustache.
Shaw of the League is the most pc
culiar pitcher in the profession. Ac
cordiug to count he has thirty-two
different ways of delivering the ball
He is called the Wizard" because il
is thought that his style is very puz.
zling. No one knows how or when he
is going to throw the ball. One method
he has is first to exchange the bal
from hand to hand, then throw hi
arms above his head, as the battel
thinks, to deliver the ball, but in real
ity to fix his sleeve. A moment late
he turns and rubs the ball ON his hil
and puts himself in position to throw
when suddenly he straightens up, as Il
to ask the catcher question, but IL
reality to deliver the ball, just at th
moment when the batter is watching
for him TO finish his business with thu
man who wears the mask.
Welch of the New Yorks is Away
smiling, He plants his right foot for
ward and scrapes pile of dirt, thci
! eXpectorates, and n moment later wipe
the perspiration from his brow, whel
suddenly he doubles himself up ant
: throws with all his might, Batter
say that he is the best pitcher in tn
} League.
Baldwin of Detroit is rs gentle as
; lamb when in the box. He pitche
steadily and without any delay or wait
, ing. Usually he throws his arm in
circle about his head, then raises on
J leg, and moment later comes dow
hard with both feet on the ground
when the ball leaves his left hand lik
, q flash.
. Clarkson of Chicago faces secont
3 base first, then quickly whirls aroun
t and throws the ball over the plate
startling the batter. lie is a swil
thrower.
4 Henry Boyle of the ST. Louis Ma
rooms INDUCES in great deal of prt
0 paration, and is as slow rs an OK. III
0 is always in good humor, and has
l habit Of rolling the ball in his left pail
| before throwing It, Boyle alway
g leans to one side, places the ball bt
$ hind him, and fixes 1t in his han(
| then delivers it to the batter II
D works hard, and employs few tricks
c His fort is his terrific speed.
A Bobby Matthews is the trlcklest an
9 Bobby Matthews the sowest and MOI
aggrayating pitcher in the America
n | Aoaociatinn