Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-07-22
W.T. PITCH A BALL.
nuNv WARD. OF THE NEW YORK TEAM,
TgLL3 ALL AROUT IT.
p. y,rsu, Dsvis4 90 Misleading Battsrs With
Curves, Drops and OAsr
Schemes.


vet published, John NJ ward ue'0'SS .
nc chapter to the pitcher, whom he con-
.;dsrs thu leading man Of q ball nine. He
says:
,,Os all the players in a base ball nine
,ha r;tchsr is the one to whom attaches the
s-r,s,sst importance. He is the attacking
S,r,s Of the nine, the positive pole OF the
battery, the central figure, around which
tbs others are grouped.
The qualities OF mind and body neces-
s,rv TO constitute a good modern pitcher
a. rarely combined in a single individual.
ENG frat of the physical require
80 I will not discuss the question OF
- There are good pitchers OF all sizes,
S.,m Madden and Kllroy to Whitney and
w.Cormick. though naturally q man OF
srsrsgs proportiOn would have some adj
rantsyes, The first thing necessary before
ons can become y star pitcher Is the ability
- ,broW a ball with speed. M rules
Sh,cn AZ present govern the pitching place
anrsmiam on brute strength, and unless
10 fair share Of this he will never
become n leading pitcher.
Next, one mSst be possessed Oh more
than an ordinary amount ot endurance. IL
IA nv no means a simple task 10 piten an
sntire game through and still be ss elect
80 IN ihs ninth inniug as in the inst; and
.bao ~ sometimes happens, the contest
:, nrnIopved by an extra number OF 10
- ,br test Is severe. Aud what with
aI 5sv and all night rides from city to city,
h,,tan rest and hasty meals, bad cooking,
~ cbanys, of water aud climate, the
ma, !. extremely fortunate who lads
himself 10 condition to play eS-
ery day when wanted. Odly a
,onS constitution, q vigorous OIL
Ssstion. the mos; careful habits, and lots
Hf crit will ever do il. Besides force and
stamina. there are certain mental char
scrsr;stirs necessary. A pitcher must be
posssssed Of courage and self-eontroi. he
must face the strongest batter Wlta the
same confidence that be would feel sgainst
The weakest, for it is only so that he can
do himself entire justice; and must be
i sbls 10 pitch in the most critical situa-
TONS with the same c~OolneSs ss at any
o,bsr stage. He must control his own
f~salpcs 30 as not 10 be Disconnected by
ANYTHING that may happen, whether
tbTough his Own fault, that Of a fellow
pluylng. or through no fault at all
The next point is to acquire q correct
position in the box, and an easy, yet de-
r~sptiye STYLE OF delivery. The position
wbicb seems most natural should he
chossn. The ball should be held in exact
" the same way, no matter what kind OF
curve IL to be pitched. Being obliged by
ruls 10 keep the ball before the oody, IN
sight OF the umpire, any difference 10 the
manner of holding it will be quickly
noticed by a clever batter, and II Tor q par
ticulsr curve it ia always held in a certain
way. he will be forewarned OF the kind OF
hall to expect. Some batter5 pay no at
teption 10 these little indications,
hut the majority are looking
Tor them all the time, and once
they detsc. any peCuhsrities they will be
ALE to face the pitcher with much greater
rpnidence. Pitcher Shaw might still be
wizard had be not neglected this pre-
%e.utiop; by noticing bis manner OF hold
iny the nall the batter always knew Just
what was coming, and there are other
pitchers set 10 the field who would ind
their effectiveness greatly increased by q
elo-er observance OF this point. As tor the
slyle OF delivery, it should be remembered
that the easiest movement Is the best. a
1ong, free sweep Of the arm, aided by a
wing OF the body, will give more speed,
BE- more deceiyiug to the batter, and al
pw Of more work than any possible snap
on ierky motion. Facing the striker be-
bre pitching. the arm should be swung
well back and the body around so as al
most 10 face second base in the act Of de
kysr7; this has an intimidating effect on
eeak-ueryed batters; besides, not know
h2 from what point the ball will
start, II seems somehow to get mixed up
NTH the pitchers arm and body SD that
II il not possible to get q fair view Of it.
II will he understood what motion Is
meant II there is an opportunity to OBJ
>erve Whitney, Clarkson or keefe at
work. Next comes the knowledge OF how
d throw the different curves. | have yet
b SEE an article written on this subject
4bich il Of the least value in ~instructing
4 complete novice. IL the chapter on
'cnrye pitching will he found the theory
ef the curve, bat a. for describing intelli-
<ibly the snap OF the wrist aud arm by
Inch the various twists are impaired 10
~ ball, | am convinced that il eau not
u done, and will waste no effort 10 the
rttemyt. To curve a bail is mot a difficult
-, and a few practical lessons, which
~ schoOl-boy can give, will teach the
14oyrment.
'Not only must the ball always be held
the Same way before pitching. but in
10 arf nj A1lny1rr tho apUfng nf tho arm
1nst he identical or so nearly so that the
~ Of tine batter can detect no difference.
AZ thus means that the pitcher must not
EIe the striker the slightest inkling OF the
80 OF bail to expect, so that be will
I<se the shortest possible time in which
~prspars To hit. Almost all professional
20 hers now use the overland delivery
~ pitch only a fast, straight ball aud q
t4ye. The iast'ball, on account of it's be-
<HS thrown overland and the twis there
. given, jumps in the sir-thst II, 1t
~ sUghtly-while the curve, pitched
M the same motion, goes outward
~ downward The curve will neCessar-
~ be slower chan the straight ball, and
~ will give all the variations in speed
r<eded 10 uuse;tls the batteT'seye and con-
~ htm in timing the ball. Some pitch
- are sb,e, keeping the same motions, to
y the spssd even OF the curve and
e<flght ball, hut, as before said, this Is
to BE- at the expense of accuracy, and
s-coid not be attempted by the young
*tser. The more marked the control Of
~ ball the greater will be the success,
~ no matter how many wonderful curves
pay ne able to get, unless he has per-
~ command he will never be q winning
<<eher; seasoned batsmen will only laugh
@pRs curves and go to first on balls.
acquire thorough control requires
and patient practice. A pitcher
p.d always pitch over something laid
to represent a plate, and IL possible
q batter TO stand up and hit against
Let him practice with some method,
lng nothing but 8 straight ball and
to put 1t directly over the plate
time. When a pitcher is able to cut
tentsr Of the plate eight times out of
e may begin with his curve and work
the same way. Finally, when he
AIso control the curve, he should try
ornate 1t with the straight ball. He
md that he cannot do this at first
retain command of each, but he
Hh Keep at it an hOur or mora