Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-09
HITTING THE BALL.
Some Interesting Features of Base
ball Playing of Last Sea-
son Pointed Out
THE METHODS OF BIG HITTERS.
Director Robinson, sf the New York Club,
Talks About Jim Mutrie
and Connor.
THE METHODS OF BIG HITTERS,
TEE AFFAIRS OF THE LOCAL CLUB
Mr. Brush Expresses a Few Opinion, - General
Sporting News Of the Day.

A correspondent sends us the following
interesting opinions regarding the methods
of hitting the bali in the national game:
Have you ever taken any particular notice
of the direction the heavy hitters of the
baseball profession usually send ballo On
the instant it will seen, to you that the
majority of batsmen, heavy or light, place
the ball in left field. This is in sense
true, but not tc such an extent as is genel-
allv believed. For instance, in looking
over the exploits of all the different bats
men of the National League it will be found
that out of over 200 times at bat only SO
more hits went to left field than tc center,
Whether this tendency to left is or is not a
natural re .,lt of the methods of batting it
would really be impossible to say, for the
reason that the excess is not so great as to
Justify that conclusion. and then we have
the fact before us that a batsnan naturally
desires the ball to trend toward the left,
reasoning that even if the hit be short he
has so much more of an opportunity to
reach first base
An Interesting Question.
Again. If left field hitting is natural. why
is it that the raw ba tiers hit goes as a rule
TO the right? 1t will be argued that feeling
of uncertainty results in his hitting late Mt
the bali Is it not equally rational that the
uncertainty would cause the batter i'm his
uneasiness to let go too early? If reduced
10 common philosophy, the argument would
be equally and fairly divided on this sub
ject. Let US take Anscn. of Chicago as an
example. There are no better or freer hit
ter living than he. As rule the old man
sends her down to left in fact, he seems TO
favor that sort OF hitting by the members of
H. . E4l,
Cliff Carroll, hit to left Returning to Anson
one would think that as the most of the
great Captains hits go to left, those to CEN
ter would come next in order but no. If
Anson does not succeed in getting the ball
into left field it will generally go TO the
right. What is the reason for this? Again,
If left-field hitting be the natural
method, then it can be said that the
res2lt is reached account of the
position man takes while batting. For in
stance, in right hand batting hits will ss
rule, go to he left. ana a left-hander's to the
right Let Us see how that will work. We
Wiz take a. example of the right hand batters
Jln q ROuTl1e, a good one, and 75 per cent
of his hits will go to lett field. Stovey is also
good one: and the same percentage of his
hits viii take TO the left. But then there are
Fou:z, Pieffer, Gore. Glasscock. Fred Car
roll and Latham. all first-class batsmen who
will distribute their drives over the entire
field. while other right handlers will favor
right fell
The Left Hand Batters,
Then take the left handlers Hamilton.
who led the League in batting sent two
thirds OF his down into left field. Clements,
another corking left-hander drove only
90 per cent of his hits to right, and Sam |
Thompson always favors left field although |
free hitter in al. directions Beckler ,s.
rule, hits to left or center. Hanlon nearly |
always TO left. ditto John Wood. ChildS |
Herman and other heavy hitters |
Now. le ~ take team hitting Tho Nan
1OIkS. COnnOSCO, With he
ColHor and TIernan. of right hand men b;.
nc9riy as often to the center rs to the Ieft |
Philadelphia, with Hamilton Clements nj
Thompson, left handlers and cvcant;oanI
batsmen. usually hits TO center, as does aisn
Iittsburg and Cleveland, while Cincin"at;
iaNoTs the rlgl neld As will be observed. /
those teams that hit TO right or center arc
the least effective so far as winning 0amas ;S
concerned wlllle those containing n mnioriry
OF LETT held batsmen are generally success
PittsburI's Ball Team.
It is well known that Pittsburo had t,o
heaviest batting tcam-on Daper-in tbo |
count Y Mt the beginning of the uast season
and /: will be remembered how MANY games
were lost through hits being stopped bv the
opposing teams first or second basement
Many of those hits were so hot thar tbe,
could not be fieided cleaniy hu. tho na,yr
neighborhooG of the base made il nossihia
to handle the bail in time 70 |
put the rnnner out If tbesa |
1ilNts Ai'u went 70 left anu equally as sharp |
thv Vilfd Oaselnan or shortston in case of y |
IumU.e, would have found it impossibla 70 |
recover the bali again and get it across the |
Held 70 reure the runner. Depend upon IL
there Is something in this and it would he |
well II the Plttsburg PLAYERS of the mast yeor
are returned Tor the next, that the focuItv
oI hitting DE let 10 developed somewhat
Il l. not necessary that :; man should sn,i.a |
ball wiki All his strength to make \ sa fe
lit The best Datsneu usually meet tbe
sNlt p!tcG with movement of the wrist.
" men gives them almost complete control
SoI tht Da', ahC thus to some extent they
nave the power TO place tie Dali. There are
many who Will not admit this assertion, but,
IL is correct nevertheless