The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-15
SCIENCE or CURES
which All Pitchers Must Muster TO be of
Use 10 Their Teams.

II is pretty generally admitted that the
pitcher Is the most important player on
the diamond. To be d good pitcher re-
quires not only perfect control Of the ball
IN all methods Of ITS straight delivery,
but the ability TO toss II In the puZzllnS
curves which ie11 to SO many stiike-outs.
Arthur Cummings, Of the old star team
Of BROOKLYN. was the first bail player 10
make practical use Of the curve He e%-
perimentel and practiced for long time
before he could explain the apparent
anomaly Of ball thrown from the hand
changing It's direction horizontally during
the course u its flight.
Scientists have formed many theories
trying 10 explain why this IS SO. The
one generally accepted as correct Is SIM
pie. II one side OIL ban can De maze
10 pass through the air with greater
rapldlty than the other side, there is
greater friction produced 10y the atmos-
phere on the side moving most rapidly.
This retarding effect drags the ball to one
side and produces the sO-Called curve.
necessary 10 make one side travel faster
than the 0tuer. This is accomplished by
twisting The hand sharply at the moment
Of delivery. allowing the ball % roll or
the fingers instead of being released from
al points ~ the same moment
To prCGrce the in-cErve grasp the BAH
firmly between the thumb and first two
fingers. the rem aiming fingers being dou-
blcd in the hand. Throw the ball at n
height equal 10 the shoulder At the IN
slant OF releasing it from the hand twist
the fingers sharply toward the body, al
lowing the ball 10 roll off their ends. The
firm hold on the ball in throwing this
shoot permits both greater speed and
greater accuracy than In almost amy
other delivery.
FOR the ont-curve secure the ball IN
the hand by pressing Il firmly between
the fingers and base of the thumb. In
delivering the ball 10 the batsman throw
the arm forward midway between the
shoulder and waist. the palm OF the
hand up At the moment Of releasing
the ball turn or twist the hand quickly
10 the left. allowing the ball to roll off
the side OF the FIRST finger
Although this is the easiest OF all
curves 10 pitch. II IS the most didicult %
control Onlv practice Will make perfect
in this. As great speed as possible should
be used, for q swift ball changing dircc-
ton only a few feet from the batsman.
is much more difficult TO hit than one
travelling slowly and curving half a
dozen yards from the home plate
For an up-ShOot the bah Is graSDcd IN
the same MANNER as for the in-curve In
throwing. however. the hand is brought
down. palm forward perpendicularly i'm
'front.' Of the body, the ban rolling Off
the end Of the fingers as the hand is
twisted suddenly downward.
very IrW hi' professional Players cV'~
master ne drop Cur.c. Almost n ANA
tours throw instead the "out-dror "
when. as its name l"1.cot s. Is a g. rye
haf way between The ont and tho d~.p.
This is not nc all difficult 10 pitch Tse
nal is gr1eped a Tor tie cut. ury.. buf
I'm thrown TIE hand passes dag n4llr
acres the body from g little above tn
right shoulder 10 about the height of the
belt on the lfft slle. The bll is re-
leased when directly in front Of the
home plate.
In the true drop curve the hand travels
perpCndicularly In 'front.' OF. and the palm
toward the body. II Is very difficult L
give sufficient speed 10 a ball thrown in
this manner. 1t IS the lack Of force
which makes the down curve so hard for
amateurs TO master.
There are yarat rs on the regular up
down. in and out-shpots which are Won
derfully effective when learned The "un-
out" is such a one. In principle il is the
same as the tout" In delivering tn F.
ball. however. the hand is brought from
low down on the right side diag0nally
upward across the body.
A combination of the drop and the in
shoot IS the most difficult curve OF any
that a batsman has TO face. In fact. If
the ball Is we'll placed. II is practically
impossible for him TO touch IT, THIS
curve is thrown much the same rs the
drop. save that the hand is brought from
over the left shoulder diagonaliy toward
the right leg.
After endeavoring to tempt a batsman
with various curves. n straight ball
thrown with great speed is sometimes
very effective. Professional pitchers
find, also. that changing their position IN
the box from one side to the other, from
the rear TO the front or from the center
10 one OF the sides Will often produce q
good result
There should be n thorough UNDER
standing between pitcher ard catcher.
and a set Of signals which each may use
TO TIL the other what Kind OF ball
straight or curved. high CT lows 10
follow. The pitcher should practice con-
stantly In order TO retain control OF the
ball. This control ard ability 10 place
the sphere wherever wanted is three
fourths the battle-New York World.