New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-03
!. lis CEnIEN.'

The game of baseball is not without its uses.
aside from the recreation 1t affords, as an ad-
iunct in the development Of the mother tongue
by the contribution thereto of new forms ana
figures of speech lis slang Is vivid ana force
full and becomes readily current In the carry
stages of the game IL was the practice OF the
pitcher TO deliver the ball straight To me bat,
and. as one might say without guile The bats
man. striking from the shoulder with the same
chtforwarqlncss smote the bail 10 right. lcil
or centre or missed entirely ana made or lost
n run Like pretty much everything else III the
world which in it's development taxes human
/ inCcuuity-likr for instance, the game or poll
tics In which there must have been Time
though perhaps prehistoric. when the ban OF
discussion was delivered fairly. struck squarely
and the run made. or lost on the merits OF the
bit-the game OF baseball became sophisticated.
The nitchcr learned the art OF putting TWIST
into his delivery Of the ball. so that 1t wigsled
ON IFS way and went in complicated curves
toward the bat confusing and bewildering the
striker who famed the air and went out on
strikes without run. Then the game became
professional and lay between the pitcher VINO
nut The most deceptive and misleading twists
into his delivery and The skilful player AT the
but who had found out the pitchers tricks and
got onto his curves" 1t was not long before
tbe nhrasc became current slang. and the great
nuhlic which followed the National game with
so much interest. began To describe the process
ny which il discovered the ingenious twists and
neat devices Of one who practiScd upon its
crcdulity as getting onto his curves. 1t Is
quite expressive.
Mr. Thomas C. Plat will appreciate the com
np
Of politics he has shown himself an uncommonly
skiful pitcher There may have been time.
though II antcdacs his public career. when he
had straight delivery. and the ball of dis
cusson went directly from his hand to the bat.
But with natural twist in his wrist. and a
ncxibility that would have made the fortune ~
a professional player in Lcaeu" games he soon
became known rs political pitcher who could
put more nvoluons into his delivery AMI ere
ate more uncertainty bcwi.dcrm'nt AMI con
fusion in striker and catcher th" bases. the
whole field and al the spectators. than any pro.
fessional who ever stood in the box aud con
tortcd himself with false motions II might also
be said, still pursuing the hgur" furnished by
the National diversion. that. like some other
famous players he fell into the habit II making
side bets" and WIS frequently suspected ~
/
ties paid for great popularity by professional
PLAYERS Of phenomenal talent. He il also asso-
ciatcd In the public mind with professional play
crs Of the National game in connection with the
facility with which The latter pass from one
club 10 another. according 10 the bidding. with
ont suffering any Of the pain OF parting or any
grief ut the severance Of old associations 50 long
as they get their price. Platt carries II further;
he IS liable TO change clubs in the middle Of
the season.
He has been introducing large variety OF
new and intricate curves during the last year:
has pitched everything In fact. except straight
ball" The wonder Is that it has not occurred
TO his inventive mind 10 try that. IL would be
so uncxpccicd that the chances are that he
might get somebody out" We suggest ii 10
him as a novelty. Meantime, having cOmpli-
mcntc1 him on the skfulness and variety ~
his curves. we feel IT a duty 10 inform him
though there are signs that he is beginning 10
suspect it himself-thal the public is onto his
curves" And that being the fact il occurs 10
liz. though not matter Of immediate concern 70
us or anybody else except himself and his own
bcttngring that 1t might be well for him TO
bethink himself Of playing some other game