The evening times., 1896-04-22

So far this spring tie lcft-ha nded pitcner-
he who throws the ball with the wrong
hand, especially wrong for left handed
Dattcrs-has been remarkably conspicuous.
There are more good ielt handed pitchers
II the league this spring than 1or several
seasons past, ana the growth ofIeft handed
batting makes their part of the business
an important one. When it is remembered
that about seven out OF the first ten batiers
last season were lett handlers, and that
there are few LEFT handed hitters whose
frames do not tremhle when they face
a southpaw pitcher, the value OF a good
left handed twirler becomes apparent.
Most LEFT handed batsrnen are men who are
night handed othcrwise-throw with their
night hands-and these are even easier for
'he southwinged ones than those who use
The left hand for thro wing.
Washington has its own Jake Boyd
whose motions are curious and grOtesCue
He has more motions than any twirler in
The league, and when the bases re- clear he
is strong with round-arm movement. With
men on bases he cannot perform his swing
and season he was mot OF much account.
The management Will not part with him,
as Capt. Joyce hopes TO make him a star
pitcher by next season.
CHICAGO HAS TWO GOOD ONES.
lineage has Two cOrkins good leu haDdl
ers-r rlcnd ana Thornton. ne former mas
All Tue cdrinarks, OF greatness; tile latter
his II speed ana Il last curve that is hard
To solve, but Is Wild. NiIdness, i'll fact,
seems To De tue CHEF fault OF left handlers.
anu again, they never last long. hcefe
Garrison, Muilane, calvin and all the great
RS nf hr mast -,,.N
Ficc were riSht handlers, ana no lett hanGer
has ever seen more tnaD four or five years'
efficient campaigning.
PlttsDurg uds Inutncr fine pair OF south
pa aWs-hlllen and Johnny Oreman. X llleu
has already seen us much service as most
lett idbders usually survive, BUT is doing
well this year-a strong. clever pitcher less
Wild than most of his variety. Foreman is
the youngest and smallest pitcher in the
League. and has some very puzziing ways
about his pitching. getting away with a
majority OF his games last fall before the
League clubs could understand him.
Brooklyn carries only one suuthpaw-
Pa yne-who has been knocking around
minor leagues for several years. and W III b..
lucky If he holds his job.
. Cleveland had several left ha nders at the
start of OftheCampaign, but seems determined
to rely on four right ha nders. The caliher
OF the right handed corps is really good
enough TO obviate the need OF any of the
other kind.
Philadelphia has two-Inks aud McGiI.
The latter has been trying to pitch since
1859, and has generally lost Il vast
majority of his games. He undoubtedly
has the most remarkable curves of any of
the southpaw brigade, but has always
been wild aud uncertain. If he hasn't,
as is claimed. corrected this fault. lie will
be almost invaluable. Inks. his colleague,
is another man whose past record is one
of but little success. but he may do well
with the mighty Philadelphia batters
behind him.
BREITENSTEIN Is KING.
st. Louis has Just one left liza nder-Breit.
enSt ein-and lie is all that is necessary.
This man has for some years been counted
the best left handler since RamSeyS day,
although the poor work of the Browns has
usually cost half or more Of the games he
has pitched. He has curves and speed to
burn, and better control than is the left
handed custom.
Cincinnati is southpawless. Poston car
ries one-DolaD. This man is moi wonder,
but is of better caliber than many who have
tried 10 shine in the league, having good con-
troland much pluck and steady ways
Baltimore has Esper, a lazy man, who has
been in the league for many seasons, and
has always managed to give Just good
enough account of himself 10 prevent a re-
lease. He is capable of great things If
spurred on by any sudden impulse of
energy.
New York has n job lot Of two or three
left handlers, none of any value, unless
one of them should turn out phenomenally.
Louisville has Hill, Smith and Clausen
Clausen may be farmed out, but Hill and
smiti. are regarded az jewels, both having
done splendid work in the early games.
Ramsay-Thomas Toad Ramsa of Louis
ville-was undoubtedly the left handler of
left handcrs-the emperor of Southpaw
pitchers. When Ramsay first swept into
prominence, some ten years ago, his fame
almost instantly eclipscd that of any other
pitcherin in the field. He had the most wonder
full drop curve ever seen, and this, with
hisspeed and an nassortmcnt o ( other wisters,
made him simply unparalleled. Ramsay
used to strike out twenty men game but
prosperity was too much for him. He be-
casne an ncbrate. his left arm lost its cum
ming and the greatest left handed pitcher
ever known has for years past ekcd out his
living in MINOR lea gucs and in whatever way
he can.