The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-01
TO MAKE BATTERS OF
THE ST, LOUIS BROWNS
Ted Kennedy to Practice His New
Invention on Hedges's
Players.
TO IMPROVE BATTING

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 31.-And now we are to
have the machine-made baseball player!
Hitherto like poor Pip of Great Expec-
tations." the diamond artist has been
brought up by hand His knowledge of
the game is manual. his skill, lot-gathered,
and his baseball science academic.
Instead, a machine will help the ball
player develop his batting eye his train
ing will be along theoretical lines. and a
graduate of the system will probably get
degree of b. B.-bachelor of baseball.
AT least this is the vista opened by the
announcement of Secretary Robert Hedges
of the Browns. that he will give Ted Ken
nedy chance to test his theories, machines
and baseball abilities on the ST. Louis club.
Mr.. Kennedy, who is an ex-baseball
pitcher of considerable reputation in his
day, and who has been conducting a base
ball school in South st. Louis for some
time, recently approached Mr.. Hedges and
told him that if the Browns would try out
his suggestions and his baseball training
machines he would guarantee to make them
pennant-winners or he wouldn't take cent.
Mr.. Hedges listened to the arguments of
Kennedy, is convinced that there may be
something in the theories, and has de-
cided to give them a trial next spring.
Among Kennedy's contrivances is a
scheme to increase the batting effectiveness
of players. That is what appealed to
Hedges.
IF Kennedy can do anything to make my
the Browns owni
with three or four 300 hitters on the
team the Browns are good enough to win
IN any company. Kennedy has theory
that seems sound
of course, L have made no contract with
MIN, out l will let him try it out on the
men. IL 1t Is successful all right; Kennedy
can get customers in the Browns
McAleer has been digging fruitlessly for
batting talent. and Kennedy has the chance
oil his life to show whether baseball is
! really science or lot game.
Kennedy explains his theories as follows:
Give me team Of good material and |
VIII improve IL % per cent. in individual
| and team effectiveness
That is a low estimate / do not claim
10 make material, but what 1 do try to do
| Is TO bring out all there is in the material
| before me.
Take the Browns. who Mr. Hedges saws
VIII get nrst whack at my machine There
Is material TO work on. Heidlick, Hemphill
IIlI ana others are all strong and fast
| lhey are natural ball players. but the best
| IN them has not been brought out They
| nave learned baseball as some bows learn
10 play the piano-by picking it out Their
information is good so far as il goes hut
ponshed up, IL can be improved materiaTv
:, Tor batting training | have a machine
III Is pitching machine, something badly
/ u
pan AT varying speeds. with any one OF
the fundamental curves or shoots and vii
| deliver il accurately 81" WI
n,,d Inns machine will furnish tireless
Ptcher Tor the practice batting This has
peeh long-felt want. and. If il had me-
other virtue, the machine would be valua hi,
| on that account.
| But, better still this machine ca,, .b,,
odil at higher rate of speed than II I,
/ possible FOR a pitcher to deliver il TVbat !.
me consequence? When the bail PLAYER
Z ms frew-
the nigh velocity from the machine anI
| then faces pitcher, he finds the han d.
lNereu Dy human agency much slower ant
easier TO hit. His eye is faster and hi.
swing OF the bat sharper and more vicious
is as though the batter of TO-DAY
were 10 go against minor Lacquer of low
Not only that, but what would vo,, "a,
II 1 could teach batter TO tell the mo
menu the pitcher swings his arm wha,
Kind or ball is coming TO the plate?
can do II. and can teach Others To do IL
IL l was young again. and had the phvsica
s1'. rance ,h' 1 could snow in an actual gam,
Just what scientific training will do for !
player l used TO be good pitcher once
You don't have TO take my word for A.
you nnd the records. l say that there ar,
SO many things about baseball that hal
players don't know that ii is really a Won
der the scientific phase of the game has no
been taken up before. ~
Take the pitcher ANY lad NTH -,
physique can become a pitcher of rare orai
lily, as big league pitchers are now. He 90,
! DC Taught t~enty-four methods of cllrvin,
and shooting the ball. As far as il is nos
sible TO fool the batter OF to-day. he Ga,
be developed more than % per cent.
As test, l am willing TO stand or fal
on the batting proposition. If l do not SHOW
Mr.. Hedges and his men that they can ~
improved / will quit. l have studied m,
theoretical and practical side OF the gam
Tor years and l know what | am talkin,
about when / say that the ball PLAYER of 70
day has great deal 10 learn"
Kennedy is busying himself with nev
ard ia at4 -
ed. Ii Will not merely record innings halls
strikes, runs and outs. as the America
League board does. but will give the officia
the game