Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-27
BATS PRICED BY STARS.
Base Bali Players Always in Search
Of Good sticks, Lajoie Puts His
under his Pillow.


baseball managers, players and onicers
have asked in vain the question: What
becomes Of all the bats that are purchas-
ed each sprng by the big base ball clubs
And nobodv has been able to answer it.
Napoleon I.ajoie. the greatest batsman
in America. began last season with ~
bats. After trying them all out he select
ed a stick that was one of the longest
and heaviest in use on any ball field says
the New York Sun. With this mighty
weapon Larry was able TO reach the wide
cut curves ard also barg the straight
fast ones to all quarters IF tn" field.
much to the chagrin of the pitchers,
who trie., in vain to fool him. But La
ioie thought so much of this bat tnat ne
did not put it in the regular bat bag
along with the other sticks used by tie
Cleveland Americans. Instead lie carried
it in n neat leather case. whcc he put
under his pillow at night while on the
road.
ITS the best bat I cvcf used said
the big fellow one day last summer. "and
l would not part with it fer 500.
Bradley. a team mate. picked up the
lat during "A game in Boston. and vas
| if he could use it. At first I.aicie object
cd strenuously. but as Pradlcy begged
hard he finally consented. so that both
men used the bat together the rest of
| the season. Bradley prz:ng it rs much
as the champion slugGer.
Lave Cross is never satisfied with his
bats. IIc generally has 30 OF them each
spring and they are made for him ac-
cor,linr TO his own ideas. lie finally
Sits them down to about n dozen. which
he Tugs around with him all the season
But he is always ready 10 swap bats with
player in the business. Ians Wagner
the hest hitter in the National League
SAWS that all he wants is a bat 2j inches
long and tho right weight.
lie SAWS also that some players have
| Ia have one bat for slow pitchers another
for the specd merchants and a third for
bunting. but that one will suit all pur-
noses as far as he is concerned. Hick-
man. of the Detro!ts, can get along with
o. bats when tn, season begins, but n"
saws that re gives most of them away
to other PLAYERS. When he gets a good
ash he will not allow ar other player to
take il in his hands. because il might
change TIE luck.
Willie Kcclcr who stood second to
Lajoie in the American League averages.
has some bats that he mas used for
long tir,c. Kccler has to he suited down
10 the ground in this respect. however
before he thinks he is ready to face Il
rtchcr.
II can tel, tho moment pick ur a bat
whether il suits me or not 1t must be
n certain length and weight. with lust
the right kind OF n handle for no to grip
or I will not use it," said Kecler in a
talk Mt American League Headquarters
the other day. II hold my bat differ
entity from most players, for do not
grip It cl,sc to the end of the handle
hut shout in the middle. That gives me
n chance to either bunt or hit it out
without showing the pitcher what in
tend to do
| In the old days the heavy hitters like
| Pan l3routhers. Roger Conror, Buck
| Fan inc. Hardle Richardson ard men Of
that STAMP always used long, heavy bats
and they took care Of them. too. Mike
Kelly was another stiekler for good bats
ana carrled one around with him for two
seasons. II was 1850. when Kelly was the
star catcher Of the Ioston team that he
lost this pet bat
He had been pounding the ball all the