Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-05-19


 play for and is more liable to keep the other side guessing as to what he will do. Some batsmen are ambi- dextrous and can bat with the left hand as we'll as with the right. This is a decided advantage when the man who usually bats left-handed is call ed upon to face left-handed pitchers. Then he is called up to cross to the right-handed side of the batsman's box You will find that George Davis of the Chicago Americans does this. Also Gleason of the Philadelphia Ma tions, George Lachance, last year with the Montreal team; Harry Wol- verton, formerly of the Boston Ma tionals. Jim" Clements, so long with the Philadelphia Nationals, was fa- nous for his ability to hit either way and I have a young brother with the Youngstown. Ohio, club, who can bat either way. Some of tbe hest batsmen in the country, however, stick to the left-handed style of bat ting against left-handed pitchers. I never changed for the reason that was able to hit in my usual style as effectively against this style of pitch Sing as by changing. So was 1t with Billy Hamilton, one of the best batsmen that ever faced pitcher, who is now manager of the Harris burg club, and doubtless the crack batsman of the Tri-State league. Such batsmen as Stahl, Freeman and Burkett, a power trio of left-handed batsmen, do not change against left handed pitchers.
 Mathewson and Ames of the New York Nationals I find two of the most effective right-handed pitchers I am called upon to face. MathewsOn is wonder. He has a delivery that is exceedingly difficult for the left handed batsman to fathom, and but few pitchers in the country have been able to master or attempt 1t. He has a ball that is called the fall away ball. It acts like a curve, and comes over the rubber. He holds the ball in his thumb and three fingers, throws 1t up straight over his shoul- der and reverses the curve ball mo- tion, letting the ball out of the back of his hand rather than the front. It has little speed and is exceedingly difficult for left-handers to bat. Ned Garvin was really the originator of this kind of delivery, but really Mathewson has improved upon the original. Garvin was the only one to use it few years ago. Ames is most effective, though he is liable to be wild. Although he is comparatively new to major league company he has been playing ball for long time.
 Besides the fall-away ball, Math- ewson has an extensive variet. in his delivery. He has an abundance of speed and splendid and baf1ing curves. Pittenger is another man with a varied delivery. Anoth- CT great pitcher Is Albert Orth of the New York American league team. He has wonderful command and a won- derful knowledge of the weakness of the batsman. He is very successful in pitching to the batsman the ball he does not want to hit. Although Orth has been in baseball long time he still ranks as one of the most ef- fective in the land. and he is very valuable on team on account of his ability to hit the ball. and has won many a game for his club during his career by his ability to make timely Init at ascritical juncture in the game. Young of the Boston Americans is the best pitcher in that team. and his qualities of wonderful speed, almost perfect command and fielding ability have been a great factor to help that club to the pennant the last two sea- sons, and to a leading position ever since he joined 1t. He has wonderful endurance. and his capacity for work seems unlimited. It will be impossible to replace such player should any thing happen to cause his retirement. Another wonderful pitcher is Jack Chesbro of the New York Americans who worked in more games last sea- son than any pitcher of the American league. though of late he has not been pitching as effectively as he did last season.
 The best left-handed pitchers I have ever faced are Eddie Plank of the Athletics of Philadelphi,s In the American league: "Rube" Waddell of the same club: "Jake" weimar of the Chicago Nationals. and Dr Harris White of the Chicago American lea que. Plank of the Athletics find the handest to solve. for the reason that he has a side arm delivery. and dis like that kind of delivery. The oth- CTS work overland and do not bother me SO much. waddell's strength. length and speed make him a most bothersome man to face X club Is in- deed strong that has two such effec- tive pitchers as Plank and waddell. and such a team Is very sure to as sume commanding position in a race.
 I cannot say that fancy the nuch-talked about spit hall for a pitcher. It almost put Pittenger. as well as some others. out of the busi- ness last year. IL seems to affect some pitchers more than t does others. Chesbro has employed 1t extremely and says It has not affected him: hut he Is an exception. If were an Al pitcher I think I would cut 1t out en- tireIy: but f were a mediocre pit. cher I would use if. hut only occa- stDnally-ss tspa-ingly as possilsld
 of course the foul strike has helDed the pitchers . whole Int and has had it's effect upon the batting. II has mt a premium on batting. I really think I was more responsible than any hats man in the country for the adopting of the present foul strike rule: foI while was batting in game against the Brookiyns one day Manager Han. Ion of that team spoke to me from the bench and said. ',we1i fix you next season. all right and SUIT enough the foul strike rule was