Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-02-22
SPORTING ITEMS
BASEBALL.

From California comes stories that FL
mcr SStricklctt. the former Milwaukee
pitcher now with Brooklyn, is busy prac-
ticing new style ball, which he calcu-
latCS To mix mp with his 'spltterS. to
the everlasting CONSERVATION Of National
league batSmcn. Stricklett probably has
better control Of the spit ball than ANY
other twirlcr. vt that, he has always
maintained that it was taking mighty
BIZ chances to use the spit hall i'll Il
close game with men on the bases. Jack
ChCSbro lost an American league pen
nant for New York by using Il spit
bah in the ninth inning with q runner on
third base. The bail was a wild pitch.
as it is very likely to be, and the run
ner from third base scored before the
catcher could recover the flying sphere
According to the stories from Callt0r-
MIA Strickett is trying to improve on his
bail Last var while the BroOkiYnS were
down south practicing up fer the season
Elmer was experimenting with what he
called Il spit floater," or, in other words,
Il slow spit ball. He claimed it would be
the most effective kind, and, besides,
easier for the catcher to handle. 1t IS
likely that this is the ball he is expert
menting with out on the coast now,
which has led to the report that we are
10 be favored Nth another pitching
freak.
Il
near the home plates probably will be
ad0Dtcd by the American league cluDS
to Indicate to spectators every decision
made during game instead Of the sig
mai system by umpires gestures, which
has been under consideration. President
Johnson of the American league made
that prediction last week alter Il consul
tatiou with an inventor Of mechanical
board similar II the one in use in ST.
Il IL,
and practical rs well as reliable ana will
bs. brought to the attention Of til" CLUB
owners ut their schedule meeting iii New
York week after next. If it meets the
approval Of the majority OF til" minority
of the clubs its use probably will be
made compulsory i'll the league. by It's
use decisions OH balls and strikes and
Oh bases are shown instantly.
President Charles Murphy Of the Chi
cage club has announced the Tclease Of
two of the youngsters on Manager
Chances pitching staff. They are VIII
liam NuInm, the Milwaukee lad and
Grancy, the southpaw from St. Th0mas
CANADA. Eleven pitchers are left on the
string from which to select six regulars
and Manager Chance considered that a
plenty to choose from. The two lads let
90 were given unconditional releases
leaving them free to sign where they
please, and were given them this early
in justice to themselves, as there ap-
pears 10 be no chance for them to make
a place for themselves on the Chicago
team this year Kumm has several Of
fers from minor league clubs and Will
probably accept one of them.
Lloyd Griscom, the new ambassador
to Italy, tells of a baseball game he saw
in Brazil An Englishman was catcher
for his nine and did fairly well until
a new pitcher was put in. The twirler
sent in Il hot one. The Englishman failed
to hold the ball, which hit him on the
nose and knocked him senseless. When
he recovered he asked feebly: What
was it, The umpire answered: 1T was
a foul a fowl groanef the poor
catcher. mistaking the word. 4 thought
it was q mule
An umpire from each major league
circuit may be selected to act in the
role of adviser to the joint schedule
committee when they meet in New York
to look over any proposed changes in the
rules and judge as to how they will
work. The suggestion has the approval
of Ban Johnson and President Charlie
Murphy Of the National leagues rules