Evening journal., 1907-06-20
NO INCREASE IN
BATTING NEEDED
McGFaW Opposes ChadwiCk'S
Views About the Ma
tiOnaI Game

The assertion Of Henry Chadwick, the
"father Of baseball" that the game is
not quite perfect and that batting should
be increased to round IL out brings from
Manager McGraw Of the New York
Giants, the statement that the game is
evenly balanced as 1t stands, and that no
increase in hitting is needed or desired.
"rhe main object in baseball" says
McGraw, "is to please the public. The
popularity of "a game attests ITS near
ness to perfection botter than any theory
that can be offered.
During the past 10 years the halung
in baseball has gradually decreased. At
the same time the attendance at games
has Increased at the ratio of more than
10 per cent. a year. so / am Informed.
IL do not mean 10 convey the impress
sion that the lack of hitting did this but
in my opinion the increased popularity
Is due to the fact that the scores are
closer. and. consequently, give more Of
an air of excitement TO the contest.
"The cause Of the gradual decline to
hitting is a question which has been un-
satisfactorily discussed for years. The
only plausible explanation IS that the
pitchers have grown more scientific and
the nelders more adopt in handling bait
ted balls. I think il Is also due to put
ting the pitchers box ten feet further
back, which was done in 1892 This was
intended to help batting, but in reality
it had the opposite effect.
"rho secret of batting Is tho accurate
judging Of speed and distance. and the
further the pitcher is away the harder it
is to judge.
"But, getting back TO the original ques-
tlon, I believe the game is very near per-
fection just now, and IL 1t is not the in
crease of batting would not improve it.
"The baseball public is being educated
TO science every day. and that is what
they want. Don't understand me TO mean
that the public wants small sooros-not
at an. The baseball public Of to-day wants
close scores A game which ends by a
score OF TO z, or oven IL TO 10. is the
kind that becomes intensely interesting
to the public as well as the players. After
a game like that the crowd returns next
day. The public always enjoys good clean
hitting, but it must be good and clean or
tho spectators become disguised
ITO say that the game of to-day is not
well proportional is "A rather bold asser-
tion. on what basis should IL be soundedl
In other words, to argue the lack Of pro-
portion it would be necessary to have a
standard and We have none. Baseball is
a game which has no predecessor and no
imitators. II Is q national game formed
upon its own root. 1t is branch Of noth-
ing.
Years ago when big scores were
made IN games by terrific hitting, the
pitchers did not toss up spit-bails and
other great curves which fool hittors like
our twirlors do to-day In those days the
pitchers used speed and frequently shot
in straight ones, and of course usually
got a good clout at the ball Since then
the National game has grown each year
in science. due in a large measure 20 the
effective twirlins Of the pitchers. The
spit-ban has played havoc with not only
the lighter hibiers IN the profession, but
also with the siusgers Close games. of
course are what the fans want as they
are always worked up to a high pitch oi
excitement as the team behind Is likely
20 so 10 the front as a result Of a few
hits and good base running
'"ro Increase hitting would be TO tear
down fielding and pitching, and they ara
the fibre which has knitted the game into
compact FORM Tho game ut present IS Of
the correct lonsih. If batting was per-
cepthly Increased the game would be
too long. Spectators would tire Of a con-
test lasting three hours.
There are several ways by which nit.
unA could be increased IL desired The
moshenective one would be to forbid the
use curve balls or spit balls The
basebsA enthusiast would dmmediately
CONDEMN his method for it would take
away the cream of the sport
"Basl ban - very satisfactory a. Il
standsg-