Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-06-27
WHICH DELIVERY
MOST ELUSIVE
Famous BatSmen Declare
Spit Ball or Jump Ball
Worst PuzzlerS

That question asked of some two
dozen ball players on major league
clubs, including some of the best bat
ters in the country brought with hard
ly an exception the opinion that it was
either the spit ball or the jump ball.
Most players lean to the opinion that
the spit ball is the hardest single de-
livery used by a pitcher to hit, and
practically all of them agree that this |
them the most because it is in more |
general use, while the jump ball can
be successfully handled by only very |
small percentage of pitchers. Players
are practically unit, however, in say |
ing that in the hands of a master like
Waddell or Young the jump ball or
raise ball. is as hard to hit safely as
it's more recent rival.
When working rightly the spit ball
is practically an unhitable delivery,
and were it not for the fact that its
use makes fielding uncertain it would
be even more deadly in stopping run
getting than 1t is. Properly delivered.
the spit ball comes almost straight up
to the plate, but just when 1t looks like
it was coming on over with only aver
age speed it suddenly drops from
fraction of an inch to half foot.
When the spit ball refuses to take this
break, it is the easiest thing in the en-
tire repertoire to murder When 1t is
l. Dc.
found to hit is successfully. a
Even if the bat connects with the
ball, it only drives it down to the
ground and gives on of the infielders
an easy assist, unless he happens to
get his ngfiers on the wet spot when
throwing. Then there is an error
charged up. The spit ball is the dead
est ball a batsman has to drive, and
even when hit hard it can be driven
but slowly unless hit squarely on the
nose. When the spit ball first came
out batters thought they had discov-
cred a remedy for it in a slash almost
straight down, as cricket bat is used,
but the trouble is that the pitchers
have discovered ways to make the ball
break out or in at the same time II
takes it's down shoot, and of course
J the slashing style of batting was nc
better for this than the ordinary hori-
: zontal one. Players are now pretty well
. agreed that a hit is rarely made off q
properly delivered spit ball, and that
about the only hope for batters is tc
try to pick out ones that are badly de-
} livered by the pitchers.
: One of the peculiarities about th'
= jump or raise ball is that batter whC
is hitting in perfect form has les!
: chance of hitting it than one who Il
: out of form. Before the spit ball cam'
in, the raise ball was the king of then
: all. The trouble with this delivery
however, is that it takes tremendou
strength and speed to handle it, ant
it can, therefore, be used only by com
paratively few pitchers.
When it is breaking properly in tn
hands of a pitcher who can control Il
the effect is almost the exact opposit
of that of the spit ball. Instead of be
ing hit on top, the ball is hit below
and popped up In the air, with an cas-
out in sight for the f1elders. The jun
ball comes up fast until it's gets al
most on top of the batter, and then
takes a slight jump. Possible it is onl
\ small fraction of an inch. but this
N is enough to cause the bat to hit belo
n the middle. batter hitting perfect
at the ball has no chance to drive
safe, as the break comes so late an
- is so fast that there Is no chance
/ alter the swing of the bat to meet
squarely. A fault batter, who norma
ly hits too high, on the other han
is the one who is the most likely to g
hits when 1t is being use. How effecti'
the delivery is is shown by the ia
that most of the no-hit games are
the credit of pitchers who use 1t.
Both the spit ball and the jump b
. are what may be classed az natural
unhitable deliveries, and when 4 pitc
err has either at his command no pa
ticular headwork is required. T
trouble is that either delivery cam
be used continuously without crippii
the one using them, and, furthermo
even the most expert in their use c
not always make them obey their W
Why 1t is, no one has been able
explain, but it is a fact that one day
pitcher may have any style Of delive
perfectly, and may be absolutely I
able to command 1t day or so lat
Hence, pitchers who rely solely Ut
one delivery are never reliable. and
is the one that has not one but hall
dozen styles to use that counts
most In winning games. Not only
this the case, but pitchers who uss
good variety last tho longest. owing
the fact that the strain Is better {
tributed. On this account while II
well for an ambitious pitcher to
M quire. If possible. one Of the naturs
~ unhitable styles Of delivery, 1t Is {
well to cultivate a variety and lie