Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1907-06-16


Has baseball reached IT. limits ~ .
scientific game; i am inclined to
think Il has, although would not be
surprised TO learn Of some pitcher dis
covering = new curve In the near fu-
ture. writes Tim Murnane. the Bos-
ton critic. Men threw N strong and
accurately 30 years ago as they do at
the present time. Men ran the bases
~ well 20 years ago ~ they do now.
and the catchers threw Just ~ well TO
second. Nat Hicks. who died recently
at his old home In Hoboken. was .
grand throwing catcher for the New
York Mutuals In the early seventies.
No man Of the present day had any
thing on this perfect athlete when II
came to dancing the ball down TO sec
ond. Where can you find any catch
ers of the present time who could out.
throw Mike Kelley. Buck Ewing.
Charlie Bennett. Charley Snyder. Emil
Gross. Old Hoss Flint. John Clapp.
Mike McGcary. Doug Allison or
Charley Camel?
have yet 10 see n shortssop who
would outthrow George Wright In his
prime over 30 years ago. ! played
with him one whole season without
noting one poor throw. and he would
throw from any position In which he
got the ball. unless he. had oceans OF
time. No third baseman has ever
displayed more form than Ezra Sut-
ton In throwing from third. Andrew
Leonard could outthrow any outfield
err the game has produced for long
range accuracy as well as speed. Jake
Evans has never been approached as
remarkable thrower from right field
TO first and home. Taking the ball on
the dead run he would cut II over TO
FIRST. forcing the fastest runners 10
their top speed TO avoid an out. John
Hatfield. who still holds the ofiicial
record for long-distance throwing. has
never had a superior In shooting the
bah to the four bases from center
field. Throwing IL the foundations OF
baseball. weak throwing teams can
never win the prize In the major
leagues. while accurate throwing will
cut on reckless base running and
force all TO earn their way around the
bases. Men stopped ground balls as
well 20 years ago AZ they do at the
present time. and without the use OF
gloves. For instance. Big Ed William
son and Fred Pfefcr. Of Chicago; Bid
McPhee. OF Cincinnati: Danny Rich
ardson. Of New York; John Burdock.
Of Boston: Fred Dunlap. Of Detroit.
and scores of others. Who could beat
Danny Richardson. Bid McPhee. Fred
PfefYer. Fred Dunlap. John Farrell or
Joe Cerhardt on pivot work In dou-
BILE play7
Pitchers were as clever ten or 20
years ago as at the present time.
There were fewer OF the box artists
employed. and the regular men were
accustomed TO their work. making q
stronger combination. have never
seen finer allround team work than
was displayed by Baltimore. Boston
and Cleveland ten years ago. unless
II was by the New York Giants In
1889.
John F. Morrill, was by all odds the
finest throwing first baseman the
game has produced. and I have In
mind all the clever men OF the pres
ent time. for Morrill, had great speed
as well as absolute accuracy. and was
OF like a fash on every play. being n
wonder on ground balls.
The games have grown mechanical.
and the team that makes the fewest
mistakes will be apt To win out. for
hlunders are costly where teams are
evenly matched outside OF aggressive
ness and brain work. There Is too
much sameness about the methods
used 10 make runs. A player reaches
first and the next man walks up and
hunts for an easy out Sometimes
think the sacrifice hunt should be cut
out OF the game. making u more open