Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-23
CHARACTERISTICS
OF THE BIG H|TTERS
Mannerisms of Some of the
Leading Batsmen in the
American League.
By Billy Evans.

managed to swat the ball for an average
of better than 300 last year. Larry La
joie fell just one point below the mark,
while a number of others regarded as
good hitters were considerably shy. It's
an interesting fact that none Of the
American Leagues leading fitters have
the same position at the plate or swing
at the ball in the same manner. A study
of the various prominent players reveals
such conditions.
The first player to be considered is Ty-
rus Cobb, inasmuch as he led the league
in batting. This young fellow has been
in the limelight for about a year. Last
summer he attracted universal attention
by his great playing, while this winter
he has been constantly before the public
because of his trouble with the Detroit
club over salary.
When at the bat Cobb hugs the plate
fairly close and stoops just a trife. He
doesn't take big swing at the ball, but
puts all his strength into the effort. Like
all good hitterS he uses his shoulders In
the swing and never pulls away from
the plate. 1t doesn't appear quite con-
sistent, but Cobb's great speed helps his
batting average wonderfully. It's not so
much in the hits he beats out, but simply
posing team is all on edge, knowing that
the ball must be handled fast and clean
in order to get the southerner. The result
is that Cobb gets a hit on many ball
that would have been handled perfectly
had not the opposition been over-anxious.
There is no player in the business who
is more graceful at the plate than Sam
Crawford Of the Tigers. It's a treat to
watch Crawford face the pitcher. His is
an air of confidence from the time he
leaves the bench until he assumes his
position at the plate. Crawford uses q
big heavy bat which he poises Oh his
shoulder in such manner that it always
makes the opposing pitcher feel better
when he is out of the way. Unlike Cobb,
he stands at the plate with his feet wide
apart instead OF close together. Craw-
ford takes a mighty swing at the ball
and generally hits it on line and far
away. 1t is not exaggeratins in the least
to say that Crawford goes out on more
hard hit balls than any other player In
the major leagues. With men on the
bases there is no more dangerous man In
the business than Crawford.
OF the leading hitters the style OF
George Stone is perhaps the most unique.
Stone is just a mediums chap. but he
looks like a giant to most of the pitchers
He uses a very heavy bat and assumes a
crouching position at the plate. SO much
SO that a spectator not knowing Stone
would believe he was humpbacked.
Stone stands close to the plate. and In
over it when he crouches. If the
pitcher keeps them on the outside. the
Brownie with his long stick is able to
reach them. Ii the twirler keeps them
close no just steps back and slashes
away.
Base ball critics have picked Stones
style to pieces and claim that its simply
luck with him. Jimmy McAleer says that
he wishes he had an entire team like
Stone; and moreover he doesn't care how
Stone gets the hits, just SO he delivers.
During his three years in the American
League Stone has always been in select
company. He appears to be without a
weakness and is a hard man to play for.
as he hits to any field. Stone is very
fast and slides into first on every close
play.
Charley Hickman. Schreck, Harry Da-
Wis, Socks Seybold, Jimmy Williams,
Frank Laporte and Hobo Ferris are a
regarded as sluggers. All of these play
ers have had, and some still have, rep
utations as fence breakers. When a
pitcher sends any one of them to the
bench on three strikes it Is generally after
he has had as many healthy swing at
the ball.
Visiting teams all have fear of Davis.
Schreck and SeybOld on the Philadelphia
short. and although there is a high screen
to keep the long hits from going over,
this trio have won many game by
drives over the fence with men on bases.
Schreck has caused many a pitcher to
say unkind things about him because of
his ability to hit what the pitchers insist
are wild pitches. 1t is the waste ball or
wild pitch that Schreck usually swats to
the tall timbers. On numerous occa-
sions the visiting pitcher has delivered a
waste ball only to have Schreck send 1t
to the fence
These three members Of the Athletics
use 4 long heavy bat. stand quite dis
lance from the plate and take a long
full swing. All of them are husky fellows,
and when they meet the ball it Is GER
tain to travel
Frank Laporte, who will be with Boston
this year. assumes even a more crouch
ing position at the plate than George
Stone, although it is not as effective.
Laporte is a big husky chap when
Strengthened out but he appears to be
about the size OF Topsy Hartsel when
crouching.
Willie Keller has a style all his own,
and. strangely enough, no batter has
ever tried to pattern after it. Keller
| simply shops at the ball. and seldom
very Short bat and grasps 1t in the
center. At the bunting game Keller is
an adept. and the opposing third base
man is always i'll at ease with Keller
up. Place hitting is regarded by many
critics as all but impossible, but If there
Is anybody who can place the ball it's
Willie Keeler. Until last year Keeler had
hit 800 or better for thirteen seasons.
Perhaps thirteen was the Jonah.
Some people believe that the f1elders
have solved Keeler's methods and that
tho pitchers serve them where he doesn't
like them. This may be true. hut it's