Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-07-11
LONG DRIVES ARE
NOT so FREQUENT
RECORDS OF PAST EIGHT SEA.
SONS SHOW DECREASE IN
NUMBER HOME RUNS.
HEAVY HITTING ON DECLINE
Four-Sackers to the Number of 221
Made in 1901; While Last Year
There Were Only 151-Different
Reasons for the Cause Given by
Experts-Theory Of Manager Nc
Graw,

In 1901 221 home runs were made
in the National league; in 1908 there
were only ISL. In 1902 in the Ameri-
can league there were 259 home runs !;
in 1908 there we're only lis. In 1902
the National league had just been
raided of many of it's hardest hitters
by the American league and made
only SO home runs; so for purposes
of comparison between the home run
hitting Of the present day and that
of the early 1900's, 1901 in the Nation
al league and 1902 in the American
league are. taken. The year 1902
would serve for both we're it not for
the fact that the National league was
suffering just then from the depletion
in its ranks of sluggers caused by
American league inroads.
The point is that the drives to the
boundaries for the entire circuit are
not as frequent by a good deal as
they were seven or eight years ago.
The records will show a falling off in
number of home runs, both collective
ly and individually. Why this seem
ing decadence in the making Of the
stalwart drives which send the batter
clear around? ~.
Different experts give different rea-
sons. One of them attributes the fall
ing off to the advent of the foul strike
rule and the spitball, saying these
measures tend to discourage bats
man from taking the free, unre-
strained swing that he would did he
not have strikes charged to him when
he fouls the ball. Another says it is
the different construction Of grounds
While there may be reason In any
of the foregoing explanations, it. is
probable that the scientific develop
ment Of the game from year to year
has had not little. to do with the cur
failing of home runs. No less an au-
thority than John McGraw, who is as
keen aastudent of severy angle of
baseball as there is, says for zone
thing that the style of batting has
changed. Batters nowadays go tQ the
plate less with an idea of getting in
a Furnishing wallop than with study
AuS anu SCAS1uAAS Will view ~ u1I-
ting safely rather than hitting Il far.
They are governed more by the as
poets and phases of the game Mlan
they used to be. Team work, tha hit
and run and sacrifice are more tb be
considered. 4
McGraw also thinks the pitchers of
the present study the batters more
carefully than did their predecessors
and, suiting the pitching to the indi-
vidual batsmen, increase the effective
ness of the pitching. The foul strike
rule, he thinks, too, tends to decrease
the number of home runs and the'con-
struction of playing fields may bear
on the subject. All of which is in line
with the theory that scientific devel-
opment OF the game is the main in
fluence. =.
However, whatever may be the mer-
its of theories, there are facts regard
ing home runs since the existence of
the two present big leagues which
furnish palatable food for the fam. A
confirmed statistician could take the
subject and explore it to the end Of
his days and tire of the study. !