The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1909-03-07
MattheWson Tells of
the Great Batters

Boston March i.-Christy Mathew.
son, the giant New York National
pitcher. and now coaching the Har-
ward twirlers. went into a general
criticism OF the great batsmen whom
he has faced In his career today.
The heavy hitter says Matty, rs
most feared for his ability to break
up games. The place hitter is feared
with men on bases, as he can work the
hit and run, and squeeze plays or ad-
vance the base runner by bunting at
the most unexpected times.
"Of course In any criticism OF bats
men OF the present day, | am limited
TO my own experience in the National
league except in the worlds cham
pionshIp series of 1905. when | pitched
against the Athletics who failed to do
much hitting in the entire series,
When pitching against great
batsman pitcher can bring into play
his best sltill and is most ON his met
Tie The man most 10 he feared Is
Hans Wagner Of the Pittsburg club
He Is the rare combination Of place
hitter and slugger,' ana Is equally
dangerous In either style of hitting
While he is a free hitter. he Is con-
stantly trying 10 outwit the pitcher
when the outfleld Is PLAYING deep
to cut of long hit, have known him
TO purposely push the ball over the
infielL for a two base Texas Lacquer
With the base runner on first some OF
his hardest drives 60 past the first
baseman, who. of course. has TO play
on the bag, Most of his longest drives
70 toward left field. but he has been
known TO hit the ball over the Brook
lyn right field fence, which is great
feat even for lefthandcd hitter
While discussing the great Pitts
burg star 1t might not be remi5s to
remark that IL Is wonderful with what
power Tommy Leach hits ball. For
little fellow he IS a marvel Fred
Clarke. too. Is n consistent hitter and
especially dangerous with men on the
bases
Some batsmcn have improved in
their hitting and cannot be fooled by
certain balls that originally bothered
them Such batsmcn are Frank
Chance and Joe Tinker of the Chicago
club. The hits of both these men
against Now York helped Chicago
greatly in winning the championship
last season. and most of these hits
were made off balls pitched 10 their
supposed weaknesses. Both are diff
cult men to fool. and Chance is prob
ably the moro scientific bitter.
Mage and Rransfleld OF the Phil
lies arc valuable men with the willow.
"Lobert OF Cincinnati Is a dangerous
long hlttor,
Tim Jordan of Brooklyn takes
very vicious swing at every ball he
hits at, and his propensity for making
home runs causes the pitchers TO be
exit emcly careful not to put the ball
over when a long hit means a lost
game
"No discussion Of our great batters
would he complete without reference
10 Willie Keeler. formerly of the Bal
timore and Brooklyn championship
teams He was one OF the first mon
to adopt the shorthold method of
grasping the bat In this way he was
always prepared 10 bunt OF 10 slap the
ball past third base. and was equally
successful in putting the ball past
first base. He has not made many
home nuns. but he has always kept the
opposing pitcher guessing as to what
kind OF a ball could possibly fool him.
He is the best type Of scientific hitter
we have had since McGraw quilt play
fpo