The Washington herald., 1909-04-18

AAAN-N NtN % many Minus d LllluMtIS
as there are ball players-sssy. graceful,
awkward, strong, deliberate. fast-snap
throwers. long swing throwers-but what
ever may be the styles OF different in
helders in the professional ranks, they.
one and all. have the same purpose in
view, 70 get the bali 10 the base ahead
Of the runner.
There's Bill Dahlen, for instance He
IS not pretty thrower He lets go with
side-srm and rather ungainly motion.
but he is one Of the most reliable throw
ers in The big leagues, Dahlen is an ex-
eellent Judge OF distance and times his
throws with wonderful exaeness.
When IL comes TO thrower whose
method is a treat 10 the eye for IT'S grace.
speed, and unerring airline fight. Harry
Steinfeldt, the third baseman of the
worlds champions. is an accomplished
actor. He has a powerful arm and, while
he makes his share Of wild throws. there
is beautiful harmonizing Of lift and speed
TO his hings. he is the prettiest thrower
from the third corner We have seen since
Billie Nsshs time.
There IS no more wonderful thrower in
either league than Capt Nike DOolin. OF
the Phillies. Doolin is one Of the hardest
throwers in the game and one Of the
trueSt. His ability % throw from any
position is his strong point. however and
his skill in locating first base without
Strengthening Up 10 make the tnrow, or
apparently looking where he Is throwing.
has stamped him as a marvel
Collins r Marvel of Grace.
Another attractive thrower is Jimmy
Collins. His throws do not so with the
whizzing flight OF Steinfeldts, but he IS
easier and more graceful Nobody ever
was Collins equal in natural grace. From
the moment he goes after a ball-up in
the air. or scooping a difficult bunt-an
OF Collins muscles and movements are
in perfect harmony.
a thrower OF the Dahlen type is George
Davis OF the White SOx. Davis style
is more useful than ornamental He too
Is a side-wheeler. He suggests the lum-
bering rather than the uimble, but makes
no false movements.
Hal Chase. the brilliant first baseman
Of the Yankees. has a marked manner
ism IN his throwing. II is a peculiar lift
OF the ball 10 a point just over and close
10 the left shoulder. There is an almost
imperceptible hitch or break in the move
ment Of the arm just before the ball IS
thrown, then the hand shoots forward
just psst the ear.
The great Lajoie throws, as he does
everything else on the ball field, IN an
Indifferent. careless manner. He is the
personihcatiOn of careless, supple grace.
' There Is rather a wide sweep OF the arm
but with the movement so well attuned
70 the requirement Of the occasion that
il has the ease OF everything else Lajoie
does.
Quite different IN build IS Lajole's great
rival in popular opinion as to who is the
greatest ball player IN the country.
Dutch Wagner Is less symmetrical than
massive. Massive though he is he is
boundlesS in his activity. When II comes
TO throwing. the Dutchman can vary his
style, just as he can for batting. Some
times he tosses the ball-merely floats IL
over 20 first base. as II to show his con-
tempt for the speed Of the runner Some
times. when the time is short. his arm
describes a swinging. swishing arc. and
then he cuts loose with great force
Kid Elberfeld is a determined. vicious
thrOwer, who whips them across on a line
and uses his arm for all there is in IT,
He has a powerful arm, and, although
his aim may be bad at times, the ball
goes straight, whether into the first base
mans mitt. into the ground or into the
grand stand.
Bradley's Swinging Motion.
Bill Bradley. the tall and rangy third
5aseman Of the Cleveland club. makes
lariat Of his arm, throws with a swing
ing motion. and has such q reach that
he seems to be handing the ball to the,
first baseman-
Joe Tinker is another who might be
described as an enthusiastic thrower. He
conveys the impression that he would
rather throw than eat. Every bit Of him
is. mixed up in the throwing motion. some
way or other, and he goes at the job with
the gusto Of hungry man tackling
hot meal.
There IS plenty OF action in the throw
ing Of Bobby Wallace, OF the ST. Louis
Browns. who. however, appears 10 have
more control over his movements, more
finish than Tinker. The arm part OF Wal
lace's throw is Of attractive proportion IN
its swing and elevation
Arthur Devlin. third baseman OF the
New York Giants. a very accurate and
reliable thrower. gets the bail away with
out great deal Of exertiOn. He skins
II across with a side arm movement. the
arm remaining for a second in the air
as II Il, like the eye, were following the
fight OF the ball.
Frank Chance. manager OF the Cham
pion Cubs, is another who takes It easy
when he throws the play Of the shoulder
with the arm being comparatively gentle,
but so nicely balanced as 70 make the
ball travel fast. Fred Tenney. Of the
Giants. throws with more Of a push. the
hand being on a level with the tor Of
the head. and the forearm and upper arm
at right angles.