The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1909-04-02

Bill Lange. who from 93 to 80 as
member of the Chicago National
league team was perhaps the most
sensational outfielder and one of the
finest batsmen and base runners In
baseball, is now resident of San
Francisco. ruring family bee
there the other day he took occasion
to remark that the batsmen of the
present time had not advanced in
any way over the form shown by the
stars of 10 years ago.
Instead of waiting for a base on
one strike. claim the batsman
should wallop the next ball up against
the fence If It happens to be over
the plate" said Lange. THAT was
the system in the old days and |
think 1t had its advantages. At any
rate. 1t worked successfully and that
is the main thing.
II have noticed that the habit nova
days is to be altogether too scientific.
And that science lay is running the
batters. There used to be such things
as 400 hittCrs in the big leagues, and
now the managers are spending for
tunes in the hope of finding a $50 hit
ter. The reason they are so hard to
find is because the batsmen don't
follow out their natural inclinations
to wallop the ball, but stall around
at the plate in the artificial hope of
drawing a pass instead of breaking a
board in the back fence.
mo batter, who has an eye at all.
ought ever to wait when he has three
balls and one strike on him, unless
the pitcher is uncommonly wild.
Think of the advantage of hitting
when three balls have been called.
You are dead sure that the next one
will be over the plate II the pitcher
can get It there. II he doesn't, let 1t
go and take your base. But II you
let good one go then you are up
against another proposition.
Then the batsman is In a worse
hole than the pitcher. and his chances
of making a safe hit are at least four
to one against him, for nervy pitch.
er will take a chance on a curve or q
high one in the hope of making the
batsman bite. He wouldn't dare do
that very often when the count was
only three and one. The batsman
who waits too long is just giving him
self the worst of the DEAL
But Lange has noticed another fea-
tuer of baseball that is an improve
N nlJ Iau That 10 tho
matter of working hard during the
training season.
Lange admits that, outside of the
batting, the game has made great
strides, and pitchers especially are
using foolers never heard of in the
old days.
I'VE old timers were long time
In believing that there was anything
in the so-called spit ball" said Lange.
But results have forced us to admit
it's existence and its power to deceive.
Now they are talking about the
knuckle or finger nail ball. For a
long time | supposed that was a joke.
But just this morning | had letter
from Clark Griffith, telling about
a discussion he had with Anson dur.
ing the schedule meeting at Chi
cago over the knuckle ball. Griff
ought to know what he is talking
about, and. he convinced me of the
| knuckle balls effectiveness"
Speaking of Lange, II Is interest
ing to note that he is one OF the
three great ball players who retired
from baseball while still at their best,
and that the other two. Mike Griffin
Of Brooklyn and Fielder Jones Of the
White Sox, were also center fielders.
The retiring germ must inoculate the
middle gardeners first. Lange quit
TO marry a San Francisco girl who
wouldn't stand for her husband spend
ing most of the year in the east play
ing ball; Griffin quit when he couldn't
reach a salary agreement with the
owners OF the Brooklyn club, and
Jones has quit to look after his lum
ber interests I'm the northwest, passing