Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-13
DECLINE OF THE HOME RUN
Round Trip Drives Less Frequent
Than They Were.
NOW NOT NEEDED TO WIN GAMES
ScientiAc Development of Base Ball
Assigned rs a Reason for Fewer
Four BaEEers-Harry Davis
Notable Record.

NEW YORK, June 12.-In 1901. 81 home
runs were made in the National League;
in 1908 there were only 151. In 1902 In the
American League, there were $50 home
runs; in 1905 there were only lis. In 1902
the National League had Just been raided
OF many Of its hardest hitters by the
American League, and made only ninety
six home runs; so for the purposes OF COM
parison between the home run hitting of
the present day and that Of the early 1905,
1901 in the National League, and 1902 in the
American are taken. The year 1902 would
serve for both were 1t not for the fact
that the National League was suffering
most just then from the depletion in its
ranks of s~luggers caused by American
League inroads.
The point is that the drives to the boun-
daries 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 collectively and individually.
Why this seeming decsdence In the making
of the stalwsrt drives, which sent the bat
ter clear around7
Reasons for the Change.
Different experts, give different reasons.
One attributes the falling off to the advent
of the foul strike rule and the spit ball,
saying these measures tend to discourage
a batsman from taking the free, unre-
strained swing that he would, did he not
have strikes harked to him when he fouls
the ball. Another says the outfielders are
faster; another says is is the different con
struction Of the grounds.
As q matter of fact there may be reason
able explanation in any Of the foregoing
reasons. Yet 1t is probable that the scien-
tific development of the game, from year
to year, has had not a little to do with
the curtailing of home runs. No less all
authority than John McGraw, who is as
keen a student OF every angle of base ball
as there is, says for one thing that the
style of batting has changed. Batters now
a-days go to the plate less with an idea
OF getting in a Furnishing wallop than with
studying and scheming with a view to
hitting safely rather han hitting far. They
are governed more by the aspects and
phases of the game than they used to be.
Team work, the hit and run and sacrifice
and more to be considered.
McGraw also thinks the pitchers Of the
present study the batters more carefully
than did their predecessors, and, suitinL
their pitching to the Individual batsmen
Increase their (the pitchersO effectiveness
The foul strike rule, he thinks, too, tends
to decrease the number of home runs
and the construction Of playing fields may
bear on the subject. All of which is in
line with the theory that scientific develop.
ment Of the game is the main influence.
Facts for the Fans.
Howver, whatever may be the merits
OF theories there are facts regarding home
runs since the existence of the two present
big leagues, which furnish palatable food
for the fan. A confirmed statistician could
take the subject and explore 1t to the end
OF his days and not tire.
1t Will be noted in going over the rec
ords for the last eight years that the men
who have made the most home runs a
season are not always those who make
the most base hits. A quantity of home
runs doesn't necessarily imply a big bat
ting average. Tim Jordan, who made
twelve homers last year, ranked only forty
sixth in batting, with an average of. only
.2H. Yet frequently the men who made
many home runs ranked high. A man who
can put enough force into his swing to
drive the ball cut for the circuit fire.
quently must have some batting ability
Among the batters who have made six or
more home runs in a season there has been
none who was an out and out poor batter.
The most remarkable home run maker
OF the eight-year period referred to is
Harry Davis of the Philadelphia Amerl-
a He is q hard hitter, in a double
sense-one who makes many hits and one
who lands on the ball hard. He has a
free, powerful swing, the sort that sends
the ball with such velocity that no matter
where 1t goes the chances of a base hit
are Increased by the speed with which
1t goes. Such a hitter is Wagner and
several others who get many hits because
OF power rather than accuracy in meeting
the ball and thus sending it swiftly. In
fact such men as Wagner and Davis have
a good deal of both, while batters such as
Keller and Beaumont represent the type
who have the keen eye and a swing ad-
Justed to meet the ball squareIy.
What Leaders Have Done.
Last year was the first in eight years
that Davis didn't make six home runs or
more. See his remarkable record: 1901
eight; 1sO2, six; 1903, six; 1904, ten: 1908
eight; 1906. twelve; 1907, seven. Yet not
once in that time did Davis lead his league
in batting. In 1907 he ranked as low as
fortieth, with an average Of .2ss.
Tim Jordan twice has made twelve home
runs in a season and without being in tbs
800 class either time. He made a dozen in
l0OS with a percentage of .247. He ranked
forty-sixth among the National league bat
tiers in 1908. Ralph Seybold, now with the
minors, made eight home runs in one year
sixteen In another, eight in another ana
six in another. Ed Delehanty caressed the
leather bulb for eight homers In 1901 and
ten In 1902. 1t also was he who made four
home runs in one game.
The old timer Charley Jones once made
two home runs in one inning off Pitcher
Tommy Poorman. Sam Crawford and
Seybold top the list for the number Of
homers In one season-sixteen. Crawford
made six in 1905 and seven In 1908. Bm
Hinehman, who made six last year. stood
eighty-sixth among the batters and his
percentage of safe hits was only .2sI
Bucky Freeman clouted for a dozen four
baggers in 1908, a rare record for con-
secutive years. He had the advantage of
the short left fence in Boston. So have
others had the benefit OF convenient fences
or bleechers. Charley Hickman, a slugRer
pure and simple, gathered ten home runs
in 1902, eleven in 1903 and nine in 1908
Lumley OF Brooklyn is a powerful Ions
distance hitter, having seven homers to his
credit In 1906, nine in 1906 and nine in 1907
The great Wagner swung his mighty eIub
for six four baggers in 1901, six in 1907 and
ten in 1905.