The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-08

One Of the features Of the annual
meeting Of the American League in
New York next week viii be a hearing
at which Joe Quirk and Doc Refs
ling. Of the Washington ball club, VIII
explain 10 the maEnates the new blood
less spike which has been patented by
the trainer Of the Nationals
At last years convention QuirI pre-
scented TO the representative Of the DIFF
fereut franchises on the circuit the plan
Of his invention, and il appealed so
strongly that the pateHtee was told
10 distribute them among some of the
more prominent players 10 see II II
would prove practical Several OF the
stars tried out the arrangement and
Ouirk and ReisIing VIII present TO the
meeting the Endorsements Of Kid Elber-
field. Chase, Cobb, LajOie, Wallace, and
several others who agree that the SUD
st5tute for the dangerous steel that has
always been used in the past is salts
factory
While the spikes worn by all players
are considered comparatively insignia
cant by the ordinary fan, It IS never
rl7e1ess true that Il has cost all the ball
climbs in America thousands OF dollars
aDnua71v because Of injuries 10 players
who have been unfortunate 20 get IN
the way of the blades as runners have
slid into the bags and across the plate
For a matter of protection eseFeral
catchers wear shin guards whenever
in service, and il has even been s-5-
rasred that all the inielders use the
Ieather. protectors but. thls-. Oh coulS9'
would be .iTnpracticable, because o. lilo
weight, which would retard spee4l,
10 Cr1irlz-s new spike Is a SlinLlle. ~
-sy,ear9lur L Is piece or. steer u tils
shane of an acorn and. WINE lf1I't,g-
enough 10 keep It's Searer rom slil,i'LL-5,
a. is, AT the same 1Ime TOO ol--L - ~. a. -
anyone who might get IN ITS way II =
~Tean. does not have TO be shaFpened;
can be easily attached 70 the s2is, anu
e roo Iichr TO interfere with speed
II II is adopted z VIII mean Jne saE-
ing Of many q plaEef a----- 49, =, f7i
a neat little sun Tor -AiesSrs- h-elSllLls
and Ouirk. who are partners II Ine ven
tUre-
President Tom Moves Will represent
rna Rational al the league meeting He
leaves here Tusday.
Spikes vs. Cleats.
vvhv the leather football cleaJs have
-eve- been substituted for the st eel base
hall sufkes is about as easy to explain
os why catchers stuI insist upon stoop-
Ing into most unnatural positions and
slow themselves up in giving signals
RecauSe. some one started giving sig
nails by the fingers while STOPPING Il
has always stuck and the idea of stand
Ing erect and by word or movement
'-rPlegraDhinE- 10 the pitcher has never
@n0eaI led There Is about as much rea-
son for adheTing 10 the deadly spike
when il has been putting stars out or
the came year after year
speed Is IS much essential 70 success
on the eriGir0n as on the diamond ana
football PLAYERS. IN running, jumping,
and diving, are forced 10 be as sure, or
more So. than ball players,- stiH rhe
rIan of subSC5 tuTiuC leather Tor steel has
never been taken seriously
IF Z. man Eoes. I'D with instructions TO
hunt he makes two attempts and then
swings Why he should not Try % dump
the ball the third time has never been
explained and probably never viii
Neither VIII reason why players
should be sac1l5-cinS limbs hv Sucking
10 steel when leather might DO just as
vel
Tie Boston NatioHa1s VIII play eNhi-
bftion games here on Aprll land s
Still After Drake.
IN his search for outfeIders. Jimmy
aIaAIeer has not forgotten Delos Drake,