Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-07-17

who, without seeing, can tell what Is
going on in game. While this seems
remarkable. the playing Of Eddie Ash.
who was the star outfielder of the Wa
bash college team this year seems
more so. for Ash has only one arm.
Ash made only one bobble all year.
His home is in indianapolis, and it
was his second year In the right gar
den for the scarlet He played two
years for the Manual Training team
In indianapolis. Lots of felders are
cheered for their reunning one-hand
catches, but their work cannot be re-
garded as so sensational after all when
1t Is known that Ash regularly accepts
the most difficult chances with his
one hand. He Is fairly good batter
and has been known to knock home
runs with the one arm which seems to
have the strength of two.
There have been other one-armod
players, and some of the older fans
ha$ recall "One-Armed DAILY who
played professional ball a score Of
PEARS ago. It was reported some time
Ago that Clark Griffith had signed a
bhearmed pitcher whom his scouts
found in Texas.
Which Is tho more superstitious, a
Pailor or q ban player? Anyone who
has studied both types will quickly
h9ewer. he ball player.
II Is Probably true that no other
class Of men anywhere approaches the
sailor and the player in this particu-
lar psychological subject. They are
euperstitious in everything they do,
and many things they don't do.
Whoever heard Of sailor who
would willingly set sail from port on
Friday? Whoever heard OF ball play
er who didn't go through some rites
and ceremonies before going to bat. or
before returning to the bench, or be-
fore taking his usual place on tho
field? It's all superstition, relic Of
prehistoric days.
Many people wonder when they see
Sheckard of the Cubs, go to bat what
that small white ball on the top Of
his cap is. No other player on the
team has that particular distinction.
It Is nothing more or less than a piece
Of gum. When Jimmy sheckard
wears that piece of gum he believes
that he will be able to hit better. Or
at least he did believe so. When he
played IN the world series against the
Sox three years ago and failed to
make even one hit, he removed that
gum the following year. He started
right out on batting streak.
So sometimes he wears that gum
and sometimes he doesn't, all depend
ing on the way the special deity of
that gum rules. Then there is kid"
Gleason, for years and years second
baseman Of the Phillies. He wouldn't
any more think Of returning to the
bench without walking in front of the
plate than he would fly. He makes a
wide circuit in going through the cere-
monies, but he does it in such a mat
ter of fact way that ninety-nine out Of
hundred fans never notice him.
Why does he do this? Superstition,
nothing else. In ordinary walks Of
life Gleason is a rational sane be-
ing. But in baseball he must take
that walk. He has done it for so many
years that It has come to be an In.
stinct with him. If you should ask
him why, it's almost certain that he
would say: always do it." Whether
it helps his batting is subject of de-
bate, but he never fails to take those
few e4tra steps.
Ball players are a fastidious lot
when It comes to the paraphernalia
they use In game. Certain kinds of
shoes must be made, most of them
having their shoes made to a special
last that Just suits them; then there
are their gloves. and the makers Of
these have a special department to
turn out the various styles demanded,
almost every player IN the big leagues
having a glove named for him, which
is ordered and made accordingly.
But 1t IL the bat over which the
player passes most Of his time. Time
xas when . big Lacquer passed Ill his