Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-31
Sparks From the Diamond.

First Baseman StovalI Of Cleveland has
worked the hidden ball on opposing play
ers three times this season-on Washing
ton. New York and st. Louis.
Arthur Devlin did not escape club pun
ishment for his break in assaulting a
spectator on the Brooklyn grounds. The
New York club fined him $780,
Cy Seymour is said to balk now when
southpaw stands on the hill. But all
the same he got two Of the Giants six
hits off of Saliee at ST. Louis last week
Rube Benton. Cincinnati,s Sc. 900 beauty
looks better every time out His mornin,.
practice is making real pitcher of him,
and he will soon be ready for a regular
game.
Jesse Tannehill, the veteran pitcher OF
the Minneapolis Club. has quit the Mil
lers. Jesse figured that he was not earn
ing his salary. He is seeking a man.
agerial berth with some minor league
team.
Russell Ford came within coupie OF
inches of no-hit game the other day at
New York. Tall Jack Knight could have
collared Hoffmans little pop that short
Willie Roach couldn't quite clutch.
Outfielder Arthur Kruger has been sold
by Cleveland to the Boston National
club for price not named. Kruger
went to Cleveland from Columbus, where
he was leading batsman of the American
Association.
Has Connie Mack dope box? He must
feed his athletes something. Cy Morgan
was just an ordinary dub with Boston,
yet when he reached Philadelphia he
perked up and is now one of the star
performers of the American League
The base ball fans Of ST Paul are
watching and waiting for the blowup OF
of the Miller hack does not fall out within
the next two weeks there will be several
suicide tricks turned in this city Of the
saints.-St. Paul Dispatch.
1t is peculiar how many umpires, were
formerly pitchers. In the American As
ISOLATION of the eight umpires Ferguson,
Hayes, Bierlalter, Chill and Bush were
at one time pitchers. Ferguson was the
best of the lot. He pitched for the Boston
Nationals for many years and was one
of the best known beavers in the county
ten years ago. Hayes was at enc time a
pretty good infielder.
This is what Rochester of the Eastern
League has done in the way of attend
ance: In thirty-one exhibitions, Or day >
this year, thirty-five games have been
played for an average daily attendant
of 1865. In thirty-one exhibitions in 1909
there were thirty-three games for an av-
erage of 1904, which shows an increase
in daily average of 461. In actual figures,
4.2S2 more fans have attended thirty
one exhibitions this year than attended
the same number last year.
The wonderful success of Russell Ford
the star pitcher of the Highlanders. IS
due principally to the development OF a
freak spit ball curve. Lajoie was unable
to find it the other day and did not see
single drive off the young architect
The regular spit ball is thrown by cover
ing the tips Of the first and second fingers
with saliva so that the ball will slip or
those fingers and not take rotary mo-
ton. The ball. therefore, gets its direc-
ton from the thumb and wObbles to the
plate In a peculiar jerky fashion. The
only trouble with that curve Is the IN
ability of the pitcher to make 1t break
lin or "out" to the batter according TO
the wishes Of the twirler. Ford has solved
that problem by inventing a way OF max
ing the curve break In. Ford found that
finger with saliva that the ball would slip
of from the side instead of the tips OF
the fingers. and as there Is no friction on
the right side of the ball 1t would grad
ually drop INSIDE" of the plate. He con-
trolls IL Perfectly. He can also make the
ball break outward by moistening the
thumb.