Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-28

SHORT STORIES
OF The DIAMOND
George Stone of st. Louis Tells
How He Became a Sphere
Walloper.
BATTER BORN, NOT MADE
Clever Outfielder Says He Had a Hard
Time Breaking Into Major
League Company.
BATTER BORN, NOT MADE
No. VIII.
By GEORGE STONE.

Copyright. 1870 by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
Batting, according to the experts, is
considered the most important factor
In the national game. The ball tosser
who can successfully combat the pitch
ers and get away with two or three
/ safe bingles in each game in the course
of the season is looked upon as the
most valuable asset to any ball club.
To certain extent 1 do agree with
the baseball experts that batting has
taken scientific aspect Still, there is
great amount of luck attached to it.
In my case particularly L will say that
have in my career in the big league
experienced my share OF luck with my
hitting. 1 don't mean to say that the
majority of my hits have been lucky
pnes, but great number of them were.
In order to be an expert batsman it
is necessary for the player to be pos
sessed of extraordinary perception, OF,
better, to be quick of thought, fast as
sprinter and. above all, own a stout
pair of shoulders and arms. l went
into the American league in perfect
condition. l worked at manual labor
several years before adopting the game
as a profession, and as a result my
arms, legs and shoulders were hard
ened and fit to go the route.
Position Always Same.
have not changed my position since
the first time a bat was handed to
me. some twenty years ago. 1 was
called awkward by my side partners.
but despite this supposed handicap
developed into a hard hitter. 1 was
never much of an outfelder. In fact,
1 aspired to be a pitcher or a third
baseman, but the boys wanted me to
play the outfeld because Of my abil.
Ity to smash out drives at the right
moment.
When I went to the Milwaukee club
some years ago the experts there criti-
cised my position at the plate very
harshlv But nevertheless 1 led the
American association that season with
an average that has never been ex
ceIled. When Jimmy Collins, then
manager of the Boston champions,
signed me the know-it-alls opposed me.
Manager Collins was informed that 1
would never make good in the Ameri-
can league, and they told him that l
was the poorest outfielder in the coun-
try / admitted this end of it, but
was sure that 1 would prove my ability
as a batsman. 1 was given little
chance to show It.
Showed EN- a Few.
Shortly after, when l visited Boston
as a member of the St Louis Browns,
| showed these know-it-alls that !
could waIlop the sphere. 1 was lucky
enough to maintain a batting average
of 400 in every game in which 1 took
part.
In order to be a successful batter you
must study and watch every move the
twirler makes. From the time he
braces himself up to the arrival of
the ball in front of you you mustn't
move your eye off Mr.. Pitcher and the
bali. You must watch the ball as cat
does a mouse The minute you lose
track Of its course you are lost.
Twirlers have various ways of deliv-
ering the ball. Some make lot Of
unnecessary motions in order to catch
you off your guard. Others cut out the
swing and hurl the ball over when
you are least expecting it. Then the
catcher is always trying to draw you
into conversation in order to detract
your attention from the pitcher so
that you will lose sight of the ball.
Keep your ears and eyes wide open.
Pay no heed to the man behind you or
the pitcher before you. This pair are
trying to outfgUre you. Remember
these things well. If you never lose
sight Of the bali you will be able to hit
1t. OF course you may not be as sue
cessful as some, but you will succeed.
/ crouch. as the critics say. like Jim
Jeffries does when he delivers blow.
By this 1 mean 1 bring my shoulders
down on line with the ball, and as
result when 1 swing the full force
of my shoulders, arms and body is
behind the blow stick. The boys say
1 drive hard, bounding infeld hit.
My shoulder motion, coupled with a
very sharp twist of my wrists, does
this. 1 practiced this method several
years ago upon the lots in Iowa and
found it was the best system Of them
ALL am called a fast runner, but 1
gain most from breaking fast from the
plate One-tenth Of q second gained
after hitting the ball wins many a
safety for me.