The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-06-18
MORDECAI BROWN THINKS
PLACE HITTING Is BUNK
Says No Batter Can Tell Where
Ball is Going Main Thing Is
to Hit Hard
MANY GLAD TO GET SAFETY

"IIit the ball squarely and line 1t to
some uncovered portion of the field"
was Frank Selee's advice to young
batters. Selee was a great manager
and a great teacher OF the game when
he was with the Cubs. and his mem
DRY will ever remain green with those
fortunate players who ever came un-
der his direction. His advice was
most difficult to follow, however. 1t Is
impossible to hit the ball where you
want to, and even more impossible 10
wallop it when you want to.
II, for example" says Mordecai
Brown, star pitcher of the Chicago
Cubs. "am always delighted when hit
the ball at all. Believe me, it's hard
enough to smash the ball anywhere
without trying to place 1t. 1 don't
care who tells you, / can't believe that
q batter knows just where to hit 1t
ana where he's going to place 1t. In
he first place, man may say To
The end OF the bat, and stick 1t
through first and second. What is he
| liable to do? Either miss the ball en-
| tirely or pop up a tiny foul to the
catcher.
| you might as well tell batter To
| plug the ball with the end of his bat
as inform him To pick out certain
place. There was never batter who
| knew where on the bat he was going
to hit the ball. OF that fact | am alb
solutely certain. Willie Keller was
one Of the few batters who was pretty
sure of hitting the ball somewhere
when he tried, but you notice he didn't
swing at the ball. He poked his ba
at it, following the course of the bal
as well as he was able.
Sometimes with a man on first bas'
a shortstop will dash over toward sec
ond the moment the ball Is pitched
and the batter will line the bal
through his vacant position. Immedi
ately some Of the fans will exclaim
Gee, that was swell placing of tn
ball They really imagine that tn
batter picked out the spot instanta
neously. The truth of the matter !
that the fielder rather started towar
! second to bluff the runner from steal
ing or the batter got away with
blind hit and run play. 1t was only
chance. the fact that the bali wer
through the unprotected spot.
mitchell of the Reds, one OF tn
best batters i'm our league, didn
know where he was going TO slug tn
ball He Is just as pleased when h
, hunts safely towards third base a
}. when he knocks n panel off fenc
= He is lust as liable to do one as tn
r other. for he doesn't know where 1t
: going. 1t is enough for him to n
. safely.
e Another grand batter, Speaker
< the Boston Red Sox. slams at the ba
o with intent to kill il. His success,
I am told. Is due to the way he stanc
ND at the plate. That's one OF u
d greatest secrets of batting. A bate
s. who stands close and does not Ora
q back. but one who goes straight IN
the hall is more liable to hit II GU
c He is more likely to get 1t out OF u
$ infleld, too. A man who draws pa'
3 even a trine is more liable to rap
II tame grounder at the infield. wal
e ner. Cobb. Evers, Speaker and Mitci
y ell slam right into the bali. and the
u success is greater than the orui'ia
y" run of batters.
"Don't let anybody tell you he CT
hit the ball where he tries TO- Tor
can't unless he is n phenom I've new
heard Of"