The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-08-02
BATSMEN TAKE
LESS OF A CHANCE
In Old Days Pitchers Would Go Far to
Gain Adyantage-It's Very
Different Now.

When Frank Chance manager or the
Chicago Nationals was struck on tho
head By ball hurled by Pitcher Gas
per OF Cincinnati recently 1t recalled
the fact that many star baseball play
srs have lost their effectiveness through
being hit BY thrown balls.
That more batsmen are not injured
by being hir by pitched balls speaks
well for the skill OF the present day
pitcher Ia the old days the pitcher
would not infrequently let one 90
straight at the batter's head In order
to drive him away from the plate.
Such a proceeding Is rare nowadays
Working the edges OF the plate seems
TO hare proved more effective Never
theless the fire the batter faces is dan
gerous
One Of the worst cases OF head bit.
ding was that OF Hugh Jennings. now
manager Of the Detroit clrb. ~ Amos
Rusie. Jennings. with Baltimore then.
was noted for his close hugging OF
the plate and his willingness 10 ac-
eept base by being bit by fhe pitch.
er. He relied upon his quickness Of
eye to minimize the effect Of the blow.
Rusie bad a wide. jumping curve ball
jennings was willing to turn bis
shoulder, accept a DETECTING blow or
let 1t hit bis shirt front or the slack
Of bis knichsrbockers. he could do
this with pitchers OF average curve,
but Rusie's curve was too sharp ia the
break and too fast for him to avoid
jennings stoed close and got one full
In the head He feli dat For four
days bis life was despaIred Of. but a
powerful constitution pulled him
through. though be never was the
same nervy man again at the plate,
and 1t was months before he could
play.
Jennings, by the way. is an extreme
u durable person. While at Cornell
be dived face drst against the concrete
bottom Of IN empty swimming tank.
The man IA a marvel OF vitality and
energy He sustained two shocks that
would have killed the average man.
yet be is as fun Of enesgy today as
dynamo.
Roderfck Wallace. the famous inheld-
er Of the Browns. had bis batting EN-
cheney seriously and permanently I'M
paired twelve years ago when he was
hit Ia the head BY bail thrown by
"Chick" Fraser. who was then with
the Louisville club. Wallace was
knocked Dat. and 1t was many days
before be went to bat again, A con-
stitution Of iron enabled him to with
stand the shock. but be never was
quite the same hitter afterward.
Dan Hoffman. the center fielder OF |
the Browns, was the victim Of a fear
ful blow at the hands ok Jesse Tame
bill. then with Boston, some years /
ago, Hoffman was at the time deemed
the most promising young player IN
the American league. He was having
his FIRST season. and a brilliant one 1t I
was. One day he made triple, dou- I
bic aad single against Tannehill In
three trips to the plate The fourth |
time up Tannehill bit him terrific
blow over the right eye, 1t almost
killed the trained and muscular young
athlete. Hoffman lay as II dead. and
It was four days before he recovered
consciousness. Then bis nerves were
ruined From 40 pounds he declined
to 1913. He could not sleep or eat for
six months, and the following season
he had to get along as bsst he could
with only one eye. Hoffman says that
It has taken him six years to get back
his full strength. He has never been
able to hit LETT handed pitchers since
the day be was hurt Now. SIX years
after, Hoffman is at the mercy Of the
average left handed pitcher.
Johnnie Lush. the star pitcher Of the
Cardinals. was bit by ARdy Ccalsley on
the neck and all but killed His neck
has never been -sfralght since that