The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-10-24
BAKER PEEVED
i. OVER REPORTS
Gays Christy and the Rube
Are Making Poor Base
ball Judges

OoAA J0A6SS
Philadelphia, Oct. GA Scotch
poet, n Robert Burns by name, told
that the best laid plans of mice and
men aft gang agley." The poet was
referring to nothing, in particular and
walton was a wise and philosophical
u%tterance. And doubt on this score
would be readily dispelled were one
to have a talk with the Messrs. Mar
guard and Matlhewson about recent &C.
currences which have been of much
moment and vital Importance to
Philadelphia.
leading citizen Of Trappe, Nd. one
John Franklin Baker, by name, has
driven defeat deep into the Giants
and despair into the hearts Of their
followers by hitting a Homeric swat
at the psychological moment.
neered with Richard de Marquis. alias
Rube Marquard. on the hill. The
other time the mighty Christopher
Mathewson was the victim of this
Maryland vulcan.
Both Mr.. Marquard and Mr.. Math.
ewson have developed a literary bent
during the present series. Mr.. Mar
1~NsNt "AAo "0o kAtO : VANkAAAtS okA6CO
to typewrite that "he gave Baker a
fast one on the inside. the kind he
al always hit" while Mr.. Mathewson,
who took laughable exception to
Rube's lapse. gave Baker "a curve that
broke over the plate. a little too much
In the groove"
Both Of these eminent and esteemed
authors stated that II Vanguard had
served Baker a curve ball he would
never have hit the pill. Now, In view
of the diversity of opinion and effort,
what's h matter with Cling Baker
an opportunity to say something. Mr..
Baker is distinctly peeved. He feels
Messrs. Marquard and Mathewson, in
respect to the kind Of Lalls that he
hits. is something Of a reflection on his
hitting powers. Woe Is the man who
tries to steal from q slugger his ability
to hit 'em out. Better far to take away
his watch than his hit. So, we will
allow the reader here to listen to q
dignatary of Trappe. Nd. and slugger
premier Of the worlds champions.
Baker Peevcd.
Say" utters Mr.. Baker, as a sort
Of prelude to commentary, ''ain't it a
Wonder that ! have an average in the
American league? I'd like to see the
omctal figures once more to find out
II I'm In the list. If you believe what
Marquard and Mathewson say, 1 can't
hit a ball only in one spot.
Taking 1t all in ali. I'm a lucky
guy to be in the league at all, after
they get done telling where I hit 'enn
and where I miss 'em. I thought I
hit for better than 800 this year, but
It's a sad mistake. ~
Want to know the kind Of balls
hit for those two homers? Marquard
00xo mo q foGt @~A 40 --lS.
Matty handed me a curve about knee
high. 1t didn't look a bit different
than the other urves that he handed
to me all through the series. Say, talk
Ing about fooling me all the time,
haven't I get four hits on him to
date?:
That's what the papers say, any,
way; but 1 guess I must be wrong; 1
haven't got n average. BY the way,
I'd like to say that I feel as If I could
hit any ball that I like. According to
what they say" (they meaning the H.
lustrious M~athewson and the estimable
Marquard) Il only swat 'em when they
are right in the groove and waist high.
well v been hitting against some
pretty good pitchers In our league, and
they've put all kinds Of stuff on the
ball. n for a blind man, I think I've
made out pretty good.
Must be in Mood.
This hitting business is all in the
way YOU feel. Some days you can get
out n knock the off the ball,
hit anything. n kind. n get away
with 1t. The next day you couldn't
break a window with anything that
o hit. All of us have our groove.
all Of us are suckers for certain kinds
of ball. But when you're feeling in
the mood. you can hit almost any
thing. especially when you're wise that
they are trying I" cross you up.
"Lemme tell you something. This
series amt a bit different than playing
any other series. You don't get nerv-
Gus a bit more than you do all through
the season. You look them over just
as well. You hit at EN- just the same.
nervous a bit facing the great pitcher.
I knew he was trying to cross me, and
1t was up to me to outguess him. I
figured that he would shoot a curve
over on me. n I went after 1t be-
cause I felt that it was coming.
II saw Marquard start for that fast
one, and l was all set. He pitched for
me just what I thought he was going
to hand me. So did Matty. Any time
the batter has the pitcher guessed up
and is wise to what he is going to
throw. the odds are about twenty to
one that the batter will hit. That's
what happened to me, and that's the
whole business in a nutshell.
I'm very sorry. Of purse that l
disturbed the plans OF the pitchers,
and didn't fall down and roll over.
But I certainly am glad to know that
I'm in the league, and have got an
average like to get all the hits that
arc COMING IN mo"