The Washington herald., 1911-02-24
i'm McAeers Latest Recruit From Cleveland Is $50 Hitter

are so many youngsters who would only
be too glad to play baseball IL they were
given the chance to make a team, that
1t Is hard to see how the amateurs could
be hurt by the voluntary withdrawal of
those who are really professional players.
New blood would be injected into the
teams, new interest, and, consequently,
more fans and rooters at the games;
more money, for there are plenty Of peo-
pie willing to contribute toward amateur
sport for sports sake; and more har-
mony, for the amateur player is loyal
to his club and is perfectly willing to
play on but one team. Its the seni-pro,
with an itching after money, who wants
TO play every night, and who promises TO
play with one manager, and then goes
of and plays with another because he
is offered better inducements.
Managers Become Disgusted.
Many a manager has quit baseball in
disgust because his players could not be
depended on to keep their word when
they promised to appear to play in a
very important game; in fact, the writer
has been present when as many as ten
men have promised to show UP, and has
the next evening been surprised to see
the umpire forfeit the contest to the
other team simply because these same
players failed to keep their word. Is
there anything more disgusting? Is it any
wonder good men are giving up anna
teur baseball every day?
But TO get back to the main subject.
we see no reason why a semi-profes-
sional league would prove anything but a
boost to amateur baseball
The Bat looked up at the player bold
And its smile was good To sec;
Then it turned quite rtd as il softly said
You have made a hit with me-.
Exchange.
Hits count in baseball probably more
than anything else a player does, and
the manager who can get his hands on
good sticker is willing to take chances
by running him in the regular lineup.
While game is lost occasionally by a
dropped fly or a r1fsjudged grounder on
the part of the heavy hitter who cannot
field. the games he wins by the clever
welding of his trusty cudgeI offset the
errors and the result goes on the right
side OF the ledger Good hitters are born,
1t is said. yet the careful study of ones
faults will overcome most of the weak
nesses seen in local sand-lotters. Draw
ing back when the pitcher throws the
ball to the plate one of the most COM
mon offenses on the part of amateurs,
can be overcome by stepping in to the
ball in practice After the habit of step
ping toward the twirIer is formed con-
fidence returns and the player is a match
for the average pitcher. Hitting at a
high ball is another thing which the
average ball player cannot resist doing.
There seems to be an Unborn temptation
To slug at the sky-liners. and the pitcher
who has a fast high one most always
gets away with the stunt Of pulling GER
tain ball tossers. When you find you can
resist the little voice inside which says
swat it, when a high ball sails across.
you have overcome another common fault
in the batting of most beginners. In
slang. it's ''Oh. you home run once in a
while, but l like my little hit every day"
Dee" Howell. last season with the r.
P. Andrews Company in the Commercial
circuit. and who was given a try-out
with the Albany club, in the New York
State League, last summer, will play
with The Washington Herald club. ac-
COrding to the statement of the manager
of that team last evening.