Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-05
STEP TO KEEP
PITCHERS OFF BATTING LIST
Umpire Evans Says It Would Tend to Re-
duce the Uncertainty Of the Game,
One of the Features.
to the remote corner Of the center field
fence in Detroit

10 tEe remote corner OF the center field
fence in Detroit.
Twirlers Who Can Hit.
AS rule pitchers are always taken out
to allow some one else to hit for them,
yet 1t was not an unusual thing in the
American League last year to see some
pitcher called upon as pinch hitter.
Hughey Jennings often sent George Null
lin to the front when the Tigers were in
distress; Manager Duffy Of the White
Sox used Ed Walsh, Doc White and Bill
LANCE to much advantage as pinch hit
ters: Connie Mack often called upon Chief
Bender and John Coombs: Patsy Donovan
found Joe Woods and Eddie Karger of
great use in emergencies when a pinch
hit was much desired; Jimmy McAleer
quite often selected Dolly Gray, Walter
much-needed timely hit, while Elmer
koestner. the youngster who hit .313 for
the Maps. was often pressed into service
6y Jim Mcclure. In the National League
sranoali. Mathewson. White. Burns Bar
ger. Rowan, Moore and a number Of
other tw1rlers often proved the right man
In difficult place.
1t seems to me as If 1t would be a great
mistake TO ever eliminate the pitcher
from the duties that befall a hattar II
would remove from the game one OF its
most uncertain features and no one will
deny that base ball has thrived on un-
certainties Pitchers are no longer easy
vlctims at the plate. though as q whole
tney are not to be regarded as cracker
jack hitters. Still they are Just as liable
TO hit as not, and 1t Is this possibility
esting.
pitchers are making great Improvement
In their ability to hit the ball. This NAV
be largely attributed to the fact that the
writer's R, take an active part In the twenty
minute batting practice that the clubs
Indulge In prior to the starting OF the
game. Not so many years ago the pitch
ers took 1t for granted that they were
not expected to do any hitting. their duty
being confined entirely to the pitching
end. It's different now, however. for
the pitchers are just as anxious to take
their turn in the batting practice as any
of the other players.
OF course there are lots OF pitchers who
can hit better than others. Just as some
pitchers have II on others in the twirIinr
department. a team with a pitcher who
Is good hitter naturally has consider
able advantage over a club that has a
pitcher who is weak with the stick This
feature was well proved In the worlds
series, when Jack COMBS and Chief BEN
der Of the Athletics, two pitchers who
can hit better than the average. mate
rally aided the Athletics to~yfctory nv
their timely work with the bat CoSmbs
and Bender contributed hits at oppor-
tune times, just when most of the fans
were deplortnS the fact tina. some one
else couldn't be up instead of the pitcher.
Summers Gala Day.
While the pitchers who can hit ofta,
bring joy to the hearts of the rooters II
is not unusual for some Of the weaker
hitting twirlers to jump into the lime.
hight because of some feat Of smuggling
Such things always happen, OF course
when things look darkest, and natmsuy
bring plenty OF sunshine to the fans
Simply another case proving that it.s
the uncertainty of the game that aopea,s
to the rooters.
Now Eddie Summers of the Detroi.
club. although lie is a great twirler win
never go down in base ball history as one
OF the games greatest singers. Yer
summers was the man OF the hour ona
day last summer In a most inpOrtaut
game. He slugged the ball as effectively
as could Ty Cobb or Sam Crawford. and
aside from pitching great ball woa the
contest by his batting.
In one afternoon Summers made fuo
home runs on Pitcher Krause of the
Athletics. usually hard man for the
Tigers to beat. Two men Were on the
bases on one occasion and one sack was |
occupied on the other. The five runs |
which Summers was responsible for won |
the game. Ordinarily tie Tits would have
been good for two bases ct best, but base
ball luck again played prominent part |
in the four-sackers. Evidently the ball |
was so surprised at the way Summers |
hit 1t that said ball decided to put |
grand finish to the performance The |
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