The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-08-08
ing from a point several inches
above his waist.

ing from point several inches
above his waist.
That forced change in the rules
by which the pitcher was allowed
to throw with an overland motion
and put as much speed on the ball
as he could. 1t was then that the
art of pitching really began to de-
velop. That is getting a little ahead
of the story, however, for it was in
the days Of the underhand toss that
the curve ball was discovered.
In 1857 pitching became recognize
ed as science. The Charter Oaks
of Hartford, Conn, came to Brook
lyn that year to play the Excelsiors
on the Capitoline Grounds, and they
were noted for their heavy batting.
The Excelsiors had a young pitcher
named Arthur Cummings, however,
who completely knocked them off
their pedestal. Cummings had dis
covered in practice that by twisting
the ball in the hand and spinning 1t
as it started toward the batter it
would curve in a direction contrary
to the laws Of grayitation.
He waited for the arrival Of the
Charter Oaks to give this curve a
thorough trial, and when he did start
It the heavy hitters were absolutely
HELPLESS. They could not understand
how a man could cause a ball to
curve, and several of them were so
stubborn over the matter that they
spent the rest of their lives insisting
that it could not be done. Never
theless, Cummings had opened the
way to many pitching discoveries,
and his name went all over the coun-
try as a wonderful inventor.
The overland throw came into
vogue in the late seventies, but the
pitcher was still hedged around with
restrictions in favor Of the batter.
While he was allowed to throw the
ball with great speed, he was COM
PEELED to throw 1T at a point indicat-
ed by the hitter. In, other words
tie batter could call for 'thigh ball."
etc.
OF the early overland pitchers
Asa Brainard Of the famous Cincin-
natl Red Stockings was probably the
hest exponent. He could throw the
ball at the point indicated by the
batter and still prevent hard hitting.
Brainard did not pitch the curve bali,
however, one of his reasons being
that he did not believe In it. Asa
Brainard, by the way, must have
been striking figure as he went into
the box. He wore long black beard
that completely covered his face and
hung down to the top button Of his
baseball shirt.
It might occur to the baseball fan
today that it was a good thing that
the old-time pitchers did not have
to slide to bases. A beard full Of
dust and gravel could not have been
a very pretty or comfortable affair.
Brainard pitched for the Cincinnati
Reds on their famous tour, when
they went a whole season without
losing a game. He did not pitch
every game, but would rest every
once in a while and give Harry
Wright the center fielder and chance
pitcher a chance.
The next school of great pitchers,
which came out in the early eighties,
was made up of Johnny Ward, Char
ley Bodbourne, Jim; Whitney and
John Clarkson. They were great
pitchers in every way. They had
speed, curves and practically every
thing that is used today. Either Of
them would have been great pitch
er on the diamond Of 1911. Many
old players who still take anactlVe
interest in the game regard John
Clarkson as the greatest pitcher that
ever lived.