The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-05-05
caueht setween Third and Homo

Of every pitcher against whom he pitted
his wits. He could tell when the pose
wac feint and when It was q reality.
Indeed. 80 great was his skill in obtaining
q start that there were times when be
actually led the pitcher into making al
bslk. The latter was more CONFUSED al
the alertness Of the runner than he was
at the possibility of being hit by the
batter.
In motion at once, stoTey was travelling
at the rate Of the needed twenty-five IT
ger second before the third stride had
been taken. A figure in white slipped
along the line and suddenly dived for
ward and plunged headlong for the base,
for stovey cared little whether he slid
head foremost or feet foremost so that
be reached the base. He never went
straight for the bag when he slid. he
did not live in the days of the modern
hook" slide and some other slides which
are supposed to be essentially different
from others. but he had all the principles
Of the modern slide and arose to fame
without ever knowing that he was twenty
years ahead Of his time.
He was as much q daring runner be-
tween second and third as he was be-
tween FIRST and second 1t is true that
he did not steal third so often as he
stole second. but II is also true that there
was not q left hand pitcher who played
against him but expected little else than
that Stovey, if on second base, would
be on third after he had delivered the
next ball to the batter. Stealing third
base on a left hand pitcher was his great
est delight and he would straighten up
convulsed with laughter whenever he sue
ceeded.
Once the question was asked of Stoyey
how 1t was that he read so well the in
tention Of the pitcher to deliver the ball
! to the batter. Its in the movement of
the body" said be. Il can't tell you
Just how / know myself, but there is not
q pitcher but viii show his intent to let
the ball 90 to the batter by the swing
of his body. Never mind the arm
They're likely to fool you with that
Par no attention to the hands, bot study
closely the body. When you see it as
sumo q certain position the pitcher must
either send the ball up to the batter or
make a baIk, and it doesn't make a bit
Of difference to you because you are going
TO get second base in either event"
1t was away back in the days of the
old American Association when he made
that statement, and there seem to be no
runners who have improved on him since
then and there are few who can do APP
FORTUNATELY as well.
Pitchers Not Faster.
In the same class as stovey were
Buck" Ewing and Mike" Kelly.
Neither Of them was a Splinter, and both
were Of the highest type Of base runners
because they studied the pitcher and based
their work on their ability to get a start.
IN. -. -. ,.-;1l;,, O., 81. A.. nk.-oo a.,
they could beat the ball at the odds be-
tween them and the catcher II they could
get into their stride in time.
What is the trouble with the latter
day runner" conceded to be faster than,
the old fellows, yet so feeble By COM
parison in their records? Il It that the
pitchers are better and that they watch
the bases more carefully than they did
in the past7
No. The pitchers of to-day are notl
a bit better in guarding their positions
than they were twenty years ago Some
Of them are not as good. There Is none
living with the skill of Kilroy. A runner
couldn't change his feet at 6rst base
stepping from one to the other without
danger Of being caught mapping By XII
roy.
, The modern ball player doesn't study
the pitcher with the care and the in
tentness which was customary Of those
Old fellows whose names are emblaEoned
In baseball history. sCcnnie" Mack is
one authority for that and John ]. Nc
Graw Is another. The latter has sue
ceeded IN developing more base running
ability than any manager for twenty
Eve years, bur he admits candidly that
he had the speed with which to begin.
Mack says that he has tried to get AMI