Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-09
BAKER TELLS OF
BIG PITCHERS HE HAS FACED
Athletics Star Batter Says Pair Of Good
Eyes and Plenty Of Nerve
May Beat Them.

played third base. I was also a pitcher.
One day Herzog told me he thought l
could play third, and he agreed to teach
me the fine points Of the job. I started
in on that corner and have stuck there
ever since.
This is our house." he said. as We
reached a pretty little cottage. You
know. 1 don't live here. but my wife
and myself are visiting her people. l
live over at Trappe. which is out in the
country. 1 don't think you ever could
have got there on a day like this. The
ground was covered with snow and Ice.
We went into the parlor, and just as
Baker, was about to resume his talk OF
knock on the door. and his little eighteen
month old baby wanted to get in. TINS
big athlete took the child up in his arms
and got her to sleep while he talked base
ball.
Yes he resumed, II did SO well for
Herzog that l afterward came over here
and played in Cambridge. 1 was hitting
them a mile then, and the town was for
that street to the balIyard'' Che pointed
down a long thoroughfare lined with i'm
mense water oaks) hoping that some
day 1 would get to the big league.
That season I hit over 40, and we
won the championship of Maryland. The
next year I got g. chance to go to Read
ing, Pa, and it was while playing there
that Connie Mack got me-"
Nerve and Eyes Make Filters.
do you think he wanted you because
you were a good third baseman or be-
cause you were such a good hitter?' 1
asked, and We both smiled.
81 don't know" he replied. But they
always look out for hitters, and 1 guess
that is what he thought Of first
You say you were always good hit
suggested Itself. what do you think is
needed to make a good hitter?"
II really believe that hitters are born
and not made he declared. But they
can be improved. The first thing a boy
needs is good pair Of eyes. Then he
must have nerve. 1t goes without saying
that he needs strength, but nearly all
ball players have that.
THE main thing" declared Baker,
emphatically. lis nerve. Unless boy has
that he can never hope to succeed. I
believe the most nerve required in base
ball Is to stand up to the plate and let
the pitcher throw balls at your bean.
The good hitter will let a pitcher throw
one at his head. and then step up and
dare him to do it again. II the batter
gets nervous and backs away through
fear of being hit he's gone. Why, do
you know" and Baker began to get en-
thusiastic, there are lot of pitchers
whose sole stock In trade Is their ability
to drive batters from the plate, and then
when they get them scared shoot q
couple Of straight ones right over the
middle"
did you have as much trouble with
pitchers in the minor league as in the
big Lacquer" I asked.
''Oh, no: not as much" he explained.
''But q batter has got to have his nerve
with him IN the minors just the same,
because they are nearly all bean ball
pitchers BY that he meant that the
minor leaguers were usually wild and
were liable to hit batter at any time.
Must Not Fear Regulations.
ITO get along successfully in the big
league" he continued, "a batter has got
to look on the famous pitchers just the
same as he would a fellow in the bush
leagues. You can't afford to be afraid
of them
us that why YOU were able to hit
Mathewson?'
81 think it helped. He certainly is a
great pitcher, but ! knew enough about
him to know that he wouldn't hit me.
That made me confident and waited
until got a good one. Luckily, l crack
ed it at the right time"
How about Marquard?''
I don't think he is a settled pitcher. He
doesn't know exactly how to figure bat
ters like Mathewson. Bender, Walsh and
that class of pitchers. He's got the stun,
though, and ought to make a Great one. .
Just then there was the tinkling of a
bell, and as Baker started to rise he no
ticed that the baby was sound asleep
Mrs Baker came in to tell US that din
ner was ready.