The Washington herald., 1912-01-24
Lanky Chicago Twirler Ex-
pounds Simple Theory-It
Sounds Reasonable.
GRIFF RETURNS HOME
Catcher Streets Signed Contract Is
Received-other Sporting
News and Comment.
By WILLIAM PEET.

Why can't a Ieft-hand batter success
fully hit a southpaw twirler?'
This question was asked Doc White, the
Chicago pitcher. who not only throws
from the port side, but bats left-handed,
and who is recognized as one Of the
brainest fingers in the big leagues.
Il know one Ieft-hand hitter who can
waIlop a southpaw any old time he comes
TO the bat,"- was Whites quick retort
"Who?'
"A gent named Ty Cobb. who draws
wages from the Detroit Tigers" was the
answer.
But seriously, Doc. what's the an
swer? What is your theory
1t is the simplest thing in the world"
he replied.
The majority Of pitchers in the big
leagues are right-handed, are they not?
when you were a kid and played on
the lots, the majority of pitchers then
were right-handed. Isn't that soT''
The writer admitted IL was.
We'll, then. isn't It reasonable to as
sumo that a ball player from his earliest
days 10 the time he gets into the big
leagues hits against right-nanded pitchers
twice as often as he does against south
paws?''
This also was admitted. !
ell, continued VIM lLdA NilS
answer and that's all there is to II.
IF the big leagues should decide to
carry half a dozen Ieft-hand pitchers and
only one or two right-handers, you would
find that in the course Of very snort
time all these fellows who cannot hit
left-handed pitchers would soon be able TO
solve the port side shoots"
The lanky dentist admits that there is
something battling about a southpaw's
h. Of -han nd
but declares emphaticaIly that If left
hand batters made a study Of soUthpaw
pitchers and batted against them as much
as they could in practice, they would
probably overcome to a great extent their
weakness.
Take Ty Cobb. for instance" added
White Il used to like to pitch against
him when he first broke into the Amer
Jean League. He was the easiest kind Of
p proposition for me. But now-well,
amt fool him any more, and no other
lcft-hander can; / don't care who he is
1T is claimed that Vesn Gregg, the
Cleveland southpaw, was the only man
who could serve up something Ty
couldn't hit last season. Doc asserted.
This may be true. but you can gamble
that if Gregg stays in the American
League very long Cobb will be able to
get to him"
At this stage of the conversation Bobby
Cranston, the old Georgetown catcher.
butted in and said, Doc do you remem-
ber when you used to work that old fast
ball on EN-? Don't you wish you had it
nOw?"
That last remark broke up the tanning
bee, and Cranston had TO beat it TO the
cyclone cellar.
Manager Clark Griffith returned from
his flying visit to Charlottesville yes
was glad TO get Catcher Gabby Streets
signed contract, with a long letter from
the backstop stating that Gabby was in
great shape and anxious for the season
to start.
AS Ainsmith and Henry have both
signed up, this assures the Nationals OF
its catchers. All are satisfied with
terms. and will be on the job when the
time comes to report.
Rube Waddeil has a reputation that is
an enviable one-from an eccentric per-
sons point of view. The Minneapolis
twirler has turned about every sort Of
a trick known and many extraordinary
ones. He has played volunteer fireman.
gummed up stage performances, divorced
a few wives, and, in fact, has played
the heavy hero or the villainous villain
In every light possible. However, an old
time pitcher has a new one TO tell on
the Rube, and here it is:
a professor who had a big seal act
had bought a walrus, not with any idea
Of training the creature, but simply for
the oddity OF the monster. The old
walrus, about as big as four cows, with
tusks two feet long, was quite an at
traction, but didn't have enough brain
10 play the field for the Browns. wad-
dell visited the show one afternoon, and
ct once declared that he was going to
educate the walrus-teach him to clown
the act, as IL were. Throwing of his
coat and vest, Rube hoped into the
tank and introduced himself to the wal
rus You couldn't see anything for a
moment except big whirl in the water.
Then Rube came out very fast. He had
shed his coat and vest when he went in,
and the walrus had his pants, 50 We had
10 wrap him in q horse blanket to get
him home.