The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-08-29
CHIEF MEYERS TELLS SOME OF
THE SECRETS OF HEAVY HITTING

New York. Aug. 2a.--You hear the
crowd calling: Come on. now, old
boy-line 'er OUT"
You see the man on base dancing
off.
You know tn club needs a run to
win.
You watch the pitcher winding up,
glimpse the ball flashing toward you.
draw back your bat--swing,
"Crask!"
You feel the sharp collision, hear
the yell. there it goes! a hit! a hit!''
Then you're off to the limit of your
legs and lungs, getting as YOU turn
first the prettiest snapshot view d
baseball PLAYER car want to see
your teammates scurrying across the
plate: the enemy's outtielder just ov-
ertaking the little white speck away
out on the green grass. And you real
lie that you're good for second base.
maybe third.
L tell you there's nothing so dear
to a ball players heart as IL hit; es-
pecially a long hit; best of all a hit
with men on bases. writes Chief
Meyers in the American.
l have been fortunate enough this
year to be hitting considerably better
than h average batsman. 1 have
had the satisfactory experience Of
driving in runs d good many times.
My work has stood somewhere above
the magical 800. which all players
crave.
So l think perhaps l may be quail
fled to write a little bit about batting
for the benefit of the fans who love
a hit-telling some impersonal things
first.
What does a man need. to be a
good hitter?" is a question l aEe
often been asked.
First. he should have what is called
a free, natural swing. That does not
mean a twist of his whole upper body.
means enough strength and pliability
in his arms alone to be able to man
euver a bat high Or low, lever or on
an angle. and to swing ii hard enough
to drive the ball. having met it, pow
erfully and swiftly.
Second. he needs a good, unfalter-
ing to follow the ball from the
instant it leaves the pitchers hand
until it is close upon him-and an
eye that telegraphs it's message in
stantly to his arm muscles.
Third, he needs confidence. He
needs to know this one thing: that in
Il ''pinch"-where a hit means a run
the opposing pitcher and outfielder
are more worried than he is. Some
players never learn tnlS lesson. lneN
feel hat they're lin the hole" not the
other club. But the good batter learns
it and never forgets it-makes his
opponents know 1t. too.
Here's a ecent illustration: On
our last visit to Cincinnati the game
was almost over. We were two runs
back; needed three to win. McGraw
sent in Harry Mccormick to bat for
the pitcher. with three men on bases
and W. out.
Now, there's a fellow who had been
sitting on the bench all season. doing
nothing. The fans-even some of the
players-began to ask: VIVA is he
for? Do they really pay that mar
regular money!"
But he went up to the plate, saying
as he started: II guess that bunch
out there are worried some" He had
all his nerve with him, and on the
third ball pitched cracked out a long
two-bagger hat gave us three runs
and the game.
Harry's whole season on the bench
had been paid for by that one job. He
had the confdence-and McGraw
knew it-that's what Tin answer to
the questions) Mccormick had been
given the regular money for. When
the goods were needed he delivered
them.