The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-04-17
MATHEWSON TELLS
Continued from First Pase.)

ball and he suddenly meets another,
tho result is uncertain. II may be too
late for an ambulance. y man can
not very we'll stand up and set him self
TO hit at a curve hall and pull back
in time to duck a fast one with "a hop
on II toward him. That Is the reas IN
most consider II dangerous
TO attempt 10 read the signs.
had one experience Of this sort
myself. several years ago. IL was
when Eagle Eve Jake" Beckley play
ed on thu Cincinnati club. and | had
mere smoke on ny fast one then thar
there u now. Beckley was n good
hitter. but ne liked to nave the signs
tirI 81 OF 10 aim. The coacher AZ
third base was supplying him with
information one day 7 was pitching,
and We got on to II. We switched our
signs. and he first inning Becklcy
got hit in the mead. lie was out OF
the game for several weeks while ~
was many hours before he regained
Consciousness.
This accident upset me. but not as
much as Il would had ] not known
they were getting our signs. Beckley
knew he was taking a chance OF be
Ing hurt when he prepared himself
for the pitch before he got a look az
the ball. and | did not eel I was to
blame. Al another time ! "beaned'
Bill Lander. formerly the third base
man Of the Giants. during morning
practice. He was never the same
again. and / regret that as much as
anything.
Batter Is to Blame.
When batters are hit and hurt by
pitched balls. II Is generally their ON n
farlt because. as 4 rule. they have am
pie opportunity 10 get out OF the way.
Many make the mistake Of lodging in
20 the ball instead OF away from II.
and this Is usually disastrous, especial
ly II Il j. "A fast one. Most pitchers
In tho big league have good control
nov. and as ! have said. the old trick
OF shooting at the batteTs head Is GO
ing out Of fashion. Pitchers who have
regulations tor being wild often make
the batters more afraid &: them Than
the ones who have the best control be-
cause the men are charv about stand-
ing M TO the plate TO them as they
are 10 the good sh~arp-shooters
There are a few pitchers who gossip
of their lack Of control and fear OF
hitting a batter purposely so that they
will have a slight edge when a man
comes 70 the plate. II the hitter Is
afraid OF being hurt. he is not going
20 he so confident Of meeting the bal.
But the dread Of a fatal accident eX-
pressed by Walter Johnson IS genuine
with most pitchers. and such an acct
dent would doubtless make a man use.
less in baseball ever afterVard
Cobb Sole Survivor.
or all the hold outs Of last winter.
"Ty" Cobb r. the sole survivor az this
writing How much longer he will last
Is A great question The prophets De.
clare he has not a chance TO beat or
Eanized baseball whereas others con.
tend that Mr. Navin may az well shut
I'D his park II he attempts TO 20
through the season without Cobb Any
WAY. n e. an interesting case from the
angle Of both the ball players and the
owner
The season got away IN bad form
this year 80 ia the pennant Win
rers 81 the last race Fans arose on
the morning after the opening TO md
me Giants and the HostOn Americans
both a. the bottom % the ladder. Still
not all tho bows on the New York club