Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-01-09
BY J. W. Heisman.

way point OF the year from
whence we look back on a
dead and gone football season an
equal distance with that which in
tervenes between US and an ap-
preaching baseball campaign.
Withdrawn as we now are from
the heat and craftsmanship OF either,
when fairly in the seasons midst.
we are in good position to compare
and contrast the two sports.
a score Of times each year I am
called upon to answer the question.
or to settle discussion, az to
which OF the two games is the more
scientific; and it occurs to me that
this Is good time in which to com
NIT my views on this subject to
print for the benefit of any who
may have had wondering thoughts
but little real information on the
subject.
Is there more science in baseball
or in football? Just what do you
mean by science? II one means
by science such points as hand
skill in throwing a ball or eye ac-
curacy in handling a bat there Is
very clearly more science in base
ball than in football-certainly in
the matter Of these two particular
kinds Of skill at least But there
are so very many different kinds Of
skill involved in the successful
playing Of any athletic game.
Take football itself; surely it re-
qulres more foot skill to punt and
drop kick a football well than is ever
called for by any exigency in base
ball. And great skill is required 10
tackle, to interfere. to ward off, 10
dodge, and to do quite az many Pc
culiar and important things in foot
ball as are ever required in base.
ball. In q word the baseballist's
skill in catching or throwing ball,
or in handling bat. would help
him not rap in executing fine div
ing interference, or in tackling
tS0-pound Mercury and bringing
him down on the spot.
There are kinds and kinds of
skill. and just as many kinds in
football as in baseball with possi-
bly, just few more
r OUGHLY speaking, a science is
the search for, the discovery
and the setting out of principles
connected with given subject. An
art, however, is the practical appli-
cation of those principles to a given
end.
Now, in both games We have to
apply principles already discovered.
and, so far as l can see, the one
game is about as much an art as
the other Some folks naturally
like the one game better than the
other and would, perhaps. be dis
posed on that account to argue that
their favolite was the more artistic
sport Of the two. That, [ would say.
is mere matter Of individual
preference.
When It comes to physical or
athletic skill-which, BY the vav
is neither art nor science am in
clined TO think that there is more
nigh grade and technical skill re-
qulred in baseball than in football
My reason for this opinion is that
any three out of four good strong
young chaps may become good
football players after from three TO
five seasons playing experience.
and some OF them become tom
notcherS in the same length OF time
even If they never saw football
before that time. In baseball. on
the other hand. very few ever be-
come good players in that length OF
time and certainly no man ever
became a Ty Cobb. a Wagner or a
Mathewson with that amount Of
baseball practice and experience.
Another point OF difference is
that one may become a good foot
BAH player no matter that they
have already attained THEM major
ity without ever having gone out
for the game. while ! do not believe
for q moment that any man who