Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-01-03
BY Percy II. Whiting.

made, is demonstrated by the
fact that no two batters per
form exactly alike. If 1t were a
mere matter Of standing Alright and
swinging in some certain way. play
ers could be taught But it isn't.
one characteristic is held in COM
mon by all good batters. They
stand up to the plate
1t is related Of McGraw that when
he gets "a recruit up to bat for the
first time he instructs the pitcher to
throw the first one at his head. If
he pulls back-"steps for the water
bucket" the players call it-he Is
forthwith marked n. G. For no
real ball player ever lived who
yanked away from the plate.
Barring this one characteristic,
which all good batters have in com
mon, there is no striking similar
ity between the batting form" Of
the star hitters.
A S rule the very heavy hitters of
"A the Southern league have been
free swingers"-men who grabbed
the bat at or close to, the end and
took what Is known technically as
"A healthy wallop" at the ball
Iris Speaker, "A league leader in
Dixie, and a great batter in the big
leagues, was one such. In his
Southern league days Iris was an
awkward, sloppy, loose jointed per-
former He batted with no especial
care, swinging huskily. His ire
mendous strength and his excellent
eye made him a dangerous man. or
course, now he is a more polished
performer, but in the old days he
had little besides the wallop."
Sid Smith was another league
leader who was a natural hitter
sid always grabbed the bat toler-
ably near the small end and took
full swing at 1t. He usually be-
gan a time at bat by glowering
dangerously at the pitcher, hitting
the plate couple OF mighty
whacks. stamping around bit and
in every possible way reaching out
for the hurler's goat. When the BAH
tloated up there was a tremendous
heave with the mighty shoulders
and the bali sailed a mile.
Sid smith was unquestionably the
greatest pinch hitter the South ever
saw. He was careless and moody
and was never one to take any
pains about piling up a big mark.
But let Sid come up in the ninth.
with some men on and runs need
ed, and ne usually drove them
across.
Other free swingers" Of note in
Southern league history were
Huelsman. the league leader in
1901. tremendously powerful man.
who took an awful wipe at the
ball: SwaCina. who swung the larg
est bat of Southern league history,
a piece of ash So tremendous that
he couldn't buy anything in stock
TO suit him. but had them turned
out To order: Hugh Hin. the Nash
vile boy, who put two home runs
TO his credit in one game IN the
Rock city; Dominick Mullaney, the
mighty lrishman. and host of
others.
MOT an the good batters. however.
~ are I'm the free swinging
class Many Of them choke their
bat" that is, grab it nearer the
middle than the end Men who
handle the ash after this fashion
are not So likely to be suggers,
but they are often safe hitters and
frequently have more control over
tile ball,
Harry Bay. the Nashville speed
demon. was one Of the notable
"chokers." This ex-Nap would
seize the bat almost I'm the middle,
make quick jab at the ball and
whirl away like "A flash. In his
palmy days he had few equals at
the art of placing his hits. helped
as he was 10y more speed than
race horse.