The Detroit times., 1913-02-17
Unusual Nerve and Judgment Is
Required Of the Men
Used in Crises
HARRY MCCORMICK WAS
THE GIANTS STAR
Yet When With the PhilIies He
Was One of Worst Out
fielders in League

The value OF frst-class pinch. hit
ter to a team cannot be oyerestimated.
and every manager likes to have q
chap hanging around the bench who
can face pitcher in critical sftun-
ton and bang out the needed safety.
Pinch-hitting is one OF the most dim.
cult jobs on ball team. The man
holding such place on the club must
nave far more than the usual amount
OF nerve and Judgment. He may spend
several days sitting on the bench. and
never get an opportunity to appear IN
game When he Is sent IN to bat for
one OF the regulars or member or the
battery he Is usually yankcd out or
the game after the inning is over.
Thus pinch-hitter may get only two
or three opportunities to appear at
pat IN week Nevertheless, he must
Keep his batting eye sharpened by con-
stant exercise.
He Is usually sent in against the OBJ
posing twirler late in the game. when
the light Is frequently bad. He must
race the most critical situation or the
game. Usually he will not be called
upon until the eighth or ninth inning.
ana tnen with q runner or more on the
bases. lt Is at the time when the fans
are worked up TO the highest point OF
excitement and when the opposing
sslrleI mas himself keyed up to put al
MS stun on the ball. A man who can
nake good IN such an emergency IL
worth his weight In gold to q tean,
There are few flrnt-class nanah hiI..
ters In the country. OceasfonsnS
though, manager Is able tn picE nm
sneh valuable asset The 81 n,,,s
Browns had such a player n few aea-
sons ago. This was Dode Criss Tha
latter was supposed TO be n nitcber
but he never shone as such IN the fass
set He was a big fellow. with sIon-
Ing shoulders like "Rnbep Waddeil
Ihe Browns, being well down n the
second division, were usually an fhe
tail end OF the score when the late
lnnings or game arrived. Criss
therefore had many opportunities "a
SHINE, and he had habit OF cominr
through with the needed hit to score
the runners
The New York Giants were ,b,essed
with such an individual during tbe
Iast couple OF seasons This man is
Harry Mccormick. Harry. who for
merly played with the Phillies vas
one or the worst outfieIders n the
country He was poor catch OF fjy
pais, grounders eluded him as II he
nad grease on his glove and he was
careless. Mccormick, though: could
siug the horsehide, and this mad. him
vsluaDle, After being In and out OF the
Nationai league a couple or times NC.
Cormick finally got the Job OF pinch.
Dltter Tor the Giants. He made good
WITH vengeance during the past sea
son, and he helped the New Workers
10 oreak up many games. McCormfck
VIII again have this role during the
coming season, although he was not
SO successful in his speciality durfnr
tne last worlds series as. during the
championship season.
Nike Donlin is another. player who
ranks high as a pinch-hitter. He A.
especially effective against right-hand
ptcners. and he Is expected to make
good many times In critical sit,,afion.
for the Phillies this year.
Manager Mack has never gone I'm
strong for pinch hitters. The reason
Is that Connie has never had to de-
pend much on this style OF player.
Connie has usually been blessed with
hard-hitting team. His batteries
nave included players like Coombs
ana Lapp, who can make good In an
emergency. BY being able to call
Upon members of his batteries to hit
at critical moments. Connie has not
had to carry along an extra player
Just because he could smash out safe
ties at the most desirable moment.
| Pinch hitters, as rule, are poor
1elders. This may be because they
depend so much on their hitting To
keep them on the pay roll, or II may
be because they spend the largest part
OF the time that they are on the fieid
In handing the bat instead OF trying
to field the ball.