The Washington herald., 1913-08-03
HART RESTARTS
S0UTHPAW JOE
Veteran Umpire Claim. Cred
It for Steering Richmond
Thunderbok to Glory.
TELLS HIM HIS WEAKNESS
BoeAling Watched Bases Too Closely,
Running Csst1ol, and Advised to
Pay Batter More Attention.
TELLS HIM HIS WEAKNESS

Bill Hart claims to be, II not the
gent who discovered" Joe Boehlins.
the one who 'steered him toward the
milky way. The veteran umpire and
pitcher was great admirer Of Joe's
when the latter was with CHATTANOOGA
last season The other day at Mem
phis, Bill grew talkative and the fol-
lowing in the Commercial-AppeaI re-
suited:
You're canned. You say they're
railroaded you back to Grifiith? What
the blazes. Why. boy. you've got more
stun than any lefthander I've seen
since the days Of Tom Ramsey. And
take II from a warped old duck, the
Louisville boy had SOME stun
Thus GRATED the veteran Bill Hart
one fine day in 1911 when he swung
into disconsolate. detected and DOWN
in-the-mouth youngster at a Chatta-
nooga depot. Bill had just trained into
the mountainous burg from Atlanta He
espied the youngster sitting astride a
bulky suit case at the far end of the
waiting room. A carefully rolled uni
form bag lay at his feet. He was await
ing the arrival of an eastbound train
rattler that was to take him back
to the majors and from there he knew
not where.
Glad to Sec Hart.
'If ever a ball player was glad to
see an umpire. Joe Boehling-for the
hero Of this narrative is none other
than the young American League sem
sation-was powerfully glad to see
Hart.
Yes, Bill. evidently don't look
good to 'em down here Smith says he
realizes my possibilities, tells me tha.
I'll be right up there some day, but in
sists that my control will have to i'm
prove first Grifith told me the same
thing before sending me south. That's
all he would harp on-"Make a targe.
out Of the plate and try to split the
heart" Grin sang this to me from sun
up to sun-down. I've tried hard to ac-
quire command Of the ball. but some
how or other it slips away just when
need control the most
THE kids sincerity impressed the old
ump. and he decided right there and
then to see that the STRIPPING received
thorough trial. az least. Having
worked behind Boehling in his first
game against the Montgomery club.
which team was turned back with two
hits, Hart had gathered a fair idea OF
the boys assets and Affections. so 10
speak.
Joe Was . Wonder.
Mechanically the boy was q wonder
in every way except for his inability
to control the ball. His curve was more
than ordinary. His curve ball was a
beauty-one of the species that drops
suddenly. after the fashion Of the
Mathewsonian fade-away-a rarity in
these days Of the over-played splitter,
Even in his undeveloped state Boeh-
ling worked this ball with startling
success. And. what's more, he owned a
fast ball with a baffiing zip. Strangely
enough, he had less control OF his fast
one than he did of his curve. which, at
best. was an unreliable asset in q pinch.
consequently, Boehling was ever in
trouble. His lack of control discounted
the merits of his stock in trade. Hence
his inability to win.
But there was a reason for this lack
Of control. And old Bill Hart was among
the first, IL not the very first, to de-
tect the fatal defect in the youngsters
armor.
Watches Bases.
You watch the bases too Closely ex-
ploded Bill after a painful pause in the
depot conversation. I've noticed you
time after time deliver the ball to the
batsman while you had your eyes on the
baserunner. That isn't the way to pitch.
Pay more attention TO the batsman, and
less to the baserunner. Then you'll find
your control will gradually improve.
Back in the old days when a hawky
youngster entered the big tent our man.
ager would take him aside and give him
private instructions. These were simple.
but unfailingly effective. and consisted
merely Of counting four to yourself be-
fore delivering the ball Kid, you may
| take this as a fossilized idea. but try
It and see if you don't come around all
right
That very night Hart sat down and
penned a long letter to Clark Griffith.
telling him what Boehling needed to
make him a star. The Old Fox took
Hart's advice. He turned the young left
handler over TO a competent baseball man
with the instructions to follow the Hart
program to the last letter.