The Washington times., 1913-12-14

Most ycang pitchers and indeed many
of the seasoned veterans have lost theil
| nerve and effectiveness, to say nothing
of the ball game in which they happen
to be twiriing. when they looked into
the eyes of Napoleon Lajoie, Ty Cobb
Frank Baker. Eddie Collins, iris
Speaker "Chick" Gandil. Joe Jackson,
Hans Wagner and other great sluggers
These players stand at the plate
calmly contemplating the pitcher. with
deadly determination in their eyes with
the resul. that the hurlers have caved
in. pitched the thing they most wanted
not to pitch, lost their curve control
and in fact have become helpless. And
all becauEe pair of eyes directed at
them by the monarchs of the bat have
given them the "once over"
Many .busher" goes down with the
players on the spring training trip with
the idea of showing his new manager
what he has tc serve up to the batters.
Glowing reports are sent back to the
fans of the p-cwess of this or that
hurler who is making good in the early
workouts. He is described as having
the speed Of Waiter Johnson. the fade
away of Metty Mathewson, and the
splitter OF Ell Walsh.
The yOungsteT works his arm off try
ing to make good to get the start in
the big show when the curtain is up
for the big leagIe campaign. The older
veterans take things easy, but the
bUsher puts all he has in 1t because
he wants his chance. But pitching
against training camp teams and get
ting in against the batting kings is a
different proposition and the manager
knows that If the kid can take his look
at the ewes of Baker. Jackson. Daubert.
Cravath or Crawford and get away
with ii, he can stick.
These great batters have led their
circuits IN mighty wallops for many a
year. Ty Cobb is now a terror TO Amer
lean League pitchers. He Is perhaps
the most dangerous man at the bat in
the circuit, as he hits to any field, and
once on the bases has the pitcher CON-
stantly on the defensive. Ahead of Cobb
is Sam Crawford, of the big stick.
whose mighty wallops send the bali far
into the outfeld or whistling between
the fielders. Think OF facing two in a
row.
Cobb has led his rivals at the bat
for seven years In his league, so pre-
else has ben his eye. This is n world $
record. and is mighty likely to remain
one for years. Ty either joshes his an
tagonist. pulling the unexpected with a
deftly placed burt, or crashing out a
two-bager. Often ne gaZes at the young
ster with a plying look. one of conde-
ness, as If to chew the "bUsher' alive
at any attempt to deceive him.
When Tyrus and Walter Johnson get
together it is different proposition, for
Cobb knows that Walter is just as good
a pitcher as he is a batter, and IL is
the greatest sort of duel. When Cobb
faces Plank there is a verbal duel, for
Eddie knows Ty. and both have been
over the route together many times.
-
Frank Bakers eye Is one of the best
in the league. The big third sacker, with
resting in the hollow of his elbow as he
looks pitcher over. is enough to strike
terror TO the heart Of the most seasoned
veteran. Baker however. comes late
as the saying is. In the spring the ia
nous Athletics player hits few and far
between. but in midseason he begins a
great batting streak that winds him up
in the top OF the list. Bakers world s
series performances are too well known
to comment upon.
Iris Speaker. Thc Boston Red Sox out
fielder. is another one of those boys
wei back in the box, feet wide apart
2Td looking them over takes the health
.est SORT OF swing. When the ball is
met cIeanly, and Speaker is one of the
cIeanest hitters in either league, it car
Iies with terrific force.
Hans Wagner has ruined more young
pitchers than perhaps any other play
er in the National League, for Hans,
season in and out, has clouted the old
hOrsehide for An average of better than
20 for seventeen years. Many a hope
has ben blasted when Hans comes to
til, kat for he hits anything to his lik-
ing and anywhere near him. Let the
pitcher serve up:a waste one and Hans
is almost sure TO wallop 1t out for a
safety.
Lajoie is another OF those free hitters.
The famous Frenchman, consistent
coo batter, hits when he likes, never
forcing the pifcher 70 nut than, ovsr