The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1913-07-04

tracts would got hold in law The
tracts to prevent the wrecking Of
leagues by competitive bidding for
the services Of the best players
whereby the richest clubs always
could win.
Sccut-A supposed Judge of ball
players employed by the larger clubs
to watch he playing of men in small
leagues colleges and in Independent
clubs tc recruit good players.
Slider-An injury to player
caused by scraping a segment of skin
off the leg or thigh in sliding to
bases, Many players suffer much from
these injuries, often having the skin
torn off their limbs in patches four
or five inches square
South Paw-A left-handed pitcher.
The term is derived from the fact
that most baseball grounds are laid
out SO the pitcher faces west and
a left-handed pitchers arm is to the
south
Spikes (To Sharpen)-The pretense
of a player to sharpen the triangular
( toe and heel plates he wears on his
| shoes, is threat to 'cut his way
! around" Or to spike certain antagon-
| lists if they attempt tC stop or touch
| him. Chiefly a form of braggadocio.
| and seldom carried into effect
Spit Ball (The Spitter)-The most
effective ball in the pitchers roper
toire. 1t is executed by putting
| heavy friction on the under side o,
the ball by gripping the thumb into
| the seams, while the friction on the
| upper part is lessened by the use OF
| saliva, slippery elm or some such oily
| substance. The spit ball is used most
| effectively by Walsh and Ford and its
| modern development was due to
| Elmer Stricklett, who reintroduced 1t
| into the major leagues. The discov
cry Of the spit ball Is a matter Of
much argument. Some claim the
| honor for AL Orth, who used it in un-
derhand pitching twenty years ago.
1t is claimed that Tom Bond, the
famous old time pitcher, pitched the
ball in New Bedford in 1876, and used
|
| pocket.
Subtitle English" twist or re-
verse which causes the ball to curve
| or perform other unnatural move
ments in the air. When a pitcher
has lot of stuff he is making the
ball curve or break more than he ordi-
narily can do.
Swinger.-A batter who strikes at
ball with full, long, sweep OF the
bat and arms, instead of choking up"
or shortening his grip and Just meet
ing it." The "swinger" is a type Of
player not wanted in finished ball
| clubs. They usually are long dis
lance hitters, but uncertain and us.
ually finish with low averages
| Texas Leaguer-A short, weak fly
that drops safe just over the infeld
and too close in for the outfielders to
reach it. Usually an accident, but
sometimes accomplished purposel.
| by good batteTs who merely tap the
| bal and float it safe The term orig:.
mated from the fact that Ted Sulli.
van, the veteran player-manager-
magnate, had a team in the Texas
| league that was noted for that kind
of batting
| Triple-A hit which enables the bat
| ter to reach third base before the
ball returns to the infield Also
called Three Dagger.
Triple Playa play which retires
| three runners before the ball ceases
| to move, or in one consecutive play
| There are records of eight triple
! plays made by one man unassisted, and
about twenty triple plays are made
in each league every season.
Waste-Pitching high or wide to
| batters purposely. The pitcher often