The Detroit times., 1913-03-17
Little Recruits Seem as Adept
on Getting Free Mile
age as is DOME
BUSH CAN'T HOPE TO
BETTER McGRAWS MARK
Giant Manager Made Worlds
Record Before F0ul.Strike
Rule Was Adopted
BY RALPH L. YONKER.


NEW ORLEANS, La. March H.
1There are two Tiger recruits who arc
Threatening the supremacy OF DOME
Bush as the king pin of the American
leaguers In getting on first by the
pass method.
Since the interstate commerce COM
mission OF the baseball world put
handicap on batters by passing the
.nti-pass law which calls fouls strikes
inless the batter already has two
strikes on him. the art OF getting free
transportation has been more difficult
han II Was when the clever batter
,ouId foul of good balls until pitch.
,r was forced to walk him.
Bush was passed 10 times In 14a
yames last season. Thus in spite OF
ne fact that he hit only .23l, he was
, valuable offensive man for the II
gers.
But this year both Powell and High
ook as IL they might be able to grab
rom DOME that pass acquiring record.
Both men, like Bush, are built close
the ground, which in itself makes
hem hard men to pitch to. Both have
he shrewdness and patience to work
heir pitchers. Bush has the ad-
.antage of them in that he hits from
.ither side OF the plate.
High Ia the midget Of the trio. He
& neat little chap, the smallest man
IN the club. Powell isn't much larger.
The statistics Of the first few games
layed BY the Tigers showed that out
x % bases on balls that the Tiger
atsmen had received, this trio had
rabbed on an even dozen of them
Ind not . man Of them played through
ye2y x1sue either.
The IL walks the trio took were
qually divided among them, each get.
hng four. Powell had the best rec
nd of the three. for he got his quartet
( passes In only nine times at bat,
lille Bush faced the pitchers II
ines. and High 20 times to get their
llotment.
OF course, 1t may be argued that
hese men we're facing only rank
mateur pitching and that there may
. a different tale to tell when they
egin getting real shoots and curves.
mt Il must be admitted that the
tork OF the men even against anna
eurs cannot help but give pretty
air line on their ability to look 'em
yer.
Il n interesting, also. to note that
bese three men who are 30 adept at
citing on the bases on the walks are
ast and clever at stealing. which in
reases their value greatly. Davey
mes had knack OF getting on often,
Int Manager Jennings never liked the
Iay he conducted himself when ne
Id get on.
Bush can never hope to equal tho
ecortf OF John McGraw, who was con-
ldered the greatest of his time in
torking the pitchers for passes. Nc
raw used to walk for an average or
hore than once every game. 1t is re-
orded that he got on the bases
Trough one method or another twice
ut OF every three times ne faced the
itchers one year.
The reason that Bush cannot hope
compete with that record is that
he batting rules have been altered
urposely 80 as to avoid a repetition
the McGraw stunt
McGraw made his record before the
comparatively recent rule. which calls
bulls strikes unless the batsman has
NO strikes on him, was made.
It WAS then possible for skiifui
litter like McGraw TO foul on gooc
ne after good one until he wore the
itcher down, and ne had to put one
there the batter could hit II or walk
I'm. With the count one and three.
or instance, II was possible to make
he pitcher throw seven or eight balls.
In OF which could be fouled OF.
II isn't such far cry back when
he slogan OF Spoil the good ones
b1s hurled at the batters by the fans.
Now. however, the hitter Is under
handicap in this matter. tho pitcher
aying ali the best Of II in fouls.
vhfcf count for him and at the same
ime stop all chances of stealing or OF
passed ball as II possible In the case
a strike recorded when the batter
wings and misses.
DOME Bush Is going to be more
ificult man than ever to handle
vhile on the paths this coming year
Up to this year Bush has been slid
M into the bags only on one side
rhe basemen knew on which side tu
xpect him and were prepared. This
pring, however, he has been working
n sliding on on either side OF the
ack, hooking the bag frst with one
Dot and then with the other.
His ability to go into the sack on
he left IL going to enable him Ia
teal more bases in that he can get q
bigger lead on first when he can slide
|ack In rather than go back standing
p In case the pitcher tries to nip him
~ the first corner.
There was an ideal place for thu
rigers to practice their slides both
uring games and during practice al
3ulfport, and the men took the great
st advantage of II. During the games
hey have been ordered TO steal when
YER there was any chance whatever
merely for the practice Of II.