Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-30

Marquard made every leader tremble
with fear when Baker stepped to the
| plate in pinch. Those two mighty
| drives of the crack National League
twirlers were the cause of Baker getting
| many base on balls last summer.
In this particular instance. the Browns
looked ito have chance to beat the
Mackmen. When Baker stepped to the
plate in the game. with two out. a couple
| on the bases and a few runs needed to
tie Bobby Wallace signaled Powell to
pass Baker to first. Bobby was doing
bench duty on the day in question,
Let me take a chance on this fellow.
Bob: he couldn't make home run OFF
me IL L held the ball on a string, said
Jack
Better pass him, Jack said Jimmy
Stephens, who was doing the catching.
'I'n never pass him on his reputation,
said Jack: The will have to make a home
run off me before I put him down in the
book as a fence buster
Jack really wanted to take chance
on retiring Baker. Powell fears no hit
ter and is at his best in the pinch. In
cidentally, he believed his line of talk rela-
tive to Bakers prowess as a batter would
tend to make Frank sore. cause him to
swing all the harder. and thus throw
himself off his stride. Powell finally
convinced Wallace that it was just as
well to take a chance on Baker as McIn-
mis- saw at once that Jacks uncom-
plimentary words had the desired effect,
for Baker took swing at the next bail
that would have put Swat Milligan'
longest drive to shame II he had con-
nected. / could see Baker was override
termined. His effort was pop fly to
Jimmy Austin at third. AS Powell walk
ed to the bench / heard him say to
Jimmy Stephens:
well, I'm glad that fellow is, out of
the way. II we can keep him from bust
ing the fences we ought to win" Powell
thinks Baker is great hitter, but
couldn't let Baker think SO. Before the
game was over Baker poled one to the
iagpole. and the Athletics had again
trimmed the Browns.
Mathewson Seldom Talks.
The great Christy Mathewson is one of
the stars who seldom has word of
comment for the batter. Nfathewson
pitches and simply tries to keep the
other fellow from batting. In this con-
nection 1 once heard Matty remark:
Some pitchers talk to batters a great
deal. Often they hope to get them sore,
often they seek to make them nervous,
often they do it simply with a hope of
sneaking over strike while the batter
is making his reply. 1t is Of great aid
see the percentage. 1 have tried it. and
always found tAat talking disconnected
me us much if not more than the batter.
Repartee isn't in my line, anyway
Walter Johnson Is another pitcher who
never resorts to the conversational
method. II never was much on talking"
says Walter. but 1 believe it helps the
pitcher. if his catcher can do the speech.
making. 1t always amused me to watch
and hear my old battery mate, Gabby
Street. He used to keep up an incessant
chatter and. believe me, 1 slipped over
many a strike while the batter was con-
versing with Gabby.''
Base ball is constantly undergoing
changes, and the passing of the kidding
matches that generally featured game
in the days gone by, is simply in keep
ing with the general progress of the
sport.
Copyright, 1913. by W. G. Evans.)