The Washington times., 1914-01-18
Three Hundred Class Lads Are
Always Thinking When
Facing Pitcher,
sLUMPS ARE OWN FAULT
Figures Out What TWirlerS
Have and Then Governs
Himself Accordingly.
BY TYRUS R. COBB.

champion Batsman of Big Leagues.)
To Willie Keeler is attributed the
authorship Of the golden rule of bat
ting, and 1 suppose he said 1t. When
somebody asked Willie a long time
ago how he kept his batting average
above three hundred right along, he
replied:
Hit 'em where they amt"
The prescription has stuck to base
ball like canker sore to an engaged
girls lip. Its very truth has been re-
sponsible for its long life, and the
saying will probably last as many
years as the game itself. There is
no doubt in my mind that Bob Fitz-
simmons immortal The bigger they
are the harder they fall" will be re-
peated In prizeflght stories as long as
any man pulls on a glove. l don't
know whether Bob said that or not,
but he gets credit for it, which
amounts to the same thing. 1 am
sorry that l have never been able to
spring anything in connection with
baseball with punch in 1t which
would live long after my name had
been forgotten, or, at least, to have
received the credit for some pithy
remark. But, If the field were still
open and there were no quotations
about Keeler's Hit 'em where they
amt" l honestly believe 1 would
have pulled that one because it has
always been my idea in batting.
Nearly all the great hitters of today
are those who place their punches or
bat behind the runner. There are few
Of the old style sluggers left, the men
who just take a long, healthy wallop at
the ball and trust that II will not go
up against some fielder. Most of the
Boys in the select three hundred" class
are using their heads all the time they
are at the plate to outguess the fielders
and the opposing pitcher and stand
them all on their heads. This style or
hitting gives a player what we call the
the percentage" or the edge, and every
man who is to bat up over three hun
dred needs this percentage"
Each year big leaguers hear players
on their circuit grumbling because they
declare they are hitting every ball on
the nose. but that it is going straight
to a fielder.
7 can't get any of the breaks with
my wallops," they complain.
It is not tough luck, but rather they
are not playing the game with their
heads. Only one really great hitter OF
modern baseball has gotten away with
this careless. free swinging style. That
man Is Joe Jackson, the great slugger
of the Cleveland club, the player who
crowded me so hard for the batting
championship last season. Joe" Just
busts them and hopes for the best. He
has a wonderful eye and great natural
strength. He is a born hitter, and that
Is the reason he gets away with it. Men
veloped batters and must be scientific
In our work. | would hate to think how
much Jackson could hit If he began to
figure on getting the percentage
For a long time DOC" White, of the
Chicago White Sox, had the edge On me
because I could not connect with his
curve ball, and he would continue to
hand me curve after curve until he
curve-balled me to death. I kept figur-
Ing on q way 10 overcome InlS weakness
because II was leaving big cavities in
my batting average that worried me
every time l faced Doc" l was sitting
in the lobby of a hotel in Chicago one
night after dinner fretting over this
thing when suddenly l jumped up and
shouted TO no one in particular:
i've got it,
Got what" asked wild Bill Dono-
van, who was sitting next me and look
ing over list of pitching averages in
the newspaper. He acted as If he
thought had just Jared a screw loose
In my dome.
I've got the way to hit that curve
ball Of Doc Whites" l replied.
You need it." answered "3ill' and
went on with his pitching averages.
The next time White worked against
US l could hardly wait for my turn at
hat to try out my now theory. Hereto
fore. had been standing up IL the
front Of the batter's box. and his curve
would break Just as the oall reached
me. 1 had no chance 10 gauge IT, Sud
denly. IT came to me that. if I moved
20 the back of the box. 1 would get
the curve after 1t had broken and have
a chance to gauge It,
or course. when I faced Doc he
began to work his old curve and let
the first one go by 70 see how it looked
from my new point of view. 1t looked
good to me. Then he wasted one and
came back at me with the curve. hit
the ball on 4 line over second base.
Ever since then / have been able to
whang Doc" Whites pitching, and l
haven't known that he has curve ball.
I am sorry 20 see that lie IS out of the
league, for he has been a soft spot for
me. All that was necessary was to get
the ball after the curve had broken 30
I could guaSe it.
Following this discovery. I have stood
toward the back of the hatter's box for
all lefthan6ers ard finG it easier TO hit
a southpaw from this position. For
I move up to the frnnt