The Washington herald., 1914-06-07

I ers to handle the ball as do some of
the others who waterlog II. He also
has excellent control of the ball-an
exception in his case-but believe its
constant use by him was partly re-
sponsible for the weakening of his arm
last season. The peculiar twist given
the ball as ii leaves the pitchers hand
is severe strain on the arm.
Fisher, of the Yankees. used to be a
spitball expert. and he got away to a
flying start in his first season. but he
found that he would have his good
days and his bad ones like most of
the users of this style of delivery. He
was also receiving bad support. The
wet ball was hurting the fielding OF
his club. and the players behind him
used to hate to see him go into the
box to pitch. Chance got after him
last year and suggested that he work
on his curve and forget the splitter.
Fisher was too uncertain in his pitch
ing to take his regular turn in the
box when depending upon only his
fast one and splitter. He accepted
Chances advice. as most of the ball
players do. and this spring he has
blossomed out minus his spitball. He Is
using only his curve and speed. The
result is that he has not turned in
single bad game to date. although he
has been beaten. He is steadier and
more reliable than he has ever been
before. I'll gamble that this would be
the case with most spitball users II
they would discard the delivery.
I'll never use the splitter regularly
again." Fisher told me recently. Il
have thrown only about Ave or six this
season"
Many twirlers who formerly depended
on the spitball are now trying to get
away from it, believing that its continual
use shortens the >length of their big
league careers. This IL the tendency all
over the country. and I believe that 1t
won't be many more years before they
will take pitcher who throws the spit-
ball and put him in the Museum of Nat
ural History. This style of delivery Is
passing rapidly for the reason that it is
not popular with ball players. managers
or the fans The spectators are opposed
to it because it usually takes a wet ball
performer much longer to go through
game, since he either vets the ball or
bluffs by putting IL up to his mouth be-
fore each delivery. This gets tiresome.
and 1t also makes the fielding loose. as
a rule. McGraw at this time is urging
JEFF Tesreau.E the most conspicuous and
constant user of the spitball on the Giant
staff. to work on his curve more in an
effort to discard the splitter. Wiltse tried
the spitball some on the trip around the
world and thought he might fall back on
it this season, but he has cut 1t out
The pennant prospects of the Giants
look better. at this writing. The Pirates
have slackened up in their pace a little
recently But they will make fight all
the way to the wire. They are merely
meeting the tougher Eastern clubs now.
which are not such easy pickings as they
had been finding in the West in the early
part OF the year.
The marvel of the team and of all base
ball is Honus Wagner. I looked at him
when the Giants were at Forbes Field the
other day and certainly was filled with
respect and admiration for this sterling
player. In spite of his gray hair and
gnarled hands. and vened forehead. he is
playing as much baseball now az 1 ever
saw him show, which is considerable. He
does not seem to have lost any of his
speed on the bases and is covering an
acre of ground.
I'D like to be on Just one more cham
pionship team before they pull the cur
few" he told me.
Frank Chance declares that he believes
Charles Murphy still owns the stock in
the Cubs that he was supposed to have
sold to Charles P: Taft. II not. Chance
probably hopes he does, since the Cubs
are not playing to millions SO far this
season.
teoarisht. 1914, by the WbeeIr Syndicate, Inc,