El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-03-21

was no dry side on the ball have
always believed that the poor cOndl-
ton Of the ball had just as much to
do with the effectiveness Of the spit
ball, as the delivery itself. In a game
in which two spit ball pitchers are
working, a ball is almost rendered I'M
fit for play after the passing OF
few innings. The cover of the ball
becomes wet from the frequent moist
ening preparatory to pitching, which
very shortly renders the sphere dead
Renders Ball Unfit for Play.
have frequently examined the balls
in such games, and often wondered
how the batters ever managed to get
the sphere out Of the infield. In such
cases I always threw the ball out OF
play, and put in new one, stunt
very often not reiShed by the pitcher
in the field. I have also often won
dered how pitchers using a curve ball
or speed were able to show their usual
amount of stuff working with a ball
in such condition Jack Powell the
veteran big Lacquer, a wonderful
pitcher in his day, was one tw1rler
who always hated to be used in a game
in which a spit ball HEAVIER was work
ing on the opposing team. In such
games Jack always kept the umpire
busy dishing out new balls At the
start Of each inning, Jack would toss
the ball to the umpire and request
dry one. The umpires always granted
his request, for there is no denying
splitter soon renders the ball unfit for
If the spit BAH was hard on the
players it was more than hard on the
umpires. It is far from pleasant
task to Judge ball and strikes with two
spit ball pitchers working. The sue
cessful pitchers were the fellows who
could keep getting 1t over the plate
at about the knee. Such pitching al
ways makes trouble for an umpire.
Of Ton crafH hn1 hnT
crosses the plate at the knee is six or
eight inches near the ground when
the catcher receives it Many people
judge the ball purely from the position
of the catcher when receiving it. Call7
ing a strike when the catcher seems
to be almost picking the ball off the
ground is far from a pleasant task, II
the batter happens to be member Of
the home team.
Handicapped All the Players.
Just why a delivery that was so
popular six years ago should fall into
such sudden disrepute is a mystery.
Perhaps the best reason is the toll 1t
exacted on the man who depended
solely on its use for success. Many
pitchers using the delivery cOntended
that it had no effect on the arm, but
strange to say many Of those pitchers
are either out Of the game now or IN
the minors. Pitchers who had been
in the majors, prior to the debut OF
such twirlers, and who used the old
style delivery, are still doing business
at the same stand. There is no deny
ing the fact that constant use of the
moist delivery put a terrible strain
on the arm. Many pitchers who are
now down and out will admit the fact
Last year Ed Walsh, perhaps the
most famous of all pitchers who ever
used that style of delivery, was or
little use to his club. Walsh, always
a gIutton for work, was unable to take
his regular turn in the box for months
He tried to come back three or four
times, but displayed little of his Old
time form. I see by the papers that
he claims to be in good shape again.
If Walsh is through, his passing will
mark the exit of the one pitcher who
was surely a past master with the
much discussed delivery.-Copyrigh
1914, by ". G. Evans.