Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05
BY GROVER c. ALEXANDER.

Did it ever occur to you that many
important base ball games are won or
lost because of a chance remark? 1t
seems strange to a fan, no doubt, but 1t
is a fact, nevertheless. Some players
simply cannot play up to the top notch
of efficiency when they are "kidded,'
and some of our base ball players,
coaches and managers are clever at
saying the right thing at the right
moment.
Kindly understand that there is a diff
ference between what we call kidding"
a player and riding" him. The "kidder"
may say the most complimentary things
about the man he is trying to unnerve.
The idea is to get his mind off the job
that Is before him, and many of them
will fall down more quickly when you
hand them a laugh than when you hurl
some slurring remarks at them and get
them fighting mad.
At 1t Is generally understood. riding"
a player consists of saying uncompn-
mentary things about him. Personally,
/ never have INDUCED in that kind OF
base ball, and don't believe 1t ia neces-
sary to do so. iva fellow talks a. little
rough to me on the ball field 1 try to
overlook it and keep my mind on my
pitching. The best way to shut up the
mouthed player who calls you
look bad when they come up to the bat
On the other hand. enjoy Kidding
match, and If the spectators could hear
what Is being said on the field in the
midst Of the closest kind Of battle
they would appreciate the game much
Let me illustrate. There was a big
league catcher who was particularly
good at the kidding" game. I have
known him to cause the leading bats
men of the league to strike out or fail
to deliver a hit when 1t was needed.
He knew Just what to say and when to
say it. 1t was quite amusing to hear
him.
He Fell for Kidding.
One player, and he was one of the best
hitters in our league. seldom got a hit
when the catcher / speak of was behind
the bat. believe that If the bat boy
had been pitching it would have been
just the same. The backstop had the
batter's goat" and kept it tied up all
the time. To tell this story more sat
isfactorily, I'll call the catcher Jim and
the batter Jack, which may or may not
be their first names.
Jack would come up to the plate in
the seventh inning of tight game with
a man on second and hit needed to tie
the score. He would have determine
ton written on his face and it was not
difficult to see that he meant to pay no
attention to anything Jim said to him.
We'll, old boy. here's your chance to
make good" the catcher would say.
You haven't been hitting 'em SO good
lately, and LIN afraid you'll be heading
back to the bushes before long, unless
you start ciouting the onion. Now I've
always liked you and I'm going to help
you all I$can. I'm going to sign for q
curve ball this time, SO step into IT."
And Jim would give me the curve-bal1
sign and I would bend one over the
heart OF the plate. Jack would stand
and look at it. Naturally, he expected
to get the reverse of what he had been
told he would get.
Tries Another Successfully.
We'll, old fellow, I see you won't
take my word for it when do want to
help you" the backstop would say as
he stopped to give me another sign.
Probably you don't want to hit a curve.
so Til sign for a fast one this time.
Guess you'll believe now
And Jim would give me the sign for
another curve. which would cut the out
side corner, while Jack almost broke