Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-06-22
~ CHRISTY MATHEwSoN.


The Giants have demonstrated they
are good road team by regaining
something like the old stride while
away from home. There is a lot OF
psychology In this fact For three or
tour years the Giants have believed
they are a road club. and this believ-
ing has developed them into one. as
is usually the case. II all originated
In a little incident
Along about the middle OF the sea.
son of 1912 the team began falling oil
in its hitting power, especially during
a long stand at the Polo grounds. and
the players started to cast around iot
reason. We were all discussing IL
and Grabbing In the clubhouse one day
after a particularly disastrous session,
when Chief Meyer said:
"The glare from those advertising
signs In center field blinds me. and !
can't see the ball as II is delivered. !"
Stevens Heart Broken.
The other players hoped on that
alibi like a sure thing man on rube
when he first blows into town The
brightly colored advertising signs had
been responsible for the poor batting.
and nothing would do until they were
taken down and the center field fence
painted a dull green. This sacrifice
of space nearly broke the heart Of
Harry Stevens, who has the concession
for advertising In the park. but Nc
Graw insisted. Then Mr. Stevens re.
eeived letters from jokers, who desir-
ed to rent the vacant space for fabu-
lous sums. which we're as soothing to
Mr.. Stevens temperament as an argu-
ment used to be to Hank" O'Day
The elimination OF the signs did not
prove a perceptible tonic to the hit
tiers, and the club has been weak hit.
ting one at home ever since. The
tradition has sprung up that we can
bat better on the road, and the players
have seemed to ever since II is a
strange thing that some teams play
so much better ball on the road than
at home, while others are strongest
on their own lot Nearly every team
in the big leagues has some peculiar
ity OF this sort. / think careful in.
vestigation will prove that the grounds
are responsible for II In most instanc'
es. st.E5a4sA ssltf
Before the old Polo grounds was
DESTROYED by fire 1t was a great field
for hitting. But the, new stand. which
casts a shadow over the field in the
late afternoon, has changed conditions
and made It a tough field for sticking.
Take a dark day and a pitcher In the
box with q little speed and q hitter
cant see the bali until It is on top OF
him. got a bad break on that per
sonafiy. Most Of my speed was gone
before the fire. | am sorry to say.
As to the sox Ball Park. Gas
The White Sox have always been
known as light hitters. although the
personnel of the team Is constantly
changing, and | don't think Of regu-
lar in the lineup today who was with
the club when they were first known
as the hitless wonders. The team al.
ways busts the balls better when 1t Is
on the road The answer is In the
character OF the grounds. Visiting
clubs, which are not forced TO under
go the strain of batting on the field
day after day, usually fall off In their
hitting when playing at the American
League grounds in Chicago Ty Cobb
hates the park.
81 would rather play anywhere else
in the country than In Chicago" he
told me while were we're talking about
different parks one day. There is
something about that field which
makes it difficult to see the ball
When the pitcher delivers it from a
certain position 1t seems to disappear
for a couple Of seconds"
The White Sox pitchers have made
study of the natural advantages OF
the Grounds and they tell me that Ed
Walsh used to be able to tell from
just what angle to throw the ball to