Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-06-22
Ry cHRlsTY MATHEwsoN.

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/ The Giants have demonstrated they
something like the old stride while
away from home. There is lot OF
psychology in this fact For three or
/ tour years the Giants have believed
| they are a road club. and this beIiev-
/ ing has developed them into one. as
is usually the case II all originated
I In little incident.
! Along about the middle Of the sea
son OF 1912 the team began falling of
in it's hitting power. especially during
la long stand at the Polo grounds. and
the players started to cast around tor
a reason. We were all discussing IL
and Grabbing In the clubhouse one day
after particularly disastrecs session.
when Chief Meyer said:
| The glare from those advertising
signs In center field blinds me. and !
cant 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" 0'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
lily OF this sort. ! think. careful In
vestigation will prove that the grounds
EuC iCcpOnoiDio lOt IL u nAOot lhotoiS'
es a1is
Before the old Polo grounds was
destroyed by fire II was greet field
for hitting. But the new stand which
casts shadow over the field in the
late afternoon, has changed conditions
and madesit q tough field for sticking.
Take q dark day and. q pitcher IN the
box with a little speed and hitter
can't see the ball until II Is on top Of
him. got a bad break on that per-
sonaIly. Most of my speed was gone
before the fire, am sorry to say.
Az 10 the Sox Ball Park.
The White Sox have always been
known as light hitters. although the
| personnel Of the team Is Constantly
changing. and don't think OF q 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.
Il would rather play anywhere else
In the country than In Chicago" he
told me while were were talking about
different parks one day. There Is
something about that field which
makes 1t difficult to see the ball.
When the pitcher delivers It from a
certain position 1t seems to disappear
for q 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