Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-01

out for himself what the pitcher would
throw to him
believe, IL you went over the records
YOU would find that the player am
reterring TO did not make more than
couple OF hits season against our
club when his nemesis was behind the
plate. have not mentioned the names
OF inc two players, because II would
hardly be fair to them to do 30.
BATTING AVERAGE A BoGEY
Another player in the big leagues some
wears ago was making hard fight to
win the batting championship. He was
very susceptible to S'ddine," and IN the
course OF one series, which was played
In Boston, II / remember correctly, they
had him worried so much that he rruld
not get anything resembling a base hit.
At the time when the series was being
contested, the leading bntsman was being
harn pressed by two or three other play
ers. When he was coming up to the plate
to take his turn at bat, several would
shout at him:
Tough luck, pal, but we just got word
from the press box that johnson. OF
Brooklyn. got two hits in his first two
times up and Williams, OF Nav York.
walked and slammed out a double In his
two trips to the plate. That Just about
puts them both point or two ahead of
you, doesn't it7'
Whether the batter believed them or
not 1 don't know. But he did almost
swing his head OF trying to hit the ball
and did not come anywhere near IL. He
was so anxious to win the batting cham
plonshp that he had that on his mind
all the time and therefore It was easy to
Kid him.
YOUNG PLAYERS TRAPPED.
The young player has to keep his head
up and his eyes wide open all the time
when he frst breaks into fast company
or he'll pull "bonehead" plays that will
make him look foolish to the crowd who
do not understand what has been said
on the diamond. Frequently, you will see
young second baseman throw to the
Keystone sack to force runner there
when the man Is already standing on the
bag. He should have tossed the bali TO
hrst Tor an easy out. You call the in
helder harsh names
But did you hear a coacher or some
player with a foghorn voice yell, Throw
II TO second!' Well, an opposing playar
uld shout Just that, and he shouted Il
so the fielder would be sure TO hear II
and think one of his own players was
advising him. The youngster turned and
threw to the base indicated, never even
stopping to look and see that the runner
was on the bag
That sort of Kidding is rough on a
recruit. but he has to learn the game
and the men in IT, i'm the bitter school
OF experience. The player who succeeds
Is the man who doesn't fall for the same
hu more than once or twice II he
Keeps his ears open. he soon becomes as
wise as the veteran, and as the saying
goes he shows the veterans that "you
can't kid kidder."
or course, in some games notably golf,
Kidding is taboo. II you talked or
n N N Fs.,Nx..
Ing from the tee on the links YOU soon
would be mighty unpopular and probably
would be asked to resign from the club
And having tried to play a little goll
myself, can readily understand why the
man who Is attempting a hard and i'm
portant shot does not want to hear a
sound behind him which would distract
his attention.
KIDDING PART OF THE GAME.
Baseball Is a different game, however
In the first place. the crowd would not
enjoy II unless they could yell like wild
Indians. We ballplayers are paid to en-
tertain them, and il they choose to call
us names, we must bear 1t without a
murmur. II the fans saw IS players go
on the field and congratulate one another
and exchange pats on the back I'm the
midst OF the game. they would get the
idea that they were not out to win, but
were pls ying for the money alone.
Spectators at ball game expect te see
the two teams display deep rivalry. After
the game they may fraternise all they
please-Rnd nearly all the big league
players do But they must be enemies
on the ballheld, In a sportsmanlike way.
So long as there is baseball, there will
be Kidding" and 1 would not enjoy a
game half so much If the players did not
try to get each others goat" 1t adds
to the excitement and the uncertainty OF
the sport.