The Washington times., 1915-07-03


looked Just like her. but he wasn't sat-
| ished with any Of them. He said that
the new bats were like q lot of punk,
them.
I haven't any particular love among
my bats. seeming to be able to use one
about as we'll as another. providing
| there fs GOOD. seasoned wood In them
and they are turned to my particular
model ] usually stick TO one as long
as my hitting keeps good and then
switch to another when I slump. Some
| on myself and break up a few clubs
until l nnd one that 10 ''hittish" and
then / use that one until I begin to so
| badly again.
One Of the most famous bats in the
country is that with which Frank
Baker made his two home runs In the
1911 worlds series. This stick was given
to him by Donie Bush on the last trip
took fancy to 1t one day and Donic,
| who naturally wanted to see the Ameri-
can League come out on top In the
worlds series. told him to take It along.
hat II the Athletics won the worlds
| series. but. SO far as I know, the head
gear never has been forthcoming.
used to hear Bush nagging Baker about
Frank retired to the farm without ever
coming across.
Bats vary a lot, as anyone will notice
who looks over the stock on display in
front OF the players benches. Every
good hitter has his own particular
tastes In regard to his implements Of
war. Willie Keeler. for instance. one Of
the greatest batsmen the game ever
produced, used a short thick log. which
he held almost in the middle. while Joe
Jackson. one Of the kings Of modern
slusgers takes whole tree up to the
a1d ~
toward the end. Joe's pole isn't so
heavy as It looks. however 1t is big
and thick enough to kill an elephant.
but Joe seems to be able to get 1t
pitching.
. He must know how to use It. for he
mas to his credit what was one OF the
longest wallops made in the recent his
a swat oyer one Of the f,agpoles on top
OF the Polo Grounds, New York. II
takes a husky poke to get the ball into
the upper tier of the horseshoe stand
with that. but put the pill clear over
the roof and out OF the park
Speaking Of long hitters. don't forget
Walter Johnson; I have seen him lar
rup couple that seemed to carry a
milo on the nv. His drive over the left
field fence in Cleveland probably ranks
with the mightiest bifrs of all time. The
wall wall is 100 feet from the plate where the
J.,
according to eyewitnesses. the missile
cleared the top of the barrier by forty
feet. l suppose that 1t must have come
to earth a good 40 feet from the homo
! plate, which IS a good swat for base-
ball.
Walter hit one in Bennett Park. the
old Detroit field. that probably Travelled
about as far as anv ball ever hit. was
playing deep center field for him. as
| always do. and as soon as the ball left
the bat started to run back. 1t seemed
to me that ran for Ave minutes at top
speed, but the ball was yards beyond Inc
when 1t came down Our park was very
deep in those days. and Johnson could
have walked around on that drive.
Rumors that the White SoN wera get
ting opposing clubs signals at home
League three or four weeks ago. have
been slenced by the fine Showing OF
Rowland's club while on the road. AS
mentioned in one of my articles tina,
such gossip was going around. it seems
only fitting that I should take this occa.
sion 10 say that the South Side club ha,
proved an alibi by clubbing Just abolt
as well on the road~as 1t did at home.
made no direct charges against Chicago
or any other club. as my readers Will
remember. but merely repeated what al
one time was common gossip on oui
club. and at least one other.
1t is time that ali the clubs in th'
American League woke up to the fac
that Chicago is a mighty dangerous
contender Tor mat OLD pennant IRE
dictons that the Sox would blow VI
with q loud report before the Fourth
Of July have not been verified, anc
there is little doubt In my mind tina
Mr.. Comiskey has a very formidable
outft on his payroll Chicago may no
have all the stars in the world. bu
every man Is playing ball for all tha
is In him Hustlng spells success II
baseball. 1t does in many othel
things, and unless the Stock Yard!
boys meet with some bad luck in the
way of injuries to players. look ou
for them
Boston has a hard row to hoe fo>
the next few weeks. The club leave!
home this week for a long swing arounc
the circuit, and 1t will have to worl
hard to prevent Detroit and Chicago
from drawing away. The Red Sox rrt
a fair road club. but by no means
wonderful one, and 1t will surprise m,
greatly II they are not well astern o.
us and the Chicago outfit when they
get back to Fenway Park
r The race Is only half over now, ant
I lot of changes in position may b,
= looked for between now and the enc
of the campaign. After what th'
- Braves did last season. l wouldn't bt
II surprised to see even st. Louis or Clevc
/, land win the pennant in our league
e But you must remember that Stalling
, had three wonderful pitchers going a
the top of their form to raise him ou
: of the cellar, while there Is no clul
n similarly blessed among the lowly il