The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-07
PRATT CONSIDERED HARD LUCK BATTER !. OF JOHNSON CIRCUIT Talks of Six Hardest Pitch CTS to Hit-Bats Hard
 Against Walter -
 Johnson t

St Louis, February 6.-Derrill Pratt, second baseman of the St. Louis Browns, is a pretty fair hitter. In fact, he swats the ball about as hard as any of them, though he is not noted for his luck in getting them past the out fielders. Therefore his opinion as to the hardest pitchers to hit is interest ing.
 Tell us," asked a baseball scribe, addressing Pratt, "who are the six pitchers most difficult to hit in the American league?"
 NIr. Pratt's brow now corrugated after for publication
 "I'll tell you," said he. the six pitch CTS whom I think generally are reck- cned the hardest to hit. They are Ayers and Johnson of Washington, Shore and Foster of Boston, Scott of Chicago. and Mitchell of Cleveland.
 "Of these five of them are hard for me to hit. With Johnson I never have had much trouble"
 It may be parenthetically said that Pratt busted Johnsons scoreless inning record two seasons ago, when he bounced double against the right field fence following single by Gloomy Gus Williams. Nor since has he had any trouble with the fire ball' king.
 "A good pitcher, I think, continued Pratt "is one who has something more than a curve and speed. They have to have more. There isn't any pitcher in the business who is fast enough to throw them by you Johnson comes nearest that.
 Iax inn, tant ability to mix 'em. Ayers includes in his repertoire a swell underhand de- livery, and in pinch I'd almost rather bat against any pitcher than him.
 There is something on every ball George Foster pitches. He has splen- did curve, and his fast ball breaks either in or out. Then he has the knuckle ball. I believe that Foster possibly has more stuff than any of them. Cicotte used to be such a pitcher but he didn't show so well this year. "Shore has long stride and a long reach. Consequently the ball is upon you almost as soon as it leaves his hand. His curve ball is a corker. He always has been hard for me to hit. Jim Scott deserves the title of the curve ball king of America. He almost doubles his effectiveness by his un-
 common ability to hold men on frs ! base In this wfay he prevents steals and thereby keeps out of the hole ! like Scott's pitching immensely. Usually right-hand batter has lit , tie trouble with 1eft-handed pitchers 1 but l certainly have had mine this sea
 son with Willie Mitchell He is, think l the most versatile southpaw in thu | league. with due respect to Carl Well
 man, who is as effective. Mitchell uses an elusive crossfire
 and the ball has an odd quirk to it | Those right handed hitters of us, wht have been used to taking toehold ant slugging away at eft-handed deliv
 cries, found it plenty hard eniugh tC
 hit the ball at all without setting our l selves for it.
 "The question of the hardest pitche | to hit is matter of opinion. Som | batters can hit and hit hard som pitchers that other just as good batter cannot touch. Neither Jack Fournie nor myself has led the American leagu | in hitting, but I do not believe any bat | ter in the league has hit Walter John | son harder than we have. But John ! son is a great pitcher-the fastest 0
 all of them."