The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-26
Youngsters Often Worry Over Bats Net Uncom- mon, Says Veteran of the Game-Good Hitters Sel- dom Retain Ability
By HONUS WAGNER

10 Slep TlSnL IS to nlJ rlSnt.
 I wouldn't dignify batting as an art. It is merely a process and the job of keeping yourself within the process. It requires the eye, strength, nerve and temperament tai force to combat with the ball player S greatest dread-the slump.
 aBatting, therefore, is not what it is commonly called-an art. It is the gift of the qualities mentioned above and practice. The most artistic batsmen are usually the least proficient, and I have seen some great ones who were not much on the statue order.
 You often hear the comment
 He stands nice at tine plate"
 On the strength of this, how much chance would I have and what would a lot others look like if they and went 1000 miles from home under assumed names and allowed big league scouts to look us over? It matters not how a batter stands at the plate, so long as he keeps within the rule and swings naturally. I guess I have batted in the same position all my life. and I have seen others bat in gro- tesque crouches, stand rigidly in appar- ent awkward positions, choke their bats, and do many other things that would not prompt the remark from a novice:
 Doesn't he stand nice at the bat?"
 The notions of great batsmen differ with the view of selecting ball to hit or smting the first good one that comes, or even a bad one that instinct tells a batsman is hittable to certain field. Fred Clarke was among the greatest of hit ters, and, since he is out of the game, it is not a betrayal of any secret to out line his style.
 CLARKE OVERCAME SLUMPS
 Clarke, in his greatest batting years and throughout his 20 years of service, never was undecided as to what he would try to do when he went to bat. It depended entirely on who the pitcher was, the score, and what was the best possible chance. By strict enforcement of this rule he overcame many slump. He would go to bat with this thought:
 'TIe may give me two things, fast one or curve. I'll lay for his curve on the insde.''
 That pitcher could pitch good and bad fast ones until he walked Fred or got him in a hole, but Fred would not offer. Set to hit curve if he got 1t, the advan- tage was with Clarke and not the pitcher. Guessing with every pitch was not Clarke's policy. In the choice of a pitch CTS delivery he always figured one kind or pal the plICneT WOulu luIOW HIS Fred always tried to hit, though, of course, he did not always follow his ac- cepted rule.
 All batters however, don't decide on what kind of ball to hit. I have always hit them the way they come and as they looked to me, and the proper thing, though batters differ, is to do the natural.
 Giving a man sign to hit certain ball may sometimes complicate things, l.A.-- Ll-. rIr I1<a,, and worked out a system for the better while he was with Pittsburg. I was on third one day and the sign was for a squeeze with Dots up. We became crossed and was trapped and run down. Miller and I talked it over and finally an idea struck him and he said:
 sSay, Honus, hereafter pn hit-and-run plays, I want you to tell me what ball to hit"
 Miller professed that with me on first, selecting the ball for him to hit, he had much better luck. Many time I called the turn, gave him the sign, and started, and often it succeeded But he would not trust his own luck and preferred to work it with. me-
 When to hit and when not to hit; in other words, when to work the pitcher, is big question without any firm rule. The right or wrong of the acton hinges on the batsman's luck
 .'How can you figure it?" asked Charlie Dooin of me one day in Philadelphia. "Tie score, New York has bases full in seventh, and three and nothing on Doyle Sees a ball he thinks he can hit but would go for a ball. Hits 1t clear over right center fence for homer"
 Peach of a play, Charlie" remarked. "since he got away with it.'
 GIBSON PULLED BONE
  George Gibson one Sunday in Chicago. Pittsburg was two runs behind and we filled the bases in the eighth with two out. Gibby went up, and with the count three and nothing. he tried the same thing that Doyle pulled off. On the fourth ball. which came outside, but in a grand posi- ton for Gibby to hit, he swung with all his might. Schulte. with plenty of comfort, raced over to the bleacher fence and caught the ball with one hand as it was dropping into the structure for homer. Gibby had taken the long chance because a weak hitting pitcher was com ing up with two out, but he was the boob instead of hero.
 Some of the best drives that ever left