Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-23
COMPARISON OF SPORTS
ALEXANDER EXPLAINS IDEAS
ON PITCHING AND SHOOTING
Great TwIrier Says They Are Much
AHke-Rejects $4,000 StnEe
OHcr TO Hunt.

Oner to Hunt.
I'm sorry. but it will be impossible
Tor mo to accept your offer. ] must
go home immcdiately--an important
engagement"
The speaker was Grover Cleveland
Alexander. otherwise Alexander the
Great. and generally rated as the best
pitcher In baseball.
But. Mr.. Alexander. remember you
arc spurning $500 week for twenty
weeks. or Sl0,000-thc easiest kind of
money said the man who was talk
ing with the pitcher. And III guar
antec that all you'll need to do is APP
pear on the stage twice day, say two
or three words and look pleasant"
The temptcr a vaudeville agent.
and he was trying to sign the baseball
the vaudeville jobs"
Alexander shook hi shead and sighed.
I'm not an actor, and don; want TO
be an actor. I've always considered
acting to be profession. I like money.
but II can't be done.
Likes Hunting Better Than Money.
Il look forward TO the fall and winter
Just as eagerly as the schoolboy looks
forward TO spring and summer. Fall
ana winter to me mean vacation-and
vacation means hunting. To get out
my sun and go into the fields after
birds is my favorte pastime. won't
aay there is not enough money in the
world TO cause me to give up my hunt
ing vacation. but $4,000 is not the
amount TO do it,
Il was born on the plains OF Ne
braska. where hunting was our great
est pleasure" continued the pitcher.
"and | still think II is the best sport
In the world for fall and winter. Me
for Nebraska: let the city fellows have
the vaudeville obs"
Alexander is quite as expert with n
n hn 10 MI I,ac hal Nf.,
arc the stories he tells OF his days in
the field. II is this life in the open that
gives him the nerves. the muscles and
the courage TO win more than thirty
baseball games a season. He thrives
on hard work, and many OF his best
games arc pitched near the end OF a
hard season.
II probably is known by all who will
read this tale that Alexander pitches
for the Phillics. In 1915 his club cap
tured the National League pennant 1t
was Alcxundcr's pitching that was
OF the team. He attributes much Of
his success on the diamond TO his
training with the gun ancld.
Pitching a baseball in the middle
or no, game and shooting a gum at
fast-moving bird are much the same"
the twirlcr insists. II don't mean to
say that there is much similarity be-
tween the real action. In one case. a
man Er.ps baseball in his hand and
throws IL across plate. making u
sincere effort 10 prevent Il man with Il
bat from hitting the ball where they
amt In the other case. a man throws
gun TO his shoulder when a bird
or birds. flush and seeks 10 hit bunch
or feathers with a load OF shot.
But. while the action is different
both baseball pitching and hunting re-
Quirc. first OF all. a clear eye and a
-
lance perfectly and cause the arm to
work in perfect harmony with the mus
c!cs. Let mo illustrate what | mean:
III 4 pitcher were 70 stand on the
mound. close his eyes and try to hurl
baseball across the plate. the chances
arc nc would hit reporter sitting in
tho press box.
III the hunter were 10 put the gun
TO his shoulder. watch tho birds nush
then close his eyes and attempt to
drop one. II is safe bet that he would
Kill one Of the dogs So you see. the
eyes are vital To action OF any kind
am not cxpoupding q new theory
when l tell you that
But We know that some men can't
grip A baseball and throw {, with sur.
ncicnt accuracy 70 hit the side of a
house. There is not that Judgment OF
distance and strength OF muscle VIII ich
one finds in the baseball plaver VINO
from forty-hvc to sixty feet away seven
times out OF ten without any prepara-
ton for the throw
VIC also know that there are men
who can't stand with a gun 10 their
shoulder, set themselves. pull the trie
ger and hit COW fifty yards awav
we know that the skilled hunter. or
trapshootcr. or rife and revolver
marksman can hit moving object Of
reasonable size without giving the
slightest thought to the pointing OF
the hrearm and the pulling Of the
trigger.
Yes. aftcr.a time it becomes second
nature for mans eye to tell i'm inst
what his muscles must do i'm perform.
ing certain act. such as pitching :,
baseball or shooting a gun. When The
eye becomes accustomed TO Judging dis
tances accurately. and the hands viii
do the bidding OF the eye. half tho ba,
tie OF pitching or shooting is Won
Then all that is required is steady
nerve. some brain work and strength
do not know that have explained
this subject clearly. hut | at least
nave told you in my own language why
IL should follow that a baseball nitcbrr
or. IN fact any man who PLAYS ba sabou
or game requiring quick. accurate
eye. should develop into a good sh1, :.
OFFICIAL FIGURES M MOT