New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-02
Ed. CicOtte'S Shine Ball .
Like Knuckle Delivery

4-11-44, one will perceive that the tip
of the thumb and the knuckles of the
fingers are about equally distant from
the palm of the hand. A ball gripped
and thrown in this manner will depart
from thumb and fingers at the same
time, which is precisely the principle
upon which the Splitter" is predicated.
1t gives the same dead" non-revolv-
ing action and causes the pill to shoot
and dive in eccentric and pulling
manner.
Efficient Knuckle Ball
Eddie Cicotte's shine ball is the
knuckle ball carried out TO efficiency
plus. It is naught more. Eddie has
been monkeying with this delivery for
the last five years, and it is reason
able to assume that his knuckles by
this time are highly educated and that
their technique is above the ken of
the ordinary knuckle. Hence his de-
livery or knuckles has been bitterly
assailed on all sides because perfec
ton in many matters sometimes smat-
ters of magic. Cicotte has been ac-
cused of using everything from Eng
lish breakfast tea to crude petroleum
on the ball. Yet those balls which
umpires have run to earth and capt
ured have shown nothing. They have
been tested by the National Commits
sion, whose taste in liquids is accept
ed to be that of connoisseur and
the National Commish couldn't ever
discover trace of the harmless olive.
The shine ball is an extra knuck!e
ball, and that is all there is to il. The
fame of knuckles has not heretofore
spread beyond pigs and brass, and II
Mr.. Cicotte has discovered new use
for a generally uncelebsated port on
of the anatomy it will not be the policy
of this writer to withhold full and am
pie credit.
While we are about it, the Giants,
being new to Comiskey Park, Chicago,
should be warned of the enunciator
system that is in vogue in the Wind
City park. An enunciator is one OF
those things that sounds like pho
nograph and is always threatening,
but never does sing a song. They are
often used outside drug store win.
dows, while a sphinx-faced gentleman
within assures bystanders that il Is
not only possible but highly probable
that the little bottle of liquid which
he holds in his hand will grow hair
on a billiard ball
Enunciators Are Tenors
All enunciators are tenors. It is the
custom of Mr.. Comiskey's enunciators
to announce in a high pitched key the
batteries for the day, and. as the
game progresses. any change in the
lineup or the induction of pinch
hitter is duly registered over the
-.
derstood what an enunciator was try
ing to get at, especially in Chicago,
where il is customary on the part of
the crowd TO howl out the last three
innings, but occasionally name sounds
clear and distinct above the tumult.
1t is like woman's voice, which is the
catch in il. There was the case Of
Player X, of the ST. Louis Browns
who went in 70 pinch hit in the eighth
inning Of a tight game. There were
two strikes and three balls on him,
when the gentleman operating the
enunciator got around 20 his an
nouncement. Consequently when
Player KS name was thrown out on
TO the field in high keyed, feminine
voice, Player X turned and tipped his
cap and let the third strike go By.
Most Of the Giants, being married
men, will doubtless be more cautious.
Another thing about the White Sox
park is that there are no diverting
advertising signs on the fences. For
a great number OF years il has been
the custom of batsmen 20 attribute all
their batting ills 10 the advertising on
the fences in the various parks about
the circuit. The fact there are no ad-
vertising signs in Comiskey Park NAV
so greatly worry the Giants, in that
they will have nothing 10 kick about,
that il will be quite impossible for
them 10 hit the ball at all. II some
times works that way.
Baseball To-day. 3 r. M Y. Americans
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