Evening star., 1918-04-07
REFUSES TO THROW
WICKED BEAN BALL.
Walter Johnson Never Pur-
poseIy Tries to Drive Batter
Away From Plate.
F0URNIER HITS HIM HARD
BY BILLY EVANS.

HIS terrlnc speed, MS 1aSt-Dreak-
ing curve and his change of pace
make him a twirler much feared
by every batter in the American
League. In base ball there are
always certain clubs hard for a
certain other club to beat, al
though the superiority of the
club that finds the going hard
against these particular clubs or
club is unquestioned.
In every league some star
pitcher finds a club hard for him
to win over. Perhaps this club
is the poorest in the circuit. The
club simply is his Jonah" 1t is
the same way with batters.
Often an ordinary batter hits a
certain star pitcher with Sue
cess, yet some other player on
the same team, admittedly much
better batsman, is helpless before
the same pitcher.
For a number of years Jack Fournier
was a member of the Chicago White
Sox If there was one thing Jack could
do it was hit. His ability to clout kept
him in the big league. regardless OF any
wrong move he might make in any
other department of the game. During
his major league career there was ono
pitcher Fournier always delighted to
bat against-Walter Johnson. Many
athletes are inclined to feel ill the days
Walter is selected to work, but the an
nouncement johnson was to work for
Washington against the White Sox al
ways made Fournier feel his batting
average was due for a boost.
Fournier took more liberties with
Johnson's cannon ball delivery than
any other player I have ever seen hit
against the Washington speed king.
can recall a half dozen games in which
Fourniers hitting almost alone defeat
ed johnson. In such games the rest
of the Chicago club did little hitting,
but Fournier's long distance cIouts
were always sandwiched in at the right
time. johnson has always regarded
Fournier as a jinx. and no doubt he
shed tears when Fournier was shunted
Fournier 1 have often heard Walter
say he tried him on everything. His
first time up he would feed him speed,
the second time plenty of curves, thsl
and SO on. Regardless OF what he
would pitch. 1t always seemed Fournier
would manage to connect squarely with
one Of the offerings.
In a game have in mind. Fournier
made three or four hits on johnson,
two of them were three-baggers. and
all played a part in the scoring. It
was Chicago victory due to Fournier's
work at the bat. 1 was umpfring tho
plate. and was in the best possible
position to observe what style of BAH
Fournier had hit. In each instance 1t
was a fast ball he picked on. On the
club was pitcher who
has since passed to the minors. He was
a good pitcher, although he had noth-
ing like the stun of which johnson
boasted.
Pitcher Would Scare Opponents.
After an inning In which Fonrnier
had made triple with a couple on. the
pitcher / have in mind left tho bench
to coach at third. As he passed me he
asked:
What kind Of a ball did Fournier hit, .
last one or a curve?"
'It was a fast one." I answered.
'Wish had his speed" said the pitcher.
set for my fast one. and take tho healthy
swing at 1t that Fournier does"
what would you do7" asked.
Nothing much. Only occasionally
would develop a sudden streak Of W1Id-
ness. Perhaps would hit some ono every
now and then. Probably tho player hit
wouldn't play for a couple OF days. II
didn't happen to hit any one, my fast ono
would be whizzing by 80 close to their
head. the batters would give 1t some re-
lion, his control is known to be almost
perfect, The batsmen have no fear of being
nit when they step into the batter's box.
they have plenty Of confidence. Walters
reputation is too haWless from every
pitcher advocate
bean ball." a great evil which was
greatly curtailed in the American league
ast season. Many pitchers worked. on
the theory of Walter Johnson's teammate.
that 1t is fatal error to let the bats
man get too familiar with your style.
One season the use Of the bean ball.
which is the throwing Of the ball as close
As possible to the batsman's head without
IAN League circles. Any time a good hit
.er got hit or two in game, the
pitcher would be advised to dust him
,ff." which was nice way OF suggest
ng the use of the bean ball. It was a
bad practice. 1t stirred UP Ill feeling
among clubs. It resulted in several play.
rs being injured. President Johnson
ook drastic stand on this matter last
;eason. His warnings to managers, pitch
RS and umpires were severe. and had the
lesired result.
After the game in which, Fournier
had made speciality Of swatting john
sons delivery for three-baggers, gave
thought to the views of
Johnson's teammate. / could recall only
couple of instances where Johnson
had hit a batsman on what ! would
regard as very wild pitch. I could
recall only one game in which Johnson
vas actually wild. l don't believe ! Will
ever forget that game, because I be-
ieve at least a dozen balls whizzed past
ne to the grandstand.
The next afternoon was umpiring
IN the bases About the fifth inning
Johnson sauntered out from the WASH
ngton bench to do a little coaching at
irst base Walter usually sits in tho
,eclusion of the Washington dugout.
rhe fact that he was coming out to
,oach attracted my attention. While
he teams were changing side Walter
'emarked:
"Guess didn't have much on my fast
me yesterday. Bill%
Cant agree with you there. Walter"
replied, you kept mo busy keeping
rack of your speed. It seems to mo
was the only fellow who real-
v enjoyed the game"
my only alibi with that fellow is he
ard" said Walter.
1 then recalled what had been said
o me by one Of the Washington pitch
RS. I didn't tell Walter who the pitch
r was, but did tell him what he said
bout growing wild occasionally, hit
Ing a man now and then. perhaps, and
usting them on when they took q toe
old at the plate. Walter simply
mfIed. said some Of the pitchers did
eem' to have pretty good success with
nat system, and then In his character
A.