The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-03-27
"LAST YEAR MY
BEST" -SISLER

IN the April Baseball Magazine the
editor, in an article on George Slsler'
endeavors to prove that Sisters SHOW
isssy to date is as good as the best. Also
that Sisler is Ty Cobbs rival and VIII
fill Tvs shoes before long. The mag
azine contains an article by Slsler
from which the following is taken:
NV showing last season was satls-
factory to me in the sense that II was
the best I have made so far. But 1t
was decidedly unsatisfactory compar-
ed to what it might have been, hau
been in a position to play my best
game right through the year. L know
a player must be guarded in making
such statements out of Difference to
public opinion which is prone to ac-
cuse him of trying to alibi his case
But the things 1 am going to speak
of now are known to my teammates
on the st. Louis club, and to many
Z persons, players and writer's II not 10
the general public.
; NV record was greatly marred by
three distinct slumps, which were due
to injuries received on the playing
field. Had 1 not been injured upon
theso three different occasions my
work certainly would have been bet
fer than it was, how much better L
cannot saw. But it stands to reason
that a player is not going to do hlm-
self Justice when he is not in good
physical shape. And the fact remains
that nv work declined very obviously
in quality after each one of the three
injuries.
The first of these injuries was the
most disappointing to myself though
perhaps the last was actually the most
damaging to- my record. L say the
first was the most disappointing be-
cause it broke up a fine start when
was going just right and improving
daily. That is the ideal SITUATION Ior
the player, a start at full speed when
he can get a good jump on the Helu
and, barring accident, breeze through
to the finish with all sails set.
NV first injury completely demon
allied my start. 1t occurred, II 1 re-
member correctly. on May 8. AT that
time I was hitting over 400 and SEEM
ed to be improving rather than de-
clfning. On that date, however, l
collided with Ray Schalk and spraln-
ed my left thumb. 1 was out OF the
game for two days and very likely
would have been better off had re-
manned on the bench for longer
time although a vacation in mld-sea-
son issalways damaging to batting
average. But the club needed me ana
as speedily as possibly got back into
uniform and played as well as l
could with that crippled thumb AS
Won know. 1 am left handed and lie
never before realized SO clearly the
Importance of the thumb on the hand
YOU use most. Not only was handi-
canned greatly in trying to throw the
ball. but could not grip the bat-afte1
anv normal fashion. 1 could not ever
+ake anv swing but had to improvise
a. new method, pushing with the bal
instead of clouting as I would ordl'
narily. do. Needless to say this methoo
was a very Indifferent substitute ano
INV good average shrank alarmingly
There-was no help.for it, however, ex-
cept to get back into shape as speed
tIy as 1 could which I did by the emo
of the month. But by that time my
average had slipped from above -4O(
to very near 800 and L-had to begir
ak over again.
Ny second injury wasn't so import
ant but it bothered me none the less
1t occurred in mid-season and con
sisted,of a mad. stone bruise-. Although
could not walk without limping
did not. miss a game. 1t didn't bother
me so much in hitting though, O.
course, it slowed me up somewhat
But it did handicap me greatly IL
base running, and no doubt contr1
buted considerably to my indiferen
scoring record
The third injury occurred IN sep
TENDER. 1t consisted of an injury u
NV right wrist. Eventually 1t proved
more troublesome than either of tn
others. 1 played with it for weel
but found that I grew worse 1nstea'
of better Finally I was taken GU
of the game altogether and kept GU
for the balance of the season.
These three injuries set an indelibl
stamp upon my whole seasons work
True they did not prevent me from
having a.good year, but they did ham
per me more than I can well explain
and they cut into my average to
decided degree.
Suu IN SplIe VI SuSi oi'0lP pm
rnents, which are a ball players lo
1917 had many satisfactory feature
to my point of view. Iris Speaker
the champion of the previous season
slumped just a little more than die
Had someone told me on the proceed
ing season that the very next year
should beat out the great Iris, n
doubt I should have felt a'bundantl
satisfied. So L do not know that
have lust. cause for. complaint.
AS for my chan &c of beating OF
Ty Cobb I fully realize the difficult
of such an undertaking. Ty Is on
tough customer and he doesn't like
be beat out. 1 am not at all sur
that 1 could have done it this pa;
season even though I had been
sL 4-;,,o of oil times