The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-10
Corbett's Daily Letter
 On Great Sport Topics
By JAMES J. coRBErT

Baseball of 1897 was more productive of fat batting averages than baseball of 1917, but the fielding end of the national pastime 20 years ago was ragged in com parson with that of the present era.
 Just the other day there came into my possession little book which contained the batting and fielding records for the National league of 1897. So I took it and compared the best marks made in that year with those achieved in 1897 with this outstanding result:
 Batting has slipped off S7 points in the majors during the past 20 years, but, on the other hand, the grand fielding av- craze has perked up something like s points in that period of time
 Quite a clump in batting, yes. But don't overlook this very vital fact; the foul strike rule, the menace of every matsman since 1901, wasn't in force in those days. No player was a fan victim until he had missed or had three strikes called on him. Baseball experts contend that the foul strike rule has lessened batting power close to 40 points. That being true, it means that the boys or this day are clubbing em with just as much success as did those of the bygone generation.
 The National league. as a whole, hit for 2s9 Tn 1897; in 1917 the league averaged
 249, while the American league mark was PAS. The boys of 1917 fielded around $50, whereas the American 1eaguers last season fielded .96S and the Nationals for .969
 Dear Mr. Corbett: What is the cor rect way to breathe? Should one breathe through the nose or the mouth or how is it done? JOE FIELDING.
 Draw in through the nose and exhale through the mouth. When you exhale, let the air come out with force, holding your lips in a pucker as though you are wmstling. The real benefit in deep breathing is lost unless you exhale all the foul air in your lungs. If you wish any further details on the methods of correct breathing, or the proper way to take care of the lungs, send me self-ad dressed envelope (with cents in stamps) for article which deals with this subject and outlines the proper exercises.
 If the foul strike rule had been in force in 1897 it would have cut down the clout- ing average to .249 which is just about the mark turned in by both big leagues lGSt year, IldklHS all lnlnBS dDOuI G4udl in batting way. But, as can be seen, fielding has improved wonderfully in 20 years and an increase of about 3S points per man in defensive work speaks vol umes for the improvement of the sport in that important department.
 With the figures before me for both 1897 and 1917 I made up all-star teams for each of those years, just to give fans chance to comcare the greatest players of 20 years ago with the greatest of the present generation. The selection of al, teams below was made solely on the ay- erages compiled in those years and are not to be construed as my all-star selec- tions for the 1897 nor that of the present time.
 Memories of an almost forgotten era in basebalfs history must be awakened by perusual of the all-star team of lS97 Wonderful sluggers they were-all of them, with "We Willie" Kceler leading the attack with the phenomenal mark of .432. The lowest clouter was 'Biddy" McPhee. famed in song and story, and called by many the greatest second sacker to the big leagues this year, is hack to the big leagues this year, is found with 1863 marlx-and as a guar dian of the first bag, where he played early in his career. Five of the eight