Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-20
SHOULD ALLOW FANS TO
KEEP BALLS THEY CATCH
Corbctt Thinks This Custom Would
Increase Good Will Between
Owners and Patrons.
LOSS WOULD BE SMALL
Dycd-in-Wool New York Baseball
Lover Declares Sphere Foulcd by
Christy Mathcwson Is His Most
Highly Priced Treasure.
BY JAMES j. CoRBI:r'T.

NEW YORK. August l9.--In many
major league circles this is subject
should the fans be permitted to
keep the foul balls that are battcd
into the stands?'
My feeling is that the club owners
would gain a whole lot more in the
good will by letting them keep the
balls than they would suffer III rather
inccnseQucntal financial loss.
Yet, many owners take the position
that all foul balls should be thrown
back into the playing field. Ana some
have gone TO tho extreme OF instruct
ing their ushers to- use every means
TO retrieve the horschideS. AS re-
suit. the fans and the ushers FREQUENT
~ have squabbles that certainly do
not help 20 cement enduring friendship
between spectator and moeui.
Club owners claim that losing fouls
means a big money loss 10 them. they
exaegerate. Not more than six fouls
game. That's about s? worth of base
ball material, or the price of twelve
admissions Certainly, If the club
owners knew how greatly the fan
prizcs for souvenir purposes base
ball that Was used in big league
game they wouldn't Try 10 deprive him
Kept Rail HIT by "Christy."
No; so long ago. ! talked with one
of the thirty-third degree fans in New
York on the foul-hall situation.
AMI this is what h. SAID:
one Of the creates; treasures have
sa baseball THAT was fouled into the
stand in the Polo Grounds some years
ago BY Christy Nathewson. l caught
the ball of his bat An usher mur rrl,,i
me told him I'd gladly pay the
price OF the ball for the privilege OF
keeping it. But lie snariingiy tod
SO decided 10 keep the ball at all
hazards. and though a rather disagree.
able situation With the usher resulte9
/ kept that ball. And no ore could
buy il from me for hundred times
its material cost
am sure tina; II The mnsnates only.
could see the situation from the rams
viewpoint. realize how highly each fan
treasures a baseball that actually was
foued 10 him by one OF the truly greats
Of the national oastiTe. they would NIX
"All foul balls hated into the STANDS
are the property OF those who recover
o'NcnI Remarkable Catcher.
over a long stretch OF time. when
fans discussed the greatest catcher in
each b:s league" Ray seha!k rsusiiE
selection. WITH Biil Killiter the Va
toHal League nominee But now
Cleveland fans, and those in many
other cities in Ban Johnson's circuit,
oSefii' ; 10 ~
oSetIl is 5saIiy Tsms ,: bach <
passing years Eirh; low ne is al ;hs
top OF his form. hitting splendidly. field
ing fau!, .sssly, throwing with wonder
full speed and accuracy to the bases
and, best Of AL. running his team with
superb Judgment
Hes game clear through. thinks Ike
liEhtning-acts as he ;hinks--and he is
:ia~!ess in mechanical play" is how
the Cleveland fans regard the young
Sttr who joined tho Indians in 1872
aud has been the regular backstop since
vnuehn's rInyins Explained.
After nearly s!X years Of silence. big
along With IN aisbi for his imdiffe-nn,
big league work through 1910. 1911.
Vaughn vas secured by the Yankees
from Macon in 1910. At the time ne
looked Ike prospective world heater
He had everything tnat great pitcher
s seem and 70 s-a P}ssd?hysiiGme curves
on With IN" Yanks. He pitched fairly
good baseball in 1910, but slumped
badly In i'll And, wors, OF all, from
showed no enthusiasm about his work.
In time NaUihn. because Of his
seeming willingness TO perform
chores, hec.s.re k,spwn as Lazy Jim .
Eventuall&- k -Yanks became disgust
ed with him and.r"i"ased him to Wash
inston, SHORTY afterward the Sena-
!ofS showed MN OF into the minors.
Has iie"n IIuriinS Sensation.
sui III 1908 n" canc hack 70 the big
snow - member OF tho cubs Ever
since he has been a pitching sensa-
ton. But more surprising Is the fact
that the one-iimc Lazy Jim" has al
WAYS been the most willing worker
on the Cub staff
whats the reason Jim was
asked. and this is what he said:
Soon after Joining the Yankcns !
Spraincd my loft arm. 4 h!g !umr
formed under the arm pit. COULDN'T
do good work. ! tried repeatedly to 70,
rest, but WASH; able 90 my arm
continued III poor shape all the time
Was with the Yankees ana Senators
When they let me 90 gave IL "A long
rest. Never since then has !; caused
me The slightest trouble. -CoDyrjrbt