The sun., 1919-10-26
RUTH SAYS KEEP
EYE ON THE BALL
Noted Red Sox Home Run
Slugger Gives Advice to
Young Batsmen.
FREE SWING ESSENTIAL
Shoulder Muscles Carry Great
Batting Power, Recites
Boston Fielder.

Keep your eye on the ball I" sounds
like golf, but Babe Ruth. Boston's lead
ing manufacturer Of home runs, was
speaking about baseball. Babe doesn't
do much batting off the field. He doesn't
believe in trying to score base hits with
his chin. but every once in n while he
can be persuaded to go to bat in the
conversational league. and when he does
he generally knocks couple of verbal
home runs.
Naturally at this time the all impor-
tant question for Ruth to answer is:
What is the secret OF successful bat
ting?" 1t was in reply that Ruth I'M
hesitatingly answered:
When a pitcher is preparing to de-
liver a ball try to guess what he in
tends to throw, a curve or fast one"
continued Ruth but just because you
have made up your mind he is going to
throw a curve do not be too sure of Il.
Always remember the pitcher also is
trying to outguess the batter. That Is
part OF pitchers work.
"atch the Pttcher.
"Once he releases the ball never take
your eye Off it. If you do you are gone.
Watch It all the way. Watch 1t as 1t
breaks and watch it as you start your
swing. The batter who watches the ball
only part of the way in its fight to the
plate seldom becomes a good hitter, for
if the pitcher is throwing a curve It
seldom breaks until 1t is within a few
feet of the plate. 1t is almost impos-
sible to tell whether a thrown ball is
going to curve or not until the actual
break occurs. For this reason Il Is
necessary for a batter never to take his
eye off the ball.
when 1 was youngster just begin
ming to play any kind of real baseball
veteran player impressed upon me the
necessity of keeping my eye on the ball.
and I have never forgotten It. It has
become second nature with me. and yet
| never step to the plate that the warn
ing. Keep your eyes on the ball. does
not flash through my mind.
Free Swing Essential.
Next to keeping his eye on the ball
batter must learn to hit with free and
easy swing. He must not hold his
elbows tight against his sides. 1t is i'm
possible to get free swing IL the elbows
I'll Z by w bcl lIlt<til tllcg
should be held out from the body, but
they must be given all the freedom OF
action that is possible.
Hitting power is generated in the
wrists, forearms, and the muscles behind
the shoulder blades. Therefore 1t is
necessary to drive a ball hard to get
your shoulders in the swing. 1t is not
necessary to swing so hard that you spin
ali the way around. The man who swings
in this way loses time in getting away
from the plate. Getting started quickly
, toward first base is something that de-
mands close attention. Many base hit
has been lost by a slow start from the
plate and many a base hit has been
made by getting away quickly.
THE batter who swings completely
around loses his balance and before he
RECEIVERS himself he has lost the equiva-
lent of at least two full strides. Two
strides of say Ave feet each mean that
he has lost more than three yards IN the
thirty yard dash to first And three
yards is quite handicap.
There are many more things about
batting. but these are the chief things TO
remember and to practice"