The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-28

anyhow" and the base on balls see
of the Chicago girls commiseratiol
In 1913 Shotton of the st. Louis
Browns was high man for bases on
balls in the American League. He re-
ceived 102. Shotton never has been
record batter, so credit must at
tach to him for being a remarkably
excellent judge Of what was being
pitched to him.
The next season DOME Bush of the
Detroits led the American League.
He was also "lead off man" for the
Detroit team. He reached more bases
on balls than Shotton in 1913, as his
total was IL. Bush is q fair batter
but no slugger so the pitchers were
not giving bases on balls to cut
down any record for batting home
runs, He was simply "waiting them
out"
THEN CAME COLLINS.
There was a new face as the best
base on baIler"'in 1915 1t belonged
to Eddie Collins with a record of 119.
Three players were at his heels and
each of them with 11S. These were
Cobb and Bush Of Detroit and Shotton
of st. Louis.
In 1915 Shotton is found In his own
kingdom again with the high ma k
of Ill. He was far from being the
best batter of the American League
in that or any season.
In 1917 Eddie Collins led with 80
and in 1918 the lamented Ray Chap
man led with "a.
In 1919 Ruth first came into the
foreground, but not as many bases
On balls were given to him as to
Jack Graney Of Cleveland. The total
to Graney was 105 and to Ruth 101.
Graney played In two less games than
Ruth at that and neither of them
played in all of the games OF the
scheduled season. which was for 14O
games, as against 154 in the other
years.
II would seem that in 1918 tho
American League pitchers had their
worst year OF many. There were
four batters who received 473 bases
on balls among them. or two of tho
batters, Eddie Collins and Cobb, one
can imagine the pitchers might have
been Aghting shy. or the other two,
Bush and Shotton. the decision goes
10 the battcrs as being good walters
They fought many q duel and worst
ed the pitchers.
PITCHERS SETTLE DOWN.
In 1918 the American League
pitchers must have settled down to
business, for Chapman received only
"a bases on balls, the fewest given in
seven seasons, although he was high
man as the Individual receiver. There
were also good pitchers and good
vitching in 1917, as Eddie Collins,
who stood at the top. could get but
80 passes.
Next to the wavering work OF tho
oitchers comes the somewhat curious
result that a player who was not
slugeer in the sense that the fans
know sluggers was top man in two
wears and tied for second In third
wear. and in each OF the years re-
ceived more than 100 bases on balls.
This was Shotton OF st. Louis. II Z
shows nothing else, 1t does show that
apch a quality exists as skilful walt
ing, so skilful waiting has Its part In
baseball as well as skilful batting.
Summarized, II Is evident that, in
Guiding 1913, Shotton Is the American
League leader irf bases on balls with
two frsts and second over 100,
Eddie Collins Is next with two hrsts,
Dush third with a first and a second,
then Cobb. Chapman and Grancy each
nrst in a single year. Ruth was
certain second with over 100 In 1919
and is almost sure to be first in 1920
with away over 100.
There Is another argument to the
,tory to the effect that the intentional
,.ss has not been more common than
Inc Intentional wait. on the whole.
81 Ia manifest that intentional wait
,,s all the better of the controversy
by . whoopinG majority.