Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-04

ight-handed batter. My 1920 home
runs are about evenly distributed be-
tween right-handers and southpaws
Ihcy both throw 4 nine-ounce, cork
center. horsehide bali. and IL it comes
anywhere near the plate I don't care
whether the pitcher hcaves it from
the right side or left side or with
his ears.
Pitching Tricks Abolished.
The abolition OF the pitching tricks
this year has been n good thing for
baseball even though some pitchers
who had learned to rely on resin
and other stun to make their curves
take have suffered by 1t. After all.
we arc out there to play the game
fairly relying on our skill and ma
tural abilities and If you didn't draw
the line somewhere on these devices.
somebody would be using n square
ball or hring the pill out OF a young
cannon
You may be sure that the fans an
prove the changes. they want to see
hitting and fielding. and IL you doubt
this. just read over the attendance
figures OF this. the greatest seas, In
the history OF baseball, with home
runs and cX;ra-basc hits rafting like
hailstorm on tin roof. II these
tricks had gone on you could have
taken the bat out OF baseball.
l guess that's about all from yours
truly as to his share in baseball. Now
want to talk 4 minute or two t. tho
youngsters who are coming up. Some
OF them are playing today on the sand
lois. And some Of them arc going TO
be stars in the days to come. Take my
advice and learn to play every posi-
ton on the nine. II YOU think you're
pretty good pitcher. see how good
shortstop you are, and then take
whack at the bags. That's the way
TO learn the game. Above all. >tarn
TO keep your temper. Forget wha;
said. about losing my own. because
that never got me anywhere. was
foolish not to have had better grin
on 1t. If you arc bat-shy at the
plate. ] don't know OF any better way
10 cure IL than to put on mask
and pad and catch n few innings
every game, because when the batter
swings and misses, you'll get all the
practice YOU need in keeping your eye
on the ball. AS rule you needn't
fear getting hit BY ball YOU can see
Owns Cisnr Factory.
IL you haven't started to smoke
don't begin now. If you have, keep
it down. especially during the play
ing season ] smoke lot of cigars
and wish ] didn't, but own cigar
factory. which I've got to keen busy.
There isn't any need to caution YOU
about crooking your elbow. because
the eighteenth amendment has fixed
that for YOU.
And here's another thing: get mar
ried. Pick nice young girl who
understands you-shell understand
you long time before you under
stand and appreciate her-and make
home run. Mrs. Ruth was only
sixteen when married her and was
youngstcr Of twenty. ] wasn't any
Kind Of a champion then. except
champ picker. and I certainly was
good at that. had never known any
girls while was at Saint Mary's and
didn't think I'd have much use for
them. a lot OF wise kids think so too
At the age OF twenty, but, boy, when
IL happens and gets you good. all bets
are off.
Don't think that because I played
hockey once upon a time and made
good in baseball that hockey is good
game for YOU to play. Go to school
as long as you can. There is plenty
OF time for baseball after O'Clock
and during the summer vacations.
wish l had had more books-maybe
I'd be better author than I am.
And now I'm going to stop sure
enough. I can't promise to>deliver a
home run for you II you come out to
see the Yanks play or If you read the
box score far from the big league
cities. can only promise that I'll
be out there on the lot. trying all
the time. swinging with alI my power
and playing the game" with all my
heart for the games sake with an un-
failing remembrance OF old Saint
Mary's and Brother Matthias.