Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-08-27


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ture Syndicato.)
Chapter V.
How do ! hit home runs
have been asked this question
thousands of times since the close
OF the season of 1919. when broke
the worlds record with an official
total of twcnty-nine home runs
Really, ! Got thir,y-one. but the
other two went down in the score
books rs two-baEscrs. This is how
1t happened in each case: there was
\ man on second in tho ninth in
ming who brought in winning run.
officially ending the game by tho
time / had reached second base.
Both Of these blows were made on
cur own preserve. Fenway Park,
Boston. Both times my hits we're
long enough for me 10 have scored
without getting out of breath But
I'm not Grabbing about the loss of
those two homers. They won oau
mos and l was playing for the
Red SoX and not for Babe Ruth.
l suppose. when you get down 10
1t. there are several things that en-
able man TO hit home runs-bat-
ting cyc, how he stands AZ the plate.
how he swings. his strength and
weight and his confidence. Let's
take them up in order
You stand there at the plate
watching the pitcher wind up. You
haven't way in the world OF know
ing what he is going TO serve YOU,
and IL is not much use trying to
guess. because good hurlcr can
disguise his windup so that YOU get
fast one when YOU think a curve
ball is coming. The thing TO do is
keep your eye OH the ball. And |
never go up to the plate that some
thing inside me doesn't whisper.
Keep your eye on the ball, Babe
keep your eye on il. Watch i, come
up"
Watch nall TIL Il Breaks.
don't mean TO say that any
body can hit the bal! all the time
even II he keeps his cye glued on
II. but the fellow who has his lamp
trimmed and keeps 1t on will make
a whole lot more hits tnan the fell
low who doesn't. It's easy enough
- follow the oall half way from
the box to the plate. After that is
when tho pitcher fools the hitter.
That's when most bai;ers begin 20
lose the ball. They are not pre-
pared 10 watch the break which
comes jus; before the apple reaches
them. believe that one OF the
secrets Of my hitting is my ability
10 keep my eye on the ball longer
than any other batter. even until
1t starts 10 break We al! know
-.
and does not jump until il Is almost
q the plate and that is why Il os,-
ter must watch. SO that he doesn't
swing where the bali ought TO be
but amt.
II is in this business of keeping
your eye on the ball that golf and
baseball run aside by side for
little way. They also resemble each
Other IN the feel OF The home run
and the feel OF the long drive. but
VIII speak OF that later.
In standing al the plate ] again
put myself in the position of the
golfer lie addresses the ball; ad-
dress the pitcher. First Of all, I
get my feet in The exact position.
the right one a little in advance OF
the left. Ny right leg is 3cnt Just
IL H;ile At the knee, ard, as l stand
th!s "a%. the pitcher gets more view
OF my oaCH and my right h.D than
OF nag chest or side. The weight OF
my nocy -. a; the beginning, on my
!e!t leg When the ball comes up
/ shiit my weight to m: right foot.
winch steps out directly toward the
pitcher as my bat. my arms and my
whole body swing forward for the