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

-
ture Syndicatc).
Chapter MI.
Writing n story about yourself is
very different from pitching ball.
because in writing, the 'wind-up" is
the last thing OF all But I've given
you my best delivery and tried to tell
you all about myself that l think
would interest you. Whether I've
struck out as literary batsman,"
or made hit. is for YOU to say. But
know more about balls than l do
about books. SO here goes for he
'wind-up."
Some time ago n fellow asked me
what was the best game of ball l
ever played. the one | enjoyed most.
Perhaps you'd like to hear about 1t.
1t was in Cleveland last year. In
the first inning. with Fred Coumhe
on the mound, there were two men
on bases and | got home run. That.
as you see. brought in three runs.
In another inning 1 got another run.
At the end of the eighth inning the
score showing was to 4 against the
Red SoX. But in the ninth inning.
with three men on the bags and Uhle
pitching, l pokcd out another home
run. so the game closed to I i'm
favor OF Boston. Lack of modesty
compels me to say that | made every
run for our side in that game. so of
course enjoyed it.
Since we're talking about this bird
Ruth, l was playing in an exhibition
game in Baltimore in April, 1918, and
made six home runs in six times at
bat. The game was really two games
Ia MI
day | got four homcrs and the next
l whammed out two.
I'm glad that I've played every
position on the team. because l feel
that ] know more about the same
ana what to expect OF the other fell
lows. Lots of times | hear men be-
ing roasted for not doing this or that
when | know, from my all-round ex-
per!ence that they couldn't have been
expected to do it. It's pity some
OF our critics hadn't learned the game
from every position.
| sun Don't nother Him.
/ i guess my days upon the diamond
are over. although have played first
base even this year at tho Polo
Grounds. I'm an outhcldcr now. and
II you'll notice 1t, you'll always find
me in the sunny field. whether 1t be
right or left. The sun doesn't bother
me very much. and often | put on
goggles if it gets too g!ary. But
being in the outfisld instead of on the
mound gives me the chance TO play
every game.
Speaking again OF homers, you
haven't an idea no wmany suEEe.-
tons have been made by fans az To
tho way to &c; me in n hole SO I
wouldn't have chance to land one
out. | heard about a letter that was
sent TO Wilbert Robinson. manager
of the Brooklyn Nationals. 1t was
while the Eanks we're playing an
exhibition series with the Dodgers
last March. The fan wrote:
Dear Bobbie,-Onc way to get the
best o: Ruth is TO tell your pitchers
10 get him two and one and then he's
4 sucker"
They tell me that Robbie showed
the letter around the training camp
and said: Yes. tnat's all fine and
dandy. but somebody's got to tell me
how TO get those first two strikes on
him"
Many times I've been asked what
sort of n ball I like best, The an
s"er ought 10 DC perfectly plain to
any one who has ever stood at the
plata straight. fast ball and a
little below the waist and right up
the groove. When you catch this
ball your upward swing is at it's
greatest power and IL you nail il a
few at the balance point Of your bat,
the leverage is there and the blow
gets height and distance in the right
proportions. II the ball comes shout
der high you will have to lift too far
to reach IT and your wailop comes too
late TO do the best work. No pitcher
I've ever met has been absolute
poison to me. After the 1919 sea-
son some of the critics rummaged
around for my weak spot and decided
that | couldn't hit left-handcrs. This
was a joke to me. because I'm port
slider myself and q man swinging
from the south side of the plate has 4
better chance against left than a
right-hander, because he doesn't get
that sharp curve toward him which
is the same as big incurve to a