New-York tribune., 1920-12-31
Freak Pitching
Soon Will Be
Thing of Past
''Spitball" Alone Remains
of Queer Deliveries; New
Headguard for Batters
By w. J. Macbeth


ting averages) of the stars of organ
lied baseball, arc rapidly being thrown
into the ash can. Nothing but smat-
tcring of the "spitball" will be coun-
tenanced the coming year. The emery
ball, the knuckle ball and their ilk
have been thrown into the discard al
ready. An exception has been made
for the "spitter"
Those veteran pitchers of the major
leagues who have made life study of
the moist delivery will be allowed to
work out their natural span in the big
show as manipulators of this special
brand. With them will pas down and
out forever the salivary slants. For
the spitball is taboo alread in the
minor circles and no recruit pitchers
coming up to the majors will be al
lowed to use the delivery.
A year ago, when it was decided by
beth big leagues to permit each major
league club to name two spitball art
lists that would be immune from the
ai.ti-spittcr rule, it was found the aver
age did not run so high. There were
thee clubs which did not have even one
spitball pitcher enrolled.
Reasons for Elimination
Freak pitching was eliminated for
two reasons: In the interests, first,
of safety, and secondly in the interests
of increased batting generally. Up to
last year the ajority of serious in
juries in baseball games had resulted
from the spitball. There were two de-
plorable accidents last season, neither
of which could be charged to this style
of delivery.
One was fatality: the death of Ray
Chapman, star shortstop of the worlds
champion Cleveland Indians. Chapman
was hit on the head by a ball pitched
by Carl Mays in game played between
the Yankees and Clevelands at the Polo
Grounds. Wilson Fewster, very
promising infelder of the Yankees,
was hit on the head by one of Jeff
Pfeffer's fast pitches during an ex-
hibition game between the Dodgers and
Yankees last spring, in Jacksonville.
He was incapacitated thereby for the
entire season.
Charlie Horan, a baseball fan and
correspondent for Middle Western
paper, has patented a contrivance to be
worn on the head Of batter which
is quite likely to rcvolutionize the art
Of slugging. This head gear will be
given thorough trial by all the maj jor
league clubs in training next spring.
The helmet, which protects the en-
tire top of the head and the face, is
aluminium and is capable of resisting a
pressure of 800 pounds to the square
inch without shock to the supporting
tissues. The head gear weighs less
than six ounces, fits under the cap
without the least inconvenience and
is so light as to impose absolutely no
impediment in running out hits to first
base
Headgear May Help Batters
Horan's head gear, which has been
examined by the most highly regarded
experts Of the game, has been pro-
nounced excellent in every respect. All
adoption is that Embarrassment or shy
ness of the player in confessing any
tendency to "gun-shyness at the plate.
When, fifteen years ago, Roger Bres-
nahan, then of the Giants, introduced
| shin-guards for catchers the general
| popuace was inclined to attribute to
Roger something of the craven. But
} his case was so we'll established within
l year or two that every other catcher
: adopted this means of assurance
against cutting steel. A catcher to-day
would forget his mask, pad or glove
more quickly than his shin guards.
} The head gear for batters is going tC
be given a thorough trial at all the
training camps next spring and, it is
safe to say, will find its place with the
shin guards. mask, chest protector anc
fielding g.ove. It's use minimizes fear
Therein lies its greatest charm.
Year after year there comes from the
minor leagues players of exceptlona
worth, measured from defensive stand
q ards. The fall down of such invariably
| may be traced back to lack Of conf
dence or fear in batting. These art
t the boys that always have one foot il
r the "water bucket" when they are VI
/ against fast ball pitching
Any innovation in equipment tina
1 would bolster nerve and assurance mus
" be hailed with popular acclaim on tn
i, part of fan, player and promoter. Fol
i after all, the sock" is the main ingre
: dent of baseball popularity.