New-York tribune., 1920-03-20

4tOtttS ANuii ANiiiS VI VIC Nio'i'Vi'N W.
Of the right center field fet.ce--a hi
outside the grounds of any major le
1t may be there are to be other
spring home runs born to blush un-
seen, but few will ever attain the dis
tance or fat trajectory that astonshed
the two score rail BIRDS assembled at
South Side Park to see how Ruth's
mighty shoulder can Rropel the sphcroid
when he lays the old ash fairly on
pitch.
Ruth is the only ball player ever
known to have hammered baseball
from the plate over any Of the fences
of the Yankee training lot. His clout
to-day was the second contribution of
the kind. In the opening game against
Brooklyn last Saturday Ruth drove far
over the right field paling, but the wind
carried the drive into foul territory by
thirty feet. This afternoons clout was
just little to the right of center field.
His Mightiest Wallop
Ruth himself believes to-day's hit
which was made off a fast one from
: Mario De Vitalis, the Brown University
pitcher, was one of the most remarkable
batting achievements of an honorable
career. He has hit balls further, but
never harder.
This drive was low liner which
never seemed to carry more than thirty
feet into the air and which shot out
like wicked low drive from the tee
1t didn't seem possible at first that the
carry could attain anything approx
mating the fence, and when the ball
finally disappeared beyond the boards
1t was easing to earth very slowly, ap-
parently.
Coach Charlie O'Leary, who was play
ing deep centre field at the time, re-
trieved the lost ball. He said it cleared
the barrier by fifteen or twenty feet
O'Leary marked the spot where the ball
was found, which was more than fifty
feet outside the ground on heavy
marshy soil that would permit little or
no roll.
Later Groundkeeper Phil Schenck
60. his steel tape and measured the carry
as closely as could be estimated His
official estimate credited Ruth with
this will be appreciated by New York
fans when it is rem embered that the
extreme center field fence of the Polo
Grounds is less than 400 feet from the
home plate.
Duplicates Hit of 1919
A year ago this spring at Tam "a,
Fla, in an exhibition game against t~e
Giants, Ruth, then 8 member of the
Boston Red Sox, broke up a game c..
Pitcher George Smith with what is
generally credited as the longest hit
Of baseball history, the hall coming to
stop $50 feet from the home plate
His Offering on that occasion was a
tremendously high fly that started on
ried far over the head Of Ross Young,
who was playing extremely deep for
the slugger.
The hit off Devitalis undoubtedly
had a greater carry and on the same
sort Of hard field would probably
have rolled further, too.
The customary game between the
first and second teams was dispensed
with this afternoon. The long drill
was confined chiefly to batting practice,
a deficiency decidedly pronounced in
the two games played against the Dodg-
ers in this city.
Dan Holly, scout Of the Boston Red
Sox, is sojourning in our midst. Evi-
IDENTIFY Barrow is anxious to have a line
on most of the new talent in the major
league camp against that day when
it will be necessary for managers to
ask waivers in getting to the twenty
five player limit.
Not to Trade Bodie
1t was rumored here several days
ago that the Yankees were making
overtures for catcher Wally Schang, Of
the Red Sox, and that Barrow might
have Ping Bodie in swap for the
backstop. Business Manager Harry
Sparrow denies the rumor emphati-
cally.
Armando Marsans goes to the Red
Sox for the waiver price and Boston
will not have to pay for him unless
the Cuban makes good. Huggins be-
ieves that Marsans is through as a
major league asset and unworthy Of
further trial by the Yankees. But he
is willing the temperamental outfelder
continue in the profession if he can
again make the grade.
The weather to-day was warm. al
most muggy. despite high wind that
had sand and dirt blowing in clouds
all over the streets. The wind, by the
way, blew directly at right angles to
the flight of Ruth's terrific hit and in
no way helped its carry. Such hit
on opening day, in the opinion of Dean
Sam Crane, would pay for Ruth.