The New York herald., 1921-06-29
HUGGINS OUT WEST,
HE SEEKS PLAYERS
Nicotine to the Front as
Treatment for Glossy Sur
faces of Baseballs.
BY WILLIAM ID. HANNA.

Joe Judge had made three base hit
at the Polo Grounds yesterday and
Harris had flied to Ward when rain and
darkness stopped the Yankee-Washing-
ton game for the day. That means a
double header when the Washington
folks return for their next and last
visit 10 our hospitable shores.
Miller Higgins wasn't with the team
yesterday and hasn't been since Sun
day. He saw two innings Sunday. then
hurried over to 125th street to catch a
fast train for the West. What Hugs
errand is the Yankee club people are
not saying, but that he is after a player
or two to strengthen his ball club would
not be a bad surmise. Whether he
wants TO buy them. trade for them,
borrow them. or kidnap them Is not
known, nor where he went for them. He
will be back to-day.
Frank Baker Is out of play with a
torn muscle In his leg. He thinks he'll
be in the battle line again to-day or
tomorrow.
The question of how best to treat
new baseballs to remove the gloss so
pitchers can grip them satisfactorily is
still one of the utmost interest to UNI
pires. who have to do the treating. to
pitchers and to the other players. There
fore to the fans as well. How the
game Is played depends largely on this
thing Of "dectoring" new balls. and IT
1t not matter to be regarded lightly
or as an amusing joke.
The chall<y substance recently tried
in the American League has worked
well except when too much is applied.
Bob Shawkey likes 1t what little ne
has tried Il, though 1t Is pointed out
that If 1t gets ino the seams. pitchers
could rub It and make a ball shine as
they used to do with paraffin. AS to
that, umpires would stop anything OF
that sort.
The stuff was tried in Brooklyn Mon
day and the Boston pitchers were OF
the opinion that the gloss returned. II
is not supposed to do so. as the leather
absorbs the substance. An objection
raised against rosin Is that 1t makes
the leather surface feathery.
National League umpires have treat
ment which they think Is the most prac-
tical yet 1t is a mixture Of moulder's
clay, such as is to be had in Philadel-
phia and tobacco juice. 1t discolors
ball somewhat. but gives dandy grip.
IL Is up to the umpires to provide the
tobacco juice which. however utilita-
rian might not appeal to all Of them.
A ball thus prepared was shown yes
terday to Walter Carter, one of the best
college pitchers Of the age and a base
ball sharp If ever there was one. The
best grip I ever had on a baseball" he
said, as he wrapped his fingers around
It, I'D have liked to had hold of one
of those when l was pitching"
Acting manager Peckinpaugh started
Collins against the Senators yesterday.
The probabilities are Collins and Mays
will do the pitching in the double
header with the Red Sox to-day.
Extremes meet in Pennsylvania. On
! June 2 Phil Douglas pitched a one hit
game In Pittsburgh: on June. 27 he
pitched nineteen hft game in Phila-
delphia.
A big league club owner tells me
attendances for the last three weeks
have not been up to the standard Of
last year. II this is so the promise of
the early season Is not being realized.
He attributes the falling off to economic
conditions.
The Cubs helped the Giants yesterday
by beating the Pirates. That's more
than the Browns could do for the Yam
KEGS.
Eastern League.
Waterbury. H. New Haven. ..
Worcester. s: Springfield, 3.
bridgeport, 3 Albany. o.
Hartford Bittgfield pOStDOned