Bogalusa enterprise and American. (Bogalusa, La.) 1918-19??, 1921-03-03

do if he set his mind on. 1t. But
needless to say, his days as pitcher
are now over. The men who can hit
.407 are needed in the game oft-aer
than once in four days.
I Sisler might, if he chose, lay off
in the wintertime, like many less IA
vored stars. But he came of a frugal
Swiss family where money was not
abundant and where the value of
thrift and industry were fully appre-
ciated. Though he draws one of the
large salaries in baseball, which is
indeed his due, Sisler has always
worked at some useful occupation in
the off-season. Just now he has en-
barked rather deeply in the printing
business and is vice-president of the
River City Press, Inc, of St. Louis.
So extraordinary record as Sisler
made last year deserves a closer
analysis than common. Eight years
ago when Ty Cobb passed his zenith,
the 400 hitter became extinct until
Sisler resurrected the breed in 1920.
The records show that last year Sis
Ter went hitless in only % of 154
contests in which he played. Only
twice during the season did he fail
to hit in two consecutive games. The
balance Of the time he hit with
deadly persistence which knew no
let-up and which rather increased up
to the close of the season. AS proof
of this, the records indicate that in
the closing months of September and
October, Sisler hit very nearly .450
As his seasons average was .407, it
may easily be seen that he was grow
ing better toward the finish. The
ability to do this has long been rec
ognized by ball players as the proof
of a good hitter. The weakling may
hit well at first, but he is bound to
slump later on. Only the man who
can really deliver the goods can i'm
prove as the season advances and the
opposing pitching and fielding de-
tense grows more impenetrable. In
the final game of the season Sisler
made three hits in five times up,
scored two runs and stole three bases
including a clean steal of home. He
also mounted the slab and pitched the
final inning of the year retiring two
batters on strikes and allowing never
a hit This climax of seasons
great work can scarce be improved
upon. Although Sisler is himself a
left-handed batter, the port-siders
fail to bother him. Only five left
handlers were able to hold Sisler hit
less during the entire season.
Sisters base-running also improved
as the season advanced. September
was his best month. Evidently this
had not fairly got started
until June, when he first began to hit
at 400 clip. In August, he was hit
ting at a rate of .442, while in Sep
TENDER and October he hit for .448.
if Sisler ever starts a sea-
son hitting at his top form he will
hang up a record which will make
any other batter pale with envy
merely to look at.
For years experts have picked Sis
Ter as the man who would inherit Ty
Cobb's batting laurels. The experts
were not at fault. Sisler has full
filled all expectations, if indeed he
has not exceeded the brilliant pre-
dictions which were made for him.
And yet, by curious piece of i'll
luck he finds his name somewhat OBJ
scured in the very hour of his great
est glory by another player Of nois-
Ter, if not so substantial merits. That
of pitchers hopes, Babe
Ruth, by his thunderous salvo of 81
home runs, has quite drowned out
the plaudits due to Sisters wonder
full work. For the crash of splinter
ing fences is too impressive to the
ear of the fan to permit of sober
of all-round baseball
merit. And yet while Ruth is and
will doubtless remain for some time
to come, baseball's biggest drawing
card and most popular idol, it is
doubtful if he can compare in true
worth to his club with the slender,
agile and most first baseman of the
st. Louis Browns. Since SisIer has
already passed Ty Cobb on the down
ward decline and since Babe Ruth is
the only man who can challenge his
let US pause 70 "a mo-
ment to contrast these two super
stars. While Ruth is a very fair
outer gardener, he is obviously of less
value to his club as a fielder than is
the st. Louis first baseman. Ruth
is a pretty fast man, for big fellow,
but obviously Sisler can run rings
around him on the bases. AS a hit
ter, Ruth is unquestionably the great
est slugger who ever lived. But Sis
Ter, though a lighter hitter, is some
thing of a slugger himself. As we
have seen, his batting average is 80 !
points higher than Ruth's, which is
perhaps a minor consideration. Butt
he actually led Ruth in total bases,
which is not minor consideration by
any means. Ruth drove in 1877 runs,
more than any other batt3r, as we
would expect. But Sisler was not far
behind him with 1872. No one will
rob Ruth of the honor which is due
him and a comparison of these two
players is hardly fair OF either. And
yet, the most superficial analysis of
the seasons records will show that
even in batting, who is more, even
in smuggling, Sisler was not an I'M
worthy rival to the redoubtable Babe
For example, Sisler made 49 two
baggers. Ruth made SO. Sisler
made 18 three-baggers. Ruth made
9. To be sure when it comes to four
base wallops, Ruth is undisputed king
and his 81 circuit s:nashes is perhaps