The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-04-21
BABE WARNS
QUAKER CITY
Says He Expects to Do Some
Nifty Hitting There to
Get Started.
BY BABE RUTH.

BY BABE RUTH.
PHIL ADELE HIA, April 21.--
Philadelphia ought to be q good
place for me to get my real start. !
knicked No. 81, my last long swat Of
1920, against the Athletics on Sep
TENDER 20 and have every intention
of taking up where / left off in the
Quaker City.
In fact, my last three were poled
in Philly. On the 9th Of September
padded Rommell for pair Of
merry-go-rounds in one game. but
III admit he evened up little at the
Polo Grounds last week. At any
rate, having wound up my home-run
parade, as we'll as having made nv
last double-headed home run in the
same week at the same park, makes
me look forward with pleasure to u
return engagement today.
MUST HUSTLE.
This Is not prediction, merely an
ticipation-Connie Mack's twirlers are
no semi-pros -rsI
Out of our first seven scheduled
games this year, two were postponed
by bad weather. wish 1t would stay
clear and give me whack at some
of these pitchers before they get the
kinks out Of their wings. My hope is
TO get q running start on last years
mark by hammering out cluster OF
circuit swats before May 1. So far l
have just got hold of the first one
and we only have ten more games be-
fore May Day.
EARLY RECORD GOOD.
They say my early season batting
average Is good and not to WORRY.
Well, I'm glad, because it proves my
optics are in mid-season focus, hut
outside of that I'm not satisfied. MY
rule Is 'if you take care of your homo
runs your batting average will take
care of itself!
Some of the sport writers are point
ing out what a fat average 1 could
run up II / would be content with
shorter hits and more of them. Like
fiye on the opening day. Listen, Id
sooner knock ifty-fve home runs this
season than hang up an average of
$50 against stan composed OF
Christy Mathewson, Grover Alexander
and Walter Johnson.
You know whyT On account 81 THE
KIDS!
The kids don't give a whoop about
a fellows batting average. 1t isn't
much more important to them than
his base running or how many assists
he made in the year. What they want
to know is, how many HOME RUNS
did he getf
LONG swATs THE THING.
Did you ever see a bunch Of Kids
on a sandlot Swing and swing hard
is their guiding rule. Place hits, bunts
or the correct position at the plate
means nothing. The fellow who can
ha
farthest Is the ideal ball player. And
they apply the same rule of appraisal
to the professional ballplayer.
The average fan Is about the same.
Ask the first one you meet who mas
been the leading batter in the big
leagues for tho past few seasons. For
the American League you may get
your answer because the great Ty
Cobb occupied the throne SO many
years, but few can tell the leaders
of the National.
Many would say that Cravath was
the best latter in recent years, but
Gavvy never had a consistent average
and today finds him in minor
league. Yet the terrific blows of his
terrible club will make his batting
rep last four years
BAKERS FAME CITED.
Look at the fame of our own Frank
Baker. out OF the game two years
and still as popular as always, be.
cause he is forever Home Run
Baker. Nobody knows what his bat
ling average used to be. but the base
nall world knows that in the distant
days Of the victorious Athletics, Frank
Baker hit a flock of home runs in
raemorable world series.
The kids that witnessed that series
Of n few years back are fullhedSsd
ANS today. None remember what was
aone by that spectacular athlete and
natter, Eddie Collins; few recall the
sensational pitching of Plank and
sender, but the bruising ,wallops OF
K Franklin Baker live and thrive
rs though It happened yesterday.
BABE ADMITS POPULARITY.
watch the fans when I go to bat
They are actually happier to have me
knock foul ball high and far than
q liner over second base. Yesterday
hey gave me a regular demonstration
yThen I drove sky-scraping FOUL
ever the edge of the grandstand, and
many another time I have heard a.
-roan when / cracked clean single
vr even a two-base hit
And so 1 am determined to stay just
what am. There are plenty of more
finished stars like Sisler and Speaker
70 provide the classy batting averages
for American Leeague patrons MY
lob is to knock em a mile, and that's
: what the fans expect.
D Frank Bakers fame is sufficient
,,d,cation of the right path to follow.
copyright, 1921. by Christy Walsh syndi-
cate.)