The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-08-18

tested as to size and weight and none
are allowed TO go out where there Is the
slightest variation. Every league bali
we turn out is just as near like the
others as peas in the same pod.
We have had this league adoption. as
you probably know. for nearly fifty
years, and the same care has been ex-
ercised from the start. You are abso-
Iutely fair-minded. and can assure you
that every word I have said In this let
ter Is only the exact facts. This
state on my word OF honor"
Another Queer Angle
It has been asserted that the alleged
increased llveliness Of the ball Is due to
the higher grade materials used-and
Mr.. Curtiss' letter appears to indicate
that since the war, and with their own
factories turning out rubber and yarn,
and with improved machinery this may
account for some OF the increase.
But there are at at least five players
In the National League and nine In the
American according 10 the batting re-
pnrts who have been rated as normal
800 hitters, who are far below that
mark now. How do you account for
that? Rice. Jacobson, Menosky. Clar-
ence Walker and Johnston certainly do
not belong In the $50 class. nor do
George Burns. Elmer Smith. Jack Four
n,er or others in the National belong In
the .27O class Why. II It Is the ball. do
these really good hitters not get added
benefits?
The pitchers claim they are heing
heavily Handicapped by the stricter
rules. and complain that the ball Is
harder to pitch. Mays. for instance.
says ne is pitching as we'll as he ever
did in his life, and getting hit by bat
ters who have no license 10 hit HON.
and that they are hitting balls that
thew have no right TO h!t-the very
balls that used to fool them
panforth's Delivery
The recent suspension OF Dave DAN
forth on charges OF dropping the ball.
suspension while hurt st. Louiss
chances OF n penant shows how strict
" the umpircs are watching. Dan
forth claims that he did not dope the
ball and that he was not responsible for
dIscoloring one side Of II. But the
rules does not compel the umpire to
find out who doped the ball. but COM
mands him to punish the pitcher no
matter who dopes the ball.
The pitchers. or the majority OF them,
are afraid to take any chances on scuf-
fling or sticking the ball during game.
A few of the daring ones Will confess,
confidentially. thy occasionally have
slipped over n doped ball on an umpire,
but the risk Of a ten-day suspension Is
too great TO tnke such chances.
Some Of the infielders. especially
shortstops and third basemen. back up
tho claim OF the pitchers that the ball
Is harder TO throw than 1t used TO be.
They declare that they are forced to
wait until they get a solid grip on the
ball before cutting loose across the IN
field. Others say they do not notice
any difference whatever. Yet ono
shortstop told me that. when he grip
ped the ball we'll out. with only the
ends OF his fingurcs in contact. 1t re.
fused to go right.
One catcher tells me that the ball
comes into his hands Tighter" than he
ever knew It to come, and his team
mate ten minutes later said that he
never knew a ball 10 come with such
weight behind II. Since they catch the
same pitchers. you may take your
choice. Some day the mystery may be
solved. but just now the only solution
seems to be to call the moving corps
and set the stands back a few rods.