South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-07-03
Era OF Swat Has
Done AWay With
One-Run Battles
Today Ball Clubs Play for
Runs in Clusters In
stead of One.
BY Billy EVANS


Has the era Of swat that Is now
baseball eliminated much Of the So
called inside stuff that once graced
the game?
Ball clubs nowadays seldom play
for one run The big idea is 10 get
them I'm clusters
One-run baseball calls for the in
side stuff, the bunt, the steal, the
sacrifice. the take-a-chance base
running. and many Of the other
finer points toe numerous TO men,
ton
Not only does one-run baseball
call FOR inside stuff on the offensive
but on the defensive as wen.
on the defense it requires close
observance OF the base runners on
the part of the pitcher. 1t calls for
much thought on the part OF the
catcher TO try TO outgueSs the oppO-
siton Lik wise heads mp" stuff
on the part of the entire iufieId
Not Much Baseball.
Recently I put this question to a
number of prominent stars of the
Old days also some present-day
luminaries. whose careers date back
a considerable way.
do they play as much baseball
IN the majors today as they did Is
years ago."
The expression, play as much
baseball" IS much used by those
actively connected with the game
as referring to the so-called inside
stuff or strategy Of the diamond.
The slam-bang style now in vo-
cue in baseball has eliminated for
the time being much OF the inside
stuff One run means nothing to-
day. A BAH club isn't safe with a
margin of five or six runs. From
the standpoint of pulling the finer
points of the game the article OF
BAH played today in no way COM
pares with that of 20 years ago"
So says Hughey Jennings
Below Standard.
ct probably viii sound like a case
of sour grapes, but to me the style
of ball played today is far below the
standard of Is or 20 years ago.
when YOU consider II from the
standpoint Of smart baseball The
lively ball and the desire 20 hit home
runs is OF course the big reason. 30
There YOU have Miller Hugglns
Babe Ruth has revoutionized
the thought i'm baseball. He created
mania for home-rUn hitting II
first spread to the fans. who lion
lied Ruth. The other players see
ing the popularity Ruth attained
through his ability TO hit home runs
all tried TO follow his example The
result a slam-bang style and big
score games" Those are the words
of Billy Murray famous big league
manager Of 90 years ago.
style of Play.
"In the 1 > years that I have been
playing major league bali ] can no.
tice a remarkable difference In the
style Of play fin vogue A one-run
margin now means nothing Once
upon time it was something for
a pitcher to have one run TO work
on. At present it IS not unusual for
clubs to have big innings Of four
or more runs The public seems 10
like the present style. so why worry
However. there is a certain monot-
ony 10 singing tactics That IS
the opinion of the great Eddie Col
Inns.
THE public seems 10 approve OF
the present style So why should an
old veteran Ike myself offer any
criticism Yet there has been a big
change in baseball i'm the last 90
years. Today most pitchers simply
throw the ball. and most batters
simply swing The art of trying TO
fool the batter. or place The bail by
the batsman seems LOST, says John
uv Evers.
What do you think about IT, Mr.
Fan?