Evening star., 1922-06-27

Interest in the battles tomorrow
and Thursday will. of course. CEN
ter in Babe Ruth. the monarch of all
maulerS. whose throne is tottering
under him. The Rambino aptly has
been termed the DR. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde of base ball. whose boEish en-
thusiaSm for the game, coupled with
his herculean featS, one minute grip
the fans. who in turn are disguised
by his vile language. generally rough
tactics and utter lack of self-control.
One analyst has opined that the
trouble with Ruth's hitting is that
the Babe has begun to think. For
merly he toddled up to the pan and
took wallop at any delivery which
met his fancy, whereas now he has
begun to worry about his batting
and study his own style, trying to
figure why he isn't hitting and to
try experiments. His attention is
not concentrated on the main issue.
When he was establishing records
he never thought of anything except
how nervous the pitcher must be
when he saw him coming up.
Must Watch His Step.
Ruth says he has learned his lesson.
If this is true those who have
wagered that he again will show the
way to all the sluggers will be given
a fine run for their money, despite
the handicap Of several enforced
just one more outbreak may termi-
nate what should be a brilliant ca
reer. His discovery that he had lost
his popularity was accepted by HIM
with bad grace, his conduct When
that realization was forced on him
being that Of a poor sport. He can
rehabilitate himself with the notort-
ously tickle fans if he regainS the
proper perspective and comes to un-
derstand that the plays the thing
Il hi
tious actors hanging around eligible
TO be cast in the leading role.
In the meanwhile George Herman
Ruth continues to be great drawing
card, as the recent trip through the
west demonstrated, but the fans who
used to swarm out to cheer him now
throng the parks to jeer him. A little
temperament is colorful thing, but
too much of it surely will ALLEVIATE
the support of the cash customers
who make the game possible. If
Ruth has been duly impressed with
this fact all will yet be we'll with
him, otherwise it will be a case of
thumbs down.
Here's One for the Book.
Ever hear of a man hitting a ball
over the fence for a home run and yet
not getting even a single" This hap
pened in q. slugging contest between
the Cardinals and Phillies in Quaker
town recently and is termed BY PreSi-
dent Heydler of the National League.
who was present. the most peculiar
thing of it's kind ever witnessed. The
victim was Torporcer, the bespecta-
cled pinch hitter of the st. Louis club.
There were two Cardinals on the
bases, Lavan being on first. Torpor-
Ger sent the ball sailing over the right
field wall, but Lavan, thinking it
would be caught, did not leave his
base. Torporcer, with an idea the
ball would strike the wall. ran. head
down, intent on making second. He
passed Lavan and, under the rules,
had to be called out.
Looks as IL one of the principal
functions of the University of Ala
bama is that of supply base for the
Cleveland club. With Lewis GaZzola,
varsity catcher. having reported to
the Indians for a try-out. the Tribe has
acquired four players from the insti-
tuition, the others being Joe Sewell,
Luke Sewell and Riggs Stephenson.
That decentralization affair In New
York last night must have left bad
taste in the mouths of the fans who
paid as high as fifteen smackers to
lamp the proceedings. The ability of
both as boxers is well established,
but the manner in which the bout end
ed indicates that neither is a good
actor.
Yes, there probably will be re-
turn engagement.