Evening star., 1923-01-18

self stepping into the ball instead of
away from it.
This practice wrought such a
change in his batting that the next
season he hit 800, as against the
former 200.
changing of the direction OF the step
enables the batter to hit the ball in
front of the plate. He can thus meet
the ball before it breaks. In other
words, he is on top of the ball instead
OF the ball being on top of him.
In those days we practiced the
short, sharp chop at the ball instead
OF the long swing. OF course we did
not hit so many home runs by that
style of batting, but we got many
more base hits and consequently won
many more games.
In this connection, it is my belief
that the present epidemic OF home
runs IS due to the fact that most of
the batters are trying to hit home
runs instead IL trying to hit the ball
scien tlfIcally. That may be all right
Tor "A few hard swingerS, but II is
not good Tor team as a whole.
Lively Ball Is Factor.
OF course, the lively ball helps a
lot, but the increase in home run
hitting believe, is largely due to
the fact that batters are catching
from their shoestrings. They are try
ing to hit home runs, instead of
merely trying TO hit safe. They will
either knock the ball out of the lot
or stike out. In our early days we
worked on the theory of meeting
the ball and showing the runner
around. That i still think the best
system
Awhile back. you will recall. I told
OF having fined Sammy Strang SIS for
hlttlng a home run when 1 had in
structed him to bunt the ball. That
is an example of the difference in
methods. Today if Sammy had hit
that nome run he would have been a
great hero. 1 might have fallen for
tne glamour of IL myself, because
everybody seems to be running to the
long swing style of hitting NOWADAYS.
Still, l would never stand for anv
pail player disobeying instructions,
even though 1t won a game.
Team Had Great Battery.
That season we had as a battery
w llpert Robinson, one of the greatest
catcherS that ever lived, and John
SlcManon' better known as Sadie"
McMahon, as pitcher. We have never
nad many better pitchers than Nc
Mahon. In addition to being a great
pitcher he was a great Judge of hall
game. 'te
1t was Sadie Mcmahon, by the wav.
VINO discovered George Burns. the
outnelder. had engaged Mcmahon
as scout for the Giants. He went ont
with the intention of getting a good
ball player or nothing.
may not find a good one" he
SAID TO me; but 1 won't dig IN anv
pad ones It's my idea that too much
money and time are wasted on ball
them out"
McMahon secuted all season, and I
ileard little or nothing from him,
Got Only One Ball Player.
Mac" he said on his return. "I
nave covered the whole United States
and I'have found but one ball nIaver
who looks good. I'll bet on him"
This man was George Burns. and
the fans of the country know enough
ABOUT this great outf1elder to appre-
ciate McMahon's judgment. He more
than earned his years salary bv dig
ging up that one player.
Wlibert Robinson had his heart and
soul in base ball, and he chimed RIGHT
In with the ambitions of Jennings,
Kelley and myself. Though he was
oIder, ne was Just as young in spirit.
working with him and McMahon. we
thought up many new plays and
schemes for advancing base runners.
we really gave the hit and run play
It's nrst good start
To work the hit and run play sue
cessfully 1t is necessary that the bat
ters be adept in placing the ball.
l imagine that most every fan un.
/ derstands the principles of this play.
Good Hitters Required.
The main idea is, If their be a run
ner on first, to signal him to start
Tor second. as If to steal a base. At
the same moment the batter swings at
the next ball whether it be a good
one or not. Having watched the op-
ponents he has a pretty good idea
as to whether the second baseman
or the shortstop will cover second
base.
If the second baseman starts to
cover the bag it is the batters cue
to smack the ball between first and
second-through the spot left va
cant by the second baseman. II the
shortstop is to cover, the hit is shift
ed to the other side of the diamond.
Now, 1t takes good batters to do that.
We worked this play very success
fully several times. Han1on, seeing
such ambitions players. began fgur-
ing for other new players.
Any one with half an eye to the
future could see the gradual making
of great championship team. Though
we did not know 1t, he already had
put OuI IOCLCIo LOI -IdIeUL.
Always Played to Win.
Even with the small nucleus that
we had we developed fighting policy.
We, learned how to slide accurately
and went into them all, determined
to win. Never did we play for a tie.
We wanted a victory or nothing.
have never believed in playing for
a tie. For instance, IL there Is a run
ner on second and we need a run to
tie, always call for hit instead of
a sacrifice. One run would merely tie
| the score. A long hit might bring the
| one run and start another. The main
| idea is to win. An effort to merely
tie we always considered a sign of
weakness.
Aggressiveness is the main thing
| in base ball. That is what we were
aiming at. Hanlon added to our wal
lop by a series of big trades. This
move on his part started something.
] Copyright, 1928, United States and Canada
by the christy Walsh syndicate.l