The Washington times., 1923-08-04

& 4nSTc was d IOI Oh Ldlk recently
about the new bat I'm using. but
an airplane motor in the club he
Naturally, / think I'll catch him
before the season is much older
but I'm enjoying the scrap he's Civ.
ing me. He has done me more
good than anybody realizes.
For quite a while was in a
peculiar position. / wanted homers
but l was passed so often that ]
had to hit at bad balls or else be
walked to first. I'm still drawing
. lot Of passes and cit looks as
though I'll break my own base on
balls record. But I'ms hitting at
as many bad balls as 1 did earlier
In the season and the results is
that I have chance to lead the
American League in batting as well
rs in homers.
I'm through with hitting at bad
balls, and I'm not going to burn
up the way / used to when I'm
Intentionally walked. OF course,
I'D rather take crack at the
fOId apple than draw a pass.
want to catch uD with CIV and
pass him for keeps. I'd like to
have him chase me for q change.
For a few weeks sizzIed under
my skin every time / was passed.
Now we come to that first big laugh
n q long time at the expense Of
iris Speaker. The other day 1 did
something had been thinking about
ever since George Uhle passed me
twice in q game in which Cleveland
beat the Yanks, 13 to o. thought
Spoke would order Uhle to give me
reasonably decent chance to hit
with the Indians away ahead that
day, but, instead, was given the
DID pitch-out.
) Experience like this just naturally
burn a fellow up. / want to pass
" OF the Phillies as soon as posi-
pie, but bases on balls are like so
much poison. So when Sherrod
smith passed me twice a few days
ago when I had an opportunity to
get out in front Of Harry Heilman
and lead the American League hit
ters. did something I had been
thinking Of ever since Uhle crossed
me at Cleveland.
That's why batted right-handed
0AA44SA AdSL WEEK. WanI6O
him and Speaker to know exactly
low felt. I'll never forget what
happened as long as live.
IT was in the ninth inning.
smith looked at me and stepped
out Of the pitching box. He
thought / was just Kidding. but
stayed at the plate as though
y would hit right-handed and the
cleveland Outfield switches around
10 MAY me for a Ieft.field hitter
instead Of as they always do.
!. Then Smith cut loose with The
nrst good one he gave me all day
and let it go. 1t was a strike and
moved over to the other side of
the plate to hit left-handed.
Smith was a little upset and the
Cleveland outfield moves back TO-
ward right field. 1t was a funny
sight.
{ Then Smith gives me another
good ball don't know whether
i was an accident or not. Anyhow,
hit one of the longest homers
I've made at our new stadium. And
haven't stopped laughing yet.
But that's all over. Ny mind is
back to two main things. ISwant
to pass Cy Williams It he old
wonderland If possible, 1 want to
lead the American League in hit
ting. I've been hanging around the
$50 mark for the last few weeks
and il / can raise the ante a little
think I'll pass Harry Holman.
Never, even when ! made my
home-run record, did hit as
well as have been hitting this
year. Ny big ambition is this-I
want to lead the league in batting
I'm not worrying much about Cy's
home runs.
Copyright. 1923. by The Christy Walsh