The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-03

was III I0Suld- ~ u'''s'Sasa3s9saasseSs u
ton ru n ing AAeE RUTH
trunks and spikes. He carried less
clothes and less weight than 1 did.
And Ted Meredith, as Olympic
fans know, hung up records that
have never been equaled. Bob
Edgren, noted sport writer ard
cartoonist, recently told me that
Meredith in his prime was the
greatest quarter-miler in athletic
history.
And let me tell you, that black
haired streak from Philadelphia
is still in elegant shape. I'll bet
he could make the American team
IL he cared to. The boys on the
Yankee bench looked for a joke
race, but they were astOniShed
ct the sped and grace of Meredith.
I'm not Growing about beating
him in order to bring out the main
point of my story. want to show
that Meredith is in fine racing form
today and that I beat him around
the bases on the level.
Could l beat him in 100 yar1s
straight-away? Well, that5s another
matter. That's a question between
plain sprinting and baserunning
speed. All the difference in the
world. In straightaway imagine
Meredith would take me into camp
with all brakes on at the finish.
The fastest ballplayers are not al.
ways successful base stealers. And
the leading base stealers are not al
ways fleet of foot. Most of them
are either bow-legged, pigeon-toed or
flat foot. Many of them look awk-
ward, or over weight. No one ever
picked me out for a Russian ballet.
But the book gives me seventeen
steals for 1923. That's more than
any other Yankee player. And
what's more, Miller Higgins, the
boss, doesn't encourage me or any
of the other boys to take chances
on the bases. The lively ball is one
reason but he has given New York
three pennants without much speed
on the bases and doesn't figure it's
worth the risk of busted ankles.
Take Eddie Collins and Ty Cobb,
two Of the greatest base stealers
in the history of the game. One
year Ty nearly touched the hundred
mark and yet all last season, nine
bases was his total. But with the
1924 race less than month under
way, the famous Detroit leader, has
stolen home twice. Think of it,
in his twentieth year of baseball. I
was not present either time, but
you can bet there was more speed
under his cap than under his stock.
ings.
Maranville did the same thing
the other day against Chicago.
With the score tied i'm the four
teenth inning, he Sneaks home
with the winning run, while the
Cub pitcher, recruit, stood al
most hypnOtiZed, with the bah in
his hand. No one ever accused
MaranviIIe of being a speed mar
vel but he's always thinking of
the next move.
Last year was Eddie Collins
eighteenth year in the major leagues
and look what he did on the bases.
Forty-nine clean steals lin las
games. Twenty-six more than his
nearest rival, Harris of Washington,
the youngest manager in baseball.
And, don't forget, that Collins isn't
far from forty years Of age. 1t
stands to reason that Eddie isn't as
swift as when he was with Connie
Mack or when he first joined the
White Sox. Yet 1923 was really his
greatest year because he's a very
swift thinker.
These examples ought to answer
the fans who want to know how
Ruth or any other ballplayer weigh
ing around 200 pounds can steal SO
many bases. Why, l suppose
Charley Paddock the California
flash, could take on Cobb, Collins,
Sam Rice and Max Carey in a four.
man relay and smother them, run.
ming all four laps himself. But put
Paddock out there on first base and
give him the high-sign to ego
down"-say, I'll wager he wouldn't
steal five bases in a season.
There are all kinds of tricks in
baserunning. Out guessing the op,
posing battery is most important
Sliding safely under close and
perfect throw is another requisite.
You've got to have perfect under.