Evening star., 1925-07-26


The easy home runs may be regard
ed as joke by expert base ball people
at times, but the fans, judging by the
attendance, evidently like them. To a
base ball man who plays and studies
the game for the games sake, this
lively ball often has upset well laid
plans. His complaint is more in that
direction and in the possible injury
to players than in the belief that the
heavy hitting is not popular.
They say that the ball actually is
no livelier. Just the same most any
ball player will tell you that it can be
hit back at an infielder harder. The
principle in manufacture and the ma
terial may be the same, but the ball
probably is more compactly made
Should Be Standardized.
My contention is that the ball should
be absolutely standardized. 1t should
be as fast one day and one season
as another, and it should be the same
in all leagues. The balls themselves
should be exactly the same.
It is a natural instinct for a ball
player to hit the ball hard, and most
of them like to take a full swing
That feeling of hearing it crack and
seeing it go is the big thrill that ball
veteran major Lacquer. get out of the
game. No player ever gets so tired
of the game that he will miss having
his cut at the ball. even in batting
practice. Everybody likes to hit a
base ball and hit it hard. That, 1
think. is why the fans like the heavy
hitting. And you may rest assured
the players will see that they get it,
If given a chance. Nothing pleases
q xvaV~ hfc
base hits.
We now are on the eve Of another
trip West. and this one will come
pretty close to deciding the chances
of several clubs All of the Eastern
clubs of the National League are sure
TO have a tough time in the West,
while the Senators and Athletics. at
home, will have to fight off some
strong opponents.
Pirates Still Playing Hard.
The Pirates still are playing hard
and fast and the Reds have stepped
forward again. The Cardinals also
seem to have recovered from their
recent slump. The Cubs will have to
be at home awhile under the new man
ager and get set before any line can
be got On them.
In the American League it is not so
much finish fight between the West
and the East as between the two big
clubs of the East-Senators and Ath-
letics. In our race the issue seems
TO have been settled into a direct fight
between East and West-the Pirates
and the Giants. Brooklyn, though, is
likely to bob up any minute with
winning streak
The White Sox are apt to give both
the Senators and Athletics trouble on
their Eastern swing. The Browns
also are likely to cut a figure on the
road. The Tigers are causing trouble
all along the line. 1t is certainly no
easy picking in either league right
now.
We still have confidence in the
Giants. Instead of growing weaker,
the recovery of several of the PLAYERS
from injuries has made US stronger.
The Giants had a falling off in their
hitting, which has accounted largely
for their backsets.
Some fans do not realize. 1 imagine,
just what a remarkable showing the
Pirates have made, especially in hit
ting. If you have read any of my
early articles in the Spring you will
remember that I felt this coming and
predicted it.
Buccaneers Real Sluggers.
/ haven't the records at hand. but
II appears to me that this Pittsburgh
indeld is about the hardest hitting
outfit since the days of our old Balti-
more Orioles. Ten days ago, for ex-
ample, Grantham, Trayner, Moore and
Wright were hitting for an average
OF .334. That is remarkable. 1t is
particularly remarkable because it is
the hitting of an infield as a whole
and also as individuals. The weakest
hitter of that quartet has been hitting
.3l9. That is quite batting punch.
When added to the hitting and speed
of the whole club it is easy to see why
the Pirates are the club we will have
to best to win the pennant
While we expect to have a hard
fight during our trip West it would