The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-01-22

FlEXgllS
Says

=
the thrill that goes with closely
contested game in which batting is
the potent factor.
Seventeen games in the two major
leagues were 10 affairs last season,
nine in the National, eight in the
American.
Yet | feel | am safe in venturing
the opinion that not one Of them had
the exciting moments that featured
the game in which the Giants beat
the Phillies, l6-l4.
Batting Carries Big Thrill
Likewise, it is extremely doubtful
if any of the one-run affairs COM
pared with the 1914 victory of ST.
Louis over Washington.
These two games were just the
opposte of the 10 contests, each
having the unique distinction of be-
ing the high score clash of their
respective leagues.
Inquest ionably the l5-l4 defeat
suffered by Washington would have
ais had that team lost the American
League pennant.
Washington, by virtue of a home
run, having Goslin as the author,
went into the lead, 1413, at the
opening of the ninth.
st. Louis proceeded to fill the
bases with only one out. The batter
tapped to the pitcher, made to order
for a force play.
There was nothing for the pitcher
to do but shoot the ball to the plate
to cut off the tying run, also max
ing it possible for a double play al
first that would retire the side anc
end the game.
For some reason, known only tt
himself, the pitcher sure pulled The
unexpected Instead of making the
proper play, he pivOted and sho'
the ball toward second base with
terrific speed.
No one was covering, so the bal
went on its way to the outfield, .twC
runs scoring, winning the game foI
st. Louis.
For a time it looked as if that de
feat might cost Washington the pen
nant. If so, the victim of~the bone
play would have had much to liv'
down.
The pitcher in question got tn,
break when the Nationals managed
to stagger across the line.
This situation we'll illustrates tn
fact that the seriousness Of bone
play is determined by its costliness
Fred Merkle failed to toucl
second, lost the Giants pennan
and thereby took high rating il
the list of dumbbells.
Merkle, brainy player, did wha
many other players have done. bu
his mistake was one Of the costlies
breaks ever made by Il player.
Nearly Cost Pennant
Merkle had to live it down. Tha
took plenty of courage Other pla!
ers who have erred in similar mar
ner had their mistakes Immediate
forgotten.
All of which simply goes to sho
that the result of the "bOneheadeC
play, rather than the play itself, d.
termines the status of the player.
Variety Makes Best Game
But to get back to the thrill {
the basehit.
Don't get the impression thu
pitching doesn't carry punch.
1t is generally conceded that Wa
ter Johnson's sensational finish
the final game of the world seri'
was the big thrill of 1924.
However, it was not pitchir
alone that supplied the thrill, it W;
the fact that hitting constantly ha
johnson in trouble, producing stu
4 tions that made the pitching par
mount.
It was Frisch's triple with on
one out that made Johnson's supe
pitching that prevented Frisch fro
scoring really worth while.
A mixture of both hitting a
pitching is the ideal combinatic
!. Just enough batting to get t
pitcher into trouble, making it M
essary for him to do some sup'
pitching to escape disaster.
II Tpsn If Wild