The Washington times., 1925-03-13

Whether Sisters eyes will even
mend entirely, no one knows.
Many people ask me that question.
Sisler is cheerful and hopeful and
very brave. But he doesn't know.
Ilthfnk in 1924 he was some better
but very far from the great batter
Of previous years. The only reason,
OF course, was his eyes: Sister
was of the slap-hitting type. lie
was good at placing ball In any
field. Sisler had a weakness Wnen
he was at his best--it was his
great anxiety to hit whenever he
had two strikes. He'd choke ms
bat with two strikes and IN nearly
every case go after the next ball,
even If it was bad. Like Ruth,
Sisler started as pitcher and he
was a good one. although his bat
ting and fielding soon found him
in the infield where he played first
and sometimes third. A graduate
Of the University OF Michigan, ne
was more than smart p1tcner,
he was an educated, intelligent
baIlplayer.
/ remember the only game ever
pitched against Sisler. and it was
a dandy. He beat me, / to 0. and
allowed only six hits. This was
one of those famous old challenge
affairs Clark Griffith used to art
range between me and other
pitchers. 1t seemed every time a
LOT of interest was worked up and
a big crowd turned out, / was cure
to get a beating. i can't complain
about that game. because lost 1t
myself, after holding st. Louis to
no hits until the fifth inning. Then
Marsans, the Cuban player, came
to bat and. with two strikes. nit
him on the hand. The next batter
walked and Jimmy Austin came TO
bat. Jimmie struck out, but the
following batter singled, scoring the
one and only run OF the rEdme.
SfsIer was q good pitcher, but
even in those early days showed
signs of being q strong batter
He batted third I'm the lineup
even when pitching. When Sis
ler's eyes went back on him, and
if looked like he would not be
able to field or bat with his old
effectiveness, / know for q fact
he was preparing to return to
the pitchers box. You can't down
Q spirit like that.
one day last summer I asked
the st. Louis manager How would
you like to take a turn at pitching
AGAIN." Evidently touched a
sore spot, because George replied:.
eff our staff doesn't improve, I'm
liable to do it. I think I could
pitch better ball than some Of them
are doing now" And with little
condition, l believe he could.
The pitchers were not afraid OF
Sisler, as hitter, during 1924.
They knew his eyes were bad and
took advantage. Many time I've
seen him swing at balls that, TO
all appearances, he did not even
see. l hope / am badly mistaken,
but I am inclined to string with
those who think Sisler will never
recover his famous batting form
Of other years.
One of Iris Speakers greatest
achievements was in 1915 when
after he had slumped for several
years, he came along and displaced
ny Cobb as the leading batter of
the American League, after the
Detroit wonder had been the un-
disputed leader for nine consecu-
tive years. Speaker has always
been a good hitter and hits most
any style of pitching.
He had a great knack for hitting
the ball in any direction, according
to where it was pitched. II you
gave him a ball on the outside
Speaker would stick 1t into left
field, without a bit of trouble. If
the ball came to him on the inside
Of the plate, he'd pull it into right.
Speaker is what we call a straight
away hitter and one of the smartest
Of ALL He seldom offers at bad
balls and from the very beginning.
has been one OF the hardest men