The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-03-10

swung at them and Of course struck
out.
When / find myself in q tight
place and Babe Ruth at bat either
give him q bad ball or pass him
Intentionally. That is strictly within
the rules and the thing to do, IL
you are out to win ball games.
But it does not always prove the
wise move. Many time Ruth has
been passed in a pinch and batters
like Meusel or Pipp, have come
along and driven out homeruns or
extra basehits, scoring Ruth with
the winning run.
The first time found this a
costly practice was about six
years ago n game arainst the
Red Sox. The score was tied in
the ninth inning, when Babe
Ruth came to bat He had pre-
vfously driven out a triple and a
double and any smart pitcher
would walk him in such a spot.
Four wide balls put him on first
base but he soon moved to second,
when McInnis got a single.
Now ! was really up against it,
with two men on base and nobody
out. Oscar Witt was the next bat
ter up and he just naturally
knocked the first ball clear out of
the lot. Many experts viii argue.
that it would be better taking a
chance on Ruth but have taken
so many chances with that big
fellow that / find It doesn't pay.
Considering other features in
Ruth's work, you find him a good
ballplayer from every standpoint.
Don't think he is merely a great
hitter. No player or manager in
as to think such a thing. He is, a
much better outfielder than people
realize. His judgment is far better
than the average and Ruth makes
few mistakes. have heard veter-
an players say they have never
seen Ruth do the wrong thing on a
ballfield. He studies every batter
and breaks for a ball with the
crack of the bat.
He is especially good on ground
balls and covers great deal OF
territory. Ruth is anything but
slow and is great thrower. He
may not be the longest throwing
outfielder in baseball but think
he is the most dependable. Ruth
cuts off many runs at homeplate.
Here is good place to say a
word about Babe Ruth'S personal
feeling toward Ty Cobb. In the
past they lave had several run ms
and the newspapers have found it
q subject that caused much interest.
I'm not denying that Babe and
Ty have exchanged frowns and a
occasion, they nearly exchanged
are enemies is all wrong. For the
simple reason that there is no real
cause.
During the last world series /
noticed where one newspaper was
surprised because Cobb and Ruth
sat together during one OF the
games. The facts are they sat in
adjoining seats In the press sec
ton, during the entire series.
Both were writing about the games
for newspapers, and when a mutual
friend invited Babe to go to the
ball park in the same taxicab with
Cobb. at first the homerun hitter
refused, like an oVergroWn kid.
Finally he consented and before
the afternoon was over they were
exchanging cigars and comments
on the game. They went to the
gan ne in the same taxicab every
day after that and acted like a
pair of old pals. But put them in
uniform. both striving to win the
same ball game and either one is
liable to blow up on al minutes
notice. That is why both are such
great drawing cards
Copyright 1925, by the Christy
Walsh Syndicate)
Next chapter-Ty Cobb and His
Abilities.