Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-27
CHAPTER III.
Two Types of Fast Balls.

III N DfldQIEI !
Walter Johnson's terrific speed
and the part (which it played in
the world series triumphs of the
Washington Club in 1924.
But you haven't heard half OF II
vet. DO YOU know that big Barney
throws two different kinds of fast
balls? Today / am going to tell you
about them,
To most persons fast ball is just
one which has a lot of smoke as 1T
comes up to the plate, but any one
who has had any experience as big
league catcher will tell you that there
art two kinds of fast bails-the light
bali and the heavy ball,
Throw Both Kinds.
Some fast pitchers throw a light
ball others throw a heavy one, but
Walter Johnson throws both kinds.
Some DAYS his ball seems as ltght as
a feather while al other times 1t
comes into my glove like lead
weight. requiring alb of nay strength
TO hold it.
When. Barney is feeling right and
when he has been working in regular
rotation, his ball is light. The day
after pitching a game the ball is light
After a long layoff, however, or when
he is not feeling exactly in the pink,
the hall is heavy.
/ have often wondered about this
strange fact and ! have frequently
talked it over with Walter. The only
explanation that we can find for the
phenomenon is that when he is in good
condition less effort is required for him
to throw fast, but when he is not
right he has to bear down, putting
more strength and more of his body
behind his pitches
iobt Rail Elusive
II is hard to say which ball is harder
to hit against / have seen batters
strike out on both forms of pitching
and | have seen them crash out long
hits against both styles of pitch. The
light ball is more elustee. probably
harder to follow with the eye. On the
other hand, the heavy ball, carrying
so much weight, would require more
strength on the part of the batter to
overcome it's force and drive ii back.
AS | write this story, two instances
come to mind, both of games in which
johnson was shooting that light, fast
ball of his UP TO the plate. And, in
cidentally. the results We're exactly OPP
posite.
The first game to which refer was
opening day in Washington last sea
son. The Athletics We're the visiting
attraction and Eddie Rommel, knuckle
Walter Johnson was selected by
Bucky Harris to huri for us.
"a Magnificent Battle.
There are games and games, but
seldom have | played in enc, since
the advent of the lively ball, which
could rival this one. For IA innings
the twp right handlers battled, with
neither side able, apparently, to push
q man across the plate.
Finally in. the fifteenth inning,
Rucky Harris smashed out a single.
Goose Goslin doubled and Joe Harris
came through with ene,shet, giving
US the victory.
Rommel's box work, while high class
ana worthy of better than a defeat un-
der ordinary circumstances, was not
as impressive as that of Big Walter.
Talk about speed! Barney's fast ball
seemed fairly to hum as it shot across
the home plate. Only six times did the
Athletics connect with his offerings for
safe hits. and Walter French, the ex-
West Pointer was the only Mackman
able to secure as much as double.
Rommel, on the ~bther hand, was
touched for nine safe blows, including
the three which put the game on ice
In the closing inning.
1t Took Nerve!
Twelve times Philadelphia players
stepped up TO the plate, took their
three strikes and sat down on the
bench once more. | admire their nerve
for standing UP there as they did, for
IT certainly must have required a lot
of courage to face that human ma
chinegun. shooting those little pellets
up there so fast.
The other incident which sticks In
my memory, relating as ii does TO the
light hall. occurred last September, in
Chicago. when Bill Barrett, White Sox
outfielder, assumed the hero role.
Walter was mighty fast that day
Tommy Thomas. young fightha nder,
on the mound for Comiskey's crew,
was equally as effective, with a fast
ball which needed no apologies. Each
team scored once in the initial inning,
then the customers settled back in
their seats to witness what promised
TO be real pitching duel.
Only six times did our boys connect
safely with the kals sent over by the
ex- Raltim0re pitching star while the
White Sox hatters negotiated six safe
whacks in eight innings against Wal
ter's binding speed
Bill Barrett Steps Up.
Then came the ninth inning. and Mr..
William Barrett of Cambridge, Mass,
stepped nanchalantly up to the plate.
Barrett is q dangerous hitter, and
with his strength of shoulders, arms
and baok he is ahahe of giving the
hs'. long Journey if il connects. He
had singled ca lier in the game, so it
was deemed advisable 10 keep the ball
away from hlm il possible: at least 10
make him reach out IL he intended to
hit it, Instructions were followed
faithfully. High and outside came tina t
fleeting white speck from the hands of
the veteran boXman.
Rut~-there was a sudden swing of
the hatter's arms and shoulders as he
reached ont and up for the pitch; a
resounding smack which must have
been heard in Elgin, many miles
away, and straight for the fence went
that speeding horsehide,
@s Good-by, ball game! over the bar
rier and far away went that ball as
Barrett trotted happily around the
sacks and we started for our club
house.
Some One Must Win.
We'll. that's base ball said Walter
laconically, as he brushed the sweat
from his face. IF we didn't win they
had to-
He had no regrets. He knew tha
he had delivered his best, and, re
garding the matter philosophically, Ia
realized that he couldn't always VIII
his games lie was certain that h
was right, that his condition, as al
ways was Al and that he had
good hop on his fast hall.
Base ball fans and writer's Otter
speak Of that hop on the fast one
but it is generally referred TO by tn
players as dart. This dart is usual
cid In SIa