The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-08-10
LIGHTER BAT
I AIDS TAVENER
IN HIT QUEST
Midget shortstop Is Being
Made Over by Detroit
Tigers Manager
COMPOUNDS OPPONENTS
Varies from His Usual Posi-
ton to Get Longer, Safer
Wall0ps
(BY BILLY ..EVANS)

C0u DaCteT DC ndUc over 6ICcE
he has reached the major leagues?
The impression has been that such
a thing was a physical as we'll as
a mental impossibility.
In other words, a player Is usually
set as to style when he is good
enough to make the big league grade
and it has always been regarded as
ridiculous to change him.
On the surface, it would seem that
the case of Jackie Tavener of the
Detroit club contradicts in most
decisive manner such generally
accepted belief.
May Become 800 Batsman
Manager George Moriarity of the
Tigers believes that Tavener is des-
tined to be 800 batsman. It
wouldn't surprise him If the midget
shortstop reached that figure before
tn close of the season. II not then,
in 1928 positively.
Tavener's average for the two years
he has already spent in the big show,
the seasons of 1925-26, is .256. Max
ing a three hundred hitter of him
means that a. points must be tackled
on to his best efforts. That looms
to be quite proposition to put over.
Manager Moriarity is positive it
can be done and after considerable
reasoning he has won ,Tavener over
to such a belief. Thereby hangs an
interesting tale. f.
Uses Lighter Bat
A bat five ounces lighter than ever
before used by Tavener during his
baseball career is the instrument by
which the drastic change is expected
to be brought about.
A five ounce lighter bat is to add
a points to Tavener's batting aver
age. How and why? Listen:
Jackie Tavcner is one of the
smallest, if not the smallest, player
in the majors. He is five feet five
inches tall and weighs about 14O
pounds. Lack of stature has always
been regarded as a severe handicap
to batting prowess. It has been Gus
tomary for the midget athletes to be
punch hitters. Using a heavy bat
they simply punch or push at the
ball, never trying for distance, the
hope being that the ball will simply
drop out Of the reach Of infield or
outfield. s
A left-handed batter, that is OF
Tavener's style, using the punch sys-
tenn, usually hits the bali great
deal to the same territory, left field.
Knowing this, the opposition is able
to build up a defense forsuch q style
by having the outfield play in close.
IL Small, But Sturdy
While Tavener is small Of stature
he is built on sturdy lines. This
spring Manager Moriarity decided ia
try drastic stunt on Tavener, max
ing him q slugger rather than q
punch hitter. Instead of merely
pushing the ball, It was decided that
Tavener should take a healthy swing
and try to pull the ball to right
field, thereby upsetting the defense
that has always been used against
him.
If Tavener was to become a free
swinger, naturally it was necessar,
that he use a much lighter bat. Aftel
much experimenting, bat five
ounces tighter than formerly used
was decided upon. So far it ha,
worked like magic.
would say that IS per cent Of
Tavener's hits have been to right
field this year and he is getting
much greater distance as shown 81
the Is doubles, seven triples and fou
home runs he has already made
Jackie says he can't remember max
ing any other four home runs in hi
entire career.
Already Tavener has added over 2,
points to his mark Of the two previ
Gus years and feels that hG is on tn,
way to the select 800. class. 4.
"Firpo," the Detroit players nov
call Tavener, to typify the brut,
strength the midget Is showing at TIL
bat.