The Washington times., 1928-12-13


Junior circuit in Chicago toda,
Final decision in the matter prob
ably will be made by Commissioner
Kenesaw NJ Lands.
Many fans and ball players here
Joined the National League owners
in extolling the virtues of the rad
icaI change. They pointed out that
1t would do away with the strategy
OF walking dangerous batters to
get at. a weak-hitting pitcher, a
practice considered Objectionable by
the fans. And they declared that
under the scheme pitching battles
would not be broken up premature
ly by the removal Of one hurler for
q pinch hitter, with the yanked box
mans successor quickly being nickcd
for the winning run.
Furthermore, such famous old
timers as Moose" Mccormick,
the greatest pinch-hitter Of his
day, declared that pinch-hitter
n used three or four times game
could compile d much better
batting average than under pres
ert conditions.
Practically all National League
players who have passed their
peak are heartily in favor of the
idea For it will mean. If adopted.
that veterans now deemed not
sprightly enough for regular serv-
ice will be able to stay in the big
leagues for nobody knows how
many years.
Under present conditions a vet
with wobbIy pins can't hang on for
long because a club can't afford TO
carry player who pinch hits only
cnce game. But under the pro-
posed change, any old-timer who
can deliver base hits will be eligible
for a regular Job even though his
arm and legs are gone beyond re-
pair.
And 50 dozens of retired veterans
were prickfng up their ears today
and dreaming dreams of making q
comeback in the big show. Gray
boards who fought side by side
with Pop Anson in the Chicago
New York wars are dropping their
pIougl1shares and grabbing a bat.
Trusty bludgeons that drove out
base hits in the nineties are being
attic and polished up.
The new position on the base
bali ''fen" would be the sOftest
racket In the profession. No
standing IN the blazing sun or
freezing cold fOrN the permanent
pinch-ilitfer. We could mo longer
laugh AZ the girl who thought
that Babe Ruth sat in a field
box when not mt bat. and was
not required to play in the field
with the hoi poIlOi.
Hitter No. 10 would be needed in
the park only once every three
innings. Picture the following
scenes in 1850 if President Heydler's
suggestion is adopted:
A portly gentleman is teeing up at
the start of the seniors national golf
championship in New York. He
sports a majestic bay window and
waddles around with difficulty. Sud-
denly the aged man drops his driver,
RIances at his watch and exclaims:
Excuse me, boys. but I'm due at
Yankee Stadium to hit homer.
Yes. it's Babe Ruth, still pinch
hitting and numbering the horsehide
at the age Of So,
Another graybeard is watching the
gee-gees pTance in the paddock at
the Hawthorne track in Chicago. He
calls cab and dashes to the Cubs
park just in time to bat for the
pitcher. Rogers Hornsby. still going
strong.
The manager of Pittsburgh
vaudeville house announces:
Ladies and gents. the famous act.
of the Waner brothers will be 70
minutes late. The Bucs are putting
on big rally and both Big Poison
and Little Poison are needed"
In New York Frank O'Doul, the
eminent stock broker. leaves his seat
on the change and speeds to Philly
in an airplane He has just enough
time to reach Baker bowl and bat
for some battered Quaker hurler.
Yes, it's good trick, even It,
President Heydler cant do it. Who
said that youth must be served?