Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-27
NO GOOD IN SPHERE
SEEN BY GRIFFITH
Washington Boss Declares
National League Pellet
Won't Curve Well.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON,
Sports Editor, The Star.

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the gentry who write pieces for
the papers in conjecturing on the
effect the new base ball will
have on the game. Guesses have
run the gamut from little, if any,
change on the part of the more
conservative scribeS to whole
sale reduction of batting averages
all along the line, with the home
run output greatly curtailed, the
outf1elderS moving in and tossing
out many more runners at the
plate, and the infielderS playing
closer and tagging a larger per-
centage Of batSmen. etc.
Also the better grip obtainable on
the sphere because of its raised seams
has been cited as sure to result in
greater efficiency among the boxmen,
to provide the means for better control
among those inclined to wildness and
even to prove the salvation Of many an
old-time finger nearing the end of his
rope, such as John Plcus Quinn, Bill
Doak, Howard Ehmke and the like.
Supposed Batting Curb.
envisaged the so-called derabbitizing of
the pellet as a curb on the activities of
the stick wielderS.
But now comes one who can speak
with a certain degree of authority to
assert that these commentators are all
wet; that the new ball not only Will
fail to check hitting and reduce home
runs, but actually increase both-and to
a marked degree. The voice in question
is that of Clark Calvin Griffith, presl-
dent of the Washington ball club.
Man and boy, Griff has been promi-
nently connected with the national pas
time for more than three decades.
Starting out as pitcher even before
the gay COS he not only attained de-
servedly high rating as moundsman,
but served as manager for the Chicago
White Sox, the New York Highlanders,
as the Yankees were known when the
American League first invaded Gotham;
the Cincinnati Reds and the Nationals
before graduating to his present high
position in the counsels of the sport.
He should know a thing or two about
the subject in question and in any event
certainly is entitled to a respectful hear
ing.
It should be understood that the alter
ed sphere to which Grih makes REFER
ence is the one which followers OF base
ball have been advised will be MADE
with thicker cover than formerly and
which it is this writer's understanding
will be used only in the National League
of the major circuits, although the
raised seam feature will be standard for
the American League as well.
It is not clear with Grill, IN the
knowledge that all base balls for the
two big loops are produced in the same
factory at Philadelphia, how the manu-
facturers are going to make sure that
the American League clubs are supplied
with a type of ball unchanged from
that Of last year except for the prom
inent stitching while the National
Leaguers alone get the balls with covers
made of thicker horsehide as well as
the new style sewing; but of one thing
he is positive-that in any circuit where
heavier leather Is used to wrap the ball
the hitters will make merry at the eX-
pense of the pitchers. And the reason
Is simple-a pitcher cannot hook ball
with a thick cover-but let him tell
Leaving the stitches raised as they
naturally are when the ball comes from
the sewing machine instead Of ironing
them out fiat as heretofore may well
be calculated to increase the effective
ness Of pitching, as it enables hurler
to get better grip on it, thus improv-
ing his control, adding to his speed and
the break he can impart to his twiSters.
But this advantage will be more than
leather, simply because it is impossible
successfully to curve a ball with thick
cover.
Tough on Pitchers.
"Why, back in the old days, when the
balls were not made with as much pre-
ciSion as later became the case, when
ever a pitcher got ahold of one with
thick cover he would rip a seam, de-
liberately scuf it. or do anything to get
it thrown out. because he found it al
most impossible to use hooks effectively.
The reasons have seen advanced
for the insistence by the National
League upon ball made with heavier
leather was to deaden it 10 the extent
that the pitchers might better be able
20 cope with the growing mastery of the
batsmen, but the effect 1t will have will
be Just the opposite.
You imagine what is going TO hap
pen to those fingers when the hitters
find that what formerly were sharp,
withdrawing hooks have been reduced
to mere wrinkles. They are going TO
slough the ball to all corners of the
lot, and batting averages instead Of
shrinking will be fattened
THE National already is known as
q curve ball league. in that its pitchers
resort more TO hooks than those in the
American League. Hitting percentages
ululbAQudily ana COUeCLlVeiy, generally
are higher in the National than in the
American League and the home run out
put all Is consistently far greater In the
National.
VIII Hit Plenty.
We'll, IL that thick cover ball is used
IN the National League this year you can
bank on 1t that higher figures both for
batting averages and extra-base clouts
will be the result"
If those who have the interests of
the game at heart really wish to do
something to enable the pitchers to
Offset the edge the hitters have OBJ
tained since the introduction of the
lively ball, according to Grif, they
merely need adopt the suggestion he
made at the meeting of the Rules Com
mittee this Winter-permit the pitcher
TO stand with one foot back of the rub
her instead OF with both feet touching
the slab while in the act Of starting his
delivery, as at present.
This, he contends, would give a slab
man Just enough additional momentum
TO add to his effectiveness for all types
of delivery and would not increase base
running for the simple reason that a
pitcher would not dare use this stance
except at such times as he now takes
q full wind-up.
It was for fear that men on the base
lines would run wild that his suggestion
was spurned by the committee, which
comprised no one technically versed
Grin has the real low down on the
effect of the thick-cover ball the Ma
tional League may be forced to drop 1t
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