The Washington times., 1931-07-29
TESTS WOULD
INTRIGUE
FANS
BY BABE RUTH

BY BABE RUTH
Why not a field day for major
league ball players near the close
of each season?
know this is not exactly a
new idea, but it is an idea that
never has been fully developed.
I know they have had such
events now and then but there
was nothing official about them,
and no set program. believe
it would create much interest
among ball players and fans as
we'll, and also much debate as
to the probable winners.
am suggesting this now be-
cause the thought came forcibly
to me the other day when sew
eral of the Yankees put on a
little sprint meet at the Stadium.
We got big surprise, too, when
Ben Chapman noSed out Dusty
= Cooke in a race of about 100
yards. We all recognized Chap
man as the best base stealer.
but we believed that Cooke had
greater speed over a straightaway
course Of 100 yards.
You know base stealing hon.
Ors do not always 90 to the
fastest man. There is the
knack of getting a good lead.
starting well, picking up top
speed early and finally the
ability to slide.
Speed from base to base is
only a part Of it. But in this
instance Chapman proved he was
the faster of the two. Dusty
jumped away fast but Ben caught
and passed him, leading by
small margin when Dusty eaSed
up near the finish.
There was a surprise. too, when
Sammy Byrd beat Myril Hoag in
another sprint race of about the
same distance. Then Henry John
son, one of the fastest runners
among the pitchers, engaged in a
race with Lyn Larry, and Lyn was
the winner. While everybody was
talking about racing somebody
got Lou Gehrig, of the Yanks, and
Chad KimSey, of the Browns.
steamed up for a race, and a few
friendly wagers we're made on this
one. The idea was that both were
fast for big men. The Browns
thought KimSey was the faster
and the Yanks were just as sure
about Gehrig. Lou won.
know that one objection
against field days in the past
was that player is paid to play
ball, and that running and
throwing contests might result
in injuries to legs or arms. But
don't think that a few races
or exhibition throws would in
jure player who has to run at
top speed or throw with all his
might day after day in ball
games.
Why couldn't each team in
each major league have a series of
elimination races, at hundred
yards? They could also have
some races around the bases to
see what player could go the full
distance in the fastest time. Then
they could have contests in fungo
hitting for distance Have an
other in accurate throwing at
target by both infielders and out
fielders, and one in throwing for
distance. CatcherS could have
test at throwing to second base,
having a fixed target there to
record accuracy. Other contests
might be added.
After each club has determined
for itself it's best Sprinter, fastest
man in circling the bases, best
fungo hitter, most accurate and
longest throwers and other lead
ers, these winners could meet in
q big field day late in the season
to settle major league champion
ships. I think it would create
lot of interest and attention. and
think also it would result in
many surprises.
Just take the case of the
Yankees. We have been looking
at Chapman since year ago last
spring, and we saw Cooke run
all last season. We all thought
Dusty was faster, but Ben proved
otherwise. So. too. would mum
Der of players fool everybody if
there was such a thing as a
major league field day.
II the league officials do not
care for a big field day which
would take certain players away
from their clubs, why not stage
q series of elimination events
while the pennant races are
going on?
Say, for instance that the De-
troit Tigers are playing the
Yankees. Before the game the
best sprinterS, throwers, fungo
hitters, etc., of each team get to-
Gether and have it out. The
players who are beaten are elm
mated from league competition.
The winners go on meeting the
best of other clubs as they play
through their schedule. and the
final winners will be the cham.
pions of the league. This would
not interfere with the schedule
and it would add to the attrac-
tiveneSs of those games played IN
connection with the contests.
During the last week Of the
season the champions of the two
leagues could meet in city con-