Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-08-12
YANK IS NOT
FAST RUNNER
Taking Lead On Pitcher Is
Secret Of Stealing,
Ben Says
BY WILLIAM BRAUCHER
NEA Service Sports Editor


putting the shot and basketball are
great training for base stealing, it
is alleged. Ben Chapman OF the
Yankees is Exhibit A.
In a hotel Just off Broadway in
the roaring forties." Chapman sat
nervously on the edge Of a bed and
told me the secret OF his art-an
art that has won more than 40
stolen bases for him this season.
Chapman's skill at coping the
cushions has made him the great
est base-running threat Of the de-
cade. since Slim Sam Rice stole 81
bases IN 1920.
Chapman speaks in the soft tones
OF the south. He replies TO ques-
tions with charming frankness
While he was being Intercepted,
Mrs. Chapman. his bride OF a few
weeks Cthe former Mary Elizabeth
Payne. also of the SOUTH sat on
another bed nearby, listening close
~ to Ben's words.
L was born on Christmas Day,
1908" he said. at Nashville. but
we moved soon after that TO Bir-
mingham. My father, Harry Tub
Chapman. vas a professional ball
PLAYER for Is years. A catcher. !
don't think he wanted me 10 play
ball. Anyway, he acted like 1t for
a while.
But I was dead set on baseball
When 1 was five years old I used
to play with a half a bat dad sawed
off for me SO / could swing IT,"
How fast could he run?
We'll. l did 100 in 10 seconds
once. But that isn't the secret OF
stealing bases. It's all in the lead
you can get. In high school I was
on the track team, but ! was a
shot-putter."
Who was the easiest pitcher to
steal on?
Il don't like that question. Why
don't You ask me who is the hard
est? Well. that Walter Stewart Is
a hard pitcher to steal on. Another
Is Eb CaraWav OF the White SoX.
Both left-handeTs. I guess left
handlers can hold YOU closer 10 the
bag because a right-hander has to
turn around 10 throw
Il think third base Is easier TO
steal than second. Any kind Of
pitcher has TO turn clear around to
throw. and the shortstop and sec
ond basemen are away off the bag.
you have 10 start Just right. I
have stolen home eight times this
season. four times on straight
steals and four times on delayed
steals where the catcher threw TO
second trying TO catch a runner
going from first. Just get a long
lead and start Just right"
Had Chapman c been caught
off base?
Twice this year. Harder OF
Cleveland. a highlander. caught
me off once Stewart caught me
off once
What catcher was hardest to
steal on?
Catcher doesn't mean a thing
If YOU get a step on the pitcher. no
catcher can catch YOU. Cochrane Is
a great catcher. but YOU find they
steal bases OH him. too
Could that be the fault Of Grove.
EarnshaW. Walberg?
Let's let that question pass. OF
course. YOU might say that those
fellows don't have 10 watch base
runners as closely as some pitch
ers OF other teams. The AS make
runs when they need EN-. A couple
Of stolen bases don't mean a whole
lot to that team.
Same thing with the Yankees.
Our team bats runs in. I suppose
more thar half OF the bases I steal
aren't needed an awful lot"
But the fans pay 20 see Chapman
steal those sacks? Don't they cheer
and whistle Just as soon as he gets
on base? And watch for him TO
60 d0Wn2
so they So But I only go
down when Joe tells me"
Chapman vas an end in football.
One afternoon after he had sprint
cd IS yards for a touchdown for his
high school eleven. the coach de-
cided he vas a halfback. 1t was as
a halfbaek that he made the ALI
Alabama selections for two years.
During the interview. the pretty
Mrs. Chapman sat quietly on a bed.
listening To every word. II was
only near the close Of the inter
view that she interrupted
When did Mr.. Chapman meet
Mrs. Chapman?
AT a fraternity dance In l925-in
Birmingham
Then Mrs. Chapman cut in.
But II wasn't 1929 she said,
1T was 1897
c. 7 r,tacr ~ pnuet have heen