The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-06-12
TALKING
IT OVER
by JOE WILLIAMS

NEW YORK, June l2.--Mr VIII
IN bert Robinson Of those Brook
lyrs has popped up with an idea.
II Is rather strange idea. Most
Of Mr.. Robinsons IDEAS are. This
may be due to environment. The
lengthy history of the Brooklyns
runs to the novel and fantastic.
At any rate. Mr.. Robinson has en- idea
that on each base bail club there should
be sort Of inner circle organization 20
Be- known as the Bonehesd Club. It would
be simple to qualify FOR membership.
Indeed. only the genuinely simple stand
q chance % be eligible.
PLAYER who commits mental blum
der automatically Joins the Order Of
Hard Skulls. Besides for each oHense
he contributes a stipulated sum to a
fund. At the end Of the season. pre-
sumablg ths moneys thus amassed are
20 be devoted 70 reysareh work Of a
scientific nature Doubtless this Will con-
Germ the battling presence Of sawdust.
duck feathers and milk bottle tops that
repose in the cerebral cavities Of the
demon athletes
It was fitting that Mr.. Robinson should
take the lead in this interesting social
movement. having as he does. at his
command. the most engaging collection
Of mental curios.ties IN the majors.
For number Of years the Brooklyns
have been interpreting the national pas
time with a caTefree. oahand. individual
istic techn!aus that has been at once
distinct shock and scream. Mr.. Rob-
inson usually has number Of old-timers
on his ball club II is on. Of his boasts
that his men know the game backward.
Even q casual observation Of the scene
IS convincing that they play it the same
way
GTILL and eli the Brooklyns go
~ along year after year prosper
ing very nicely. Personally, I would
rather watch them perform than
such prim advocates of routine
principles as the Athletics and the
Giants, where the element Of sus-
pense and surprise is practically
non-existent
When the Brooklyns are out there
bouncing around, anything can happen.
What's more. IL usually does ANY fairly
fieet-footed fellow can steal second when
there is nobody else on the bag. But
It takes a real genius like Mr.. Babe
Herman 70 steal the same bag when the
bases are slready full.
on any other club a society such as
Mr.. Robinson is inauzursting would be-
token shame with the 5zooklyns. very
pronerly 1t implies merit OF a peculiarly
high order. for here the art Of cumming
up plays has been developed to the top
most pitch. No apprentice bone- can hope
to serve under Mr.. Robinson. IN this
phase Of the game he is resolute and
exacting and only the finished artists will
suffice
At the moment 7 am told Mr. Robin
son IS busy on manuscript which he has
tentatively captioned Are Brains Neces-
sary?" It IS to be dedicated. of course.
to his ball CLUB.
GONE months ago Mr.. Gabby
- Street. manager Of the st.
Louis Cardinals, proposed that the
box score be anlplifled to include a
record of bone head plays. Mr..
Street is a grave person and his
proposal was offered in all serious
ness and without any thought Of
clarifying the gay, needless young
gents who play the game. On the
contrary, he hoped such a record
might have the effect of shaning
them into better lives.
Fortunately nothing came Of the propo-
sal. ! believe the men in the press box
took Arm and aggressive stand against
1t on the very plausible ground that the
listing Of all bone-head plays would in
volve entirely too much work. Even with
daylight saving time. darkness ultimately
falls and very few OF the press boxes
are equipped with electric lights.
To be sure. the background of the
game is not wholly lacking in conspicu-
Gus examples Of mental density. and it
may be that much good and many valu-
able historical documents would come Of
Mr.. Streets suggestion.
AS matters stand. now the most in
teresting part Of the box score is the
base hit column. Whether it would be
more interesting to note that your favor
tie swatter grabbed himself three homers
or three boners IS something, time would
have to work out. and time is already
pretty severely burdened with problems.
what with the 1ve-year plan. the new
golf ball and what to do about La
Guinan and her kids