The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-03-08
by CARL HUBBELL
New York Giants Pttcher)

A lot has been written about the
new National League baseball. Most
sports writer's seem to have 1t sized
up about the way have. It's going
! to make a decided difference IN the
game.
While it will have the same inside
| as the old ball-both American ana
| National-the cover will be thinner
and the seams will not protrude SO
high. Consequently, there will be
less wind resistance and the ball
| won't take the English" or curve
SO readily.
Each time q batter hits 1t. 1t will
be Just trifle faster than the same
sort of blow last season and the In
fielder, as a result, will have frac-
ton less of second to get his hands
on it.
The ball won't FLOAT like the old
one. Outflelders will find 1t dropping
faster and going for hits instead OF
putouts.
Should Have Uniform Ball
Batting averages are due to go up
and earned run averages with them.
Higher scoring games are certain to
make 1t harder on the pitchers next
season, but it'll be as fair for one as
the other and, personally, I don't see
any great reason to be alarmed.
So far as the Giants are concerned,
don't believe it will hurt our
chances In the least.
MY experience with the American
League ball-said to be the same ball
that the National League now has
adopted-was limited to the game ]
pitched in Washington during tho
world series and part Of game dur
ing the all-star contest in Chicago.
Judging from that and from the
opinions of the other players. it
shouldn't worry us any.
Adoption of uniform ball should
have been done long ago There always
was the feeling that the batters Of
the American League had an edge
on their rivals in the National. Like
wise, pitchers in the National al
ways owed something to the deader
ball.
Analyses Screw Ball
The question am asked most FIRE.
quently s-"How do you throw tho
screw ball?" During the summer.
when youngsters are interested In
baseball, get hundreds of letters.
I've tried to teach the screw ball
to every pitcher who has worn q
Giant uniform since I've been with
them and none has been successful
with it.. It's hard to teach.
This is all I can tell about It:
do it all with my wrist. OF
course I grip the ball just as for every
other pitch. Every major league
pitcher must learn to use the same
delivery or the coaches would catch
on to what was coming and flash 1t
to the batter.
When I let 60 Of the ball, Flip my
wrist just the opposite way l do for
a curve. I'm not double jointed, but
there's a lot Of play in my wrist and
other arm joints and that's where
the snap, or English" comes from.
Cobb Disapproves Fadeaway
The first time I found that could
make the ball curve out away from
q right hand batter was when / was
with Oklahoma City. I had been
uylllS w SCV o. CA1hO1 dA10 4A1VS
slowed down my pitches, trying to get
control of it, when the screw" or
"fadeaway' effect became noticeable.
I have kept on practicing 1t ever
since.
When I was In spring training
with Detroit, ~ Cobb considered the
screw ball freak. He advised M
not to use 1t, for fear would hurt
my arm, but I've never used it enough
to hurt me.
Sometimes I pitch several innings
with out calling on it. It's only when
I need to be most effective that !
start mixing it in.
II I were to use 1t all the time
provided my arm would stand the
strain-everyone would be hitting q
before long. Let good batter know
what you're going to throw and hen
knock 1t down your throat.