The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-21

Baseball Fame in Cooperstown,
N. Y. erred in not electing
George Edward Waddell, the
eccentric pitcher who starred
for the Athletics 80 years or
more ago.
These facts, and a general
consideration of the possibilities
Of the American League teams
whiled away the waiting min
utes before the Athletics en-
trained for Philadelphia last
night.
IF Mats May Surprise
Mr.. Mack takes gentle issue
with those who have consigned
the Nationals to a berth in the
second division. With any pitch
ing whatever, the team may
surprise, he said.
1T is a hitter'S game" Con-
ME related. "The rules that
empower an umpire to throw out
q ball that is soiled or scuffed
in any way work a hardship on
the pitcher. They constantly
are throwing new balls, which
naturally are harder to control
than one that has been in use
for any length Of time.
"The ball is livlier than it
once was, and that, too, aids
the hitter.
Go back in the history Of
baseball, and you needn't delve
into the old records. You will
see that there was a time when
If is batters cleared the 300
mark, there was much COM
ment. Last year 10 American
League batSmen drove in 100
runs or more.
Radical Hitting Changes
"styles Of hitting changed
radically" continued the soft
spoken Mack. Even the pitch
ers today swing from the end of
the bat. In the old days men
like Delahanty, Napoleon Lajoie
and some others were down at
the end Of their bats.
But Keller, McGraw, Jen-
nings, and practically all Of the
leading hitterS choked their
bats. Keeler was half way up
the bat. That is why he could
poke and pull the ball as he did.
I'd like to see some Of those
oldtimers hitting this new ball
under preSent-day rules.
1.-THE public likes long-dis-
lance hitting" Mr.. Mack con-
tinued, "and still gets a thrill
out of a long drive. The public
be pleased, always, and so you
will see power hitters enjoying
advantages over less fortunate
players.
do you think that the rules
are fair to modern pitchers?"
! asked Connie.
LAS a means Of comparison
with the oldtimerS, perhaps
not" came the answer. How
ever, you must remember that
they all work under the same
rules. Grove and Ruffing and
Gomez have done real well. So
have Johnny Allen, Tommy
Bridges and other. If pitchers
like these could use emery,
rosin, parafin, and those other
trick aids to pitching in vogue
between 1909 and 1920 when the
spit ball was legislated out Of
the major leagues, there is no
telling how many games they
would win in a season.
!, Waddeu Greatest
- Speaking Of pitchers, who
was the greatest you ever saw"
I asked Mack.
"Rube Waddell," came the
swift answer. IF Rube had
tended to his business he would
have been greater than Walter
johnson or Christy Mathewson.
Waddell had stuff that few
humans ever had, or ever will
have.
But RUDE was eccentric. He
loved to go to fires, and he loved
to 60 fishing. You never knew
which he would decide to do on
q day you were counting upon
him to pitch.
The eyes of the venerable
Connie lighted up for a moment
as he thought about Waddell.
''Td like to have him today"
he said.
And so we came to a brief
discussion Of the Nationals and
their pennant chances.
with pitching such as they
got in the last two games, these
Washington boys will be hard
to beat" Mack said. "In the
first game the pitching on both
sides was bad. But Weaver
looked great against my boys,
and Leonard worked a fine
game yesterday. He was smart
in making us supply our own
power, hitting against his slow
stuff.
washington has good power
and a good defense. 1t may be a
surprise team. AS a matter of
fact, this may be a year for
surprises in the American
League. At least five teams
have q chance to win."