The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1953-08-07
Just Among Ourselves
Passing Comment con.idsrsd or Ineensidsrats

could know that this brilliant time sanctions their
ancient formula for learning. For they said
repetitio est mater studorium which may be
dered as, The only way to learn a thing is to 90
over il again and again and again.
Consider the ads Whatll you have? Twenty-one
times by voice and print, does the beer-man name
his product in the of the single minute that
elapses between rounds of boxing bout. In the
course of forty-fiye minute go--including intro
ductions and concusions--the product will be
named more than $50 times. And even then lots of
TViewers won't recall right off the name of the
beer that brings them fistcuffs and cuiturei What
is the brand? Brumpst? Whumpst? Frumpst?
But lot more will remember. Repetition does IT,
The ads prove the point And the ads are the nearest
thing have to reliable index of national intel
ligence and mental aerness II is little hard,
then, that modern should find fault with
old grandpa for telling the same story and
After all, the old man is true representative
of the most advanced methods and theories for
challenging attention.
All this is by way of defensive introduction Ia
discussion that was begun here about a year ago.
II touches the business of baseball and TV A lot
OF talk goes the chins of knowing people about
the effect of telecasts actual attendance at games
Most OF 1t is wasted talk. Baseball will not die
cause il is brought into homes by TV. 1t will die
OF lis own dull inertia, and of the appearance and
attitudes of those who play the game
There is not a great danger that the man who
turn knob and game will not bother
to 90 out 10 the park There is danger that the
who goes TO the park few times will not there
after, bother TO turn knob. Unless our ma
hona paStme becomes less of national waste-time,
people are going TO turn TO parchessl mumby-
peg, tatting or some other employment that has
the breath OF life in II.
Let us briefly consider the players, the action,
and the rules of the game First the players. Recall
that IN the soealled Big Leagues-of which alone
we speak here-we have professional men, and
supposedly the very finest of their profession.
They give skilled exhibition of the game Of base
ball and they paid pretty we'll for their work.
Should We not expect them, therefore to come onto
the field. neatly and sttractvey attired and alert
TO show interest in what they are TO do there?
Baseball fans come 10 see game But they do
not pay their toll at the gate 10 the game played
by lot OF sloppy Joes who would disgrace sandlot.
But that's precisely what they get. uniform should
be uniform; the Big Leaguers the color
and insignia. of course, but one will have bare arms,
another will have under.Sieepes; one will have cute
little sleeve like that great-aunt Ettas bathing
suit while another will wear his sleeves al elbow
length. Aud the trouserS Bags that slop nearly to
ankles in some cases no two players quite alike in
the arrangement of the plusfour effect. The over
all result is an unkempt slovenly unsightly mess.
How, the fan asks himself, such frowsy players
turn in anything like neat play?
Then there is the attitude OF the high-prced pro-
fesSional men who play the game. Their idea
to be that an air of nonchaance. of wearness and
boredom is expected of them. Doubtless. they do
grow weary but the paid exhibitor is paid TO show
interest and not wearness Not in ten of the
Biggest Big Leaguers can come up TO bat with any
thing like a spring OF eagerness and strong pur-
pose in his step. And yet despite their air of lass
iude languor and ennu these players are nearly
all Nervous Neties Watch the pitcher Before he
makes his long meditation IN preparation for
wondrous pitch that will land somewhere in the
grand stand, he shifts about he rubs the ball. he
gets rosin his hands he wipes the hands
his uniform, he mops his brow on his tno
handkerchiels allowed presumably, he fiddles and
faddles Finally he pitches Foul ball How long,
think you viii fans stand TO- this nonsense?
And the batter He digs himself in as the saying
is, and dig ne does. Then the pitcher takes his
time" and everybody ese's. The batter disapproves,
he steps out of the box Gets with the pitch
er Steals more time from the fans Then the batter
feels the need OF the rosin bag sends in 10 the
clubhouse wherever for some tacum powder
or bay rum. He uses pounds and pounds of earth
10 rub his hot, moist little hands After
each pitch he does this outdoor toiletry all over
again. It's a solemn wonder he doesn't have out
beautioian to give him Toni Meanwhile the
patrons Of the game wait and wait and wait. How
long friends, will Americans pay good money to see
ncompeentS rub dirt and rosn on their hands in
stead of getting TO business and playing the game?
Baseball to-day is dyinq of its own dead weight
A baseball game should be played in an hour
and a half not in three hours. And IL could be if
the players PLAYED instead of merely fussing and
tossing the ball around. The rules committee. If
there is one. might make a few profitable changes
in the regulations such as: |. New or relieving
pitcher allowed three practice pitches only 2 Pitch
er allowed no practice pitches at start of innings
after the first; 3 When player is put out, play
should 90 on without the business Of tossing the
ball PLAYER To player around the infield, T. Batter
TO be called out il Re steps out OF the batting box
after assuming his stance. 5 Two third-srike fouls
to be allowed after that foul is out s. Pitcher TO be
allowed ten seconds TO serve next ball after he has
received ball from catcher. otherwise bali is TO be
called. 7. Your pet suggestion.
Take me out to the ball game Out where the
slovens slop about and hare Of applied rosn fills
the air. and the ncurasthenics dig UP the hatters
hox like onion patch Not to-day, thanks Nor yet
to.nanrrow