Evening star., 1953-09-09

Last year 81 was tops Ralph Kiner and Hank sauer,
swinging from their heels all restrained at this
point American League the high Larry Doby 32
Rosn and Zena already have 80 and 49, respectively so far
****
sPALDING PEOPLE PROTEST charges that lveIer ball
being other reason they for
orgy which may reach record proportions
supass the distance coutng of the Ruth Foxx Hack
Wilson, Chuck Kein Greenberg and OFT days.
pitchers reluctant accept the word the ball
manufacturers it understandable minds the evil
ence they throwing needed ball is pretty concu
September htters in both majors had poed 1888
homers clubs Brooklyn and Cincinnati blasted 66 in
20 games against each other In while
losing 18th Brooklyn, the Cardinals hit five
pitcher Preacher Roe In double with Pitts
burgh the Braves sugged dozen homerS eight in game
The result embraces weird records. Consider
that Bob Porereld, for example shutout specialist
Potereld with eight his belt With 10 victories
he probably will become the third Washington pitcher in Is
years to win 90
On the other hand he already holds dubious record
The S homers hit off him than any Nat pitcher
has yielded in history
WHEN THE QUESTION put to Clark Griffith the
83-year-old president Washington confessed
that he bafed could the ball velier" he says
at wouldn't know. There is for me to test the ball
All do is take the word of the manufacturer"
Upon reflection Griffith leans toward theory that the
style game the ball. is what has changed and
therefore chiefly responsible for the increase in home runs
Everybody swinging for the fences these days. Crf points
"spalding doesn't make all the basebas used in ball
If the minors too that would kinda suggest that all
players trying to hit home runs.
Ball clubs these days don't for the hit-andrun like
they used do They don't sacrifice much, steal
Everybody g. . . little fellows and big fellows alike
digging that plate. guess they figure the way to get
paid big money to total their home at the end of
the year"
GRIFFITH THINKS HE explain Porterfeld. Hes
fast baer a says the old pitcher when he is getting
and his ball is live. Porerfeld stands good
chance to pitch Shutout But when he throws ball too
fat we'll it's out of the park"
Preacher is not distinguished for his speed
that argument Griffith has answer, too They've got
small ball parks the National League he reminds
What club down its fences this year Cnclnnau?"
The Reds did their right field fence closer. AS a
result perhaps Cincinnati had 40 home by Sep
tember than of no. By the TOKEN
however Rogers Hornsbys club is packed tightly with
itters than Cincinnati teams KuszewSk Gus
Bell Andy Seminck Willard Marshall and Jim Greengrass all
hit pitch with authority occasions.
SOME OF THE AMERICAN League parks are the small
side too which Mr. Griffith acknowledges with
tions Boston yes Others" he saying,
everything considered playing in
the American League tell you, ball players today
"WeI I dunno" he interrupted himself "The parks
when you think of it, you don't those real
good long-ba htters used to have. Not many
way And still fellows today hitting homers.
TT might be rabbit ball. at that It's hard to judge
Anyway there's not much can be done about it,"
It's of the majors pressing problems at this time
either They've got other worries What to do about TV for
players who hire counsellor with curious
hobbs