Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 160, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1913 — TINKER IS BATTING HOODOO [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TINKER IS BATTING HOODOO

Manager of Cincinnati RedsCauscs Christy Mithwnp, Star of Giants, Much Annoyance. (By CHRISTT MATHEWSON, Weterna at Now York Pit chins Staff.) Joe Tinker, manager of the Cincinnati Reds, has given me more trouble

than any other batsman 1 ever have faded during more than twelve years of service in the . National league. In fact, I long ago came to regard him as my batting hoodoo because Joe always has been a leading factor in the defeats handed me by the Chicago dub. The season

of 1908 waa a great one for Tinker, both before and after that memorable pennant fight which weat right' up to the last ditch. Joe and I have been having some lively brashes, with each trying to outguess the other. Probably the most bitter pill ever given me by Tinker was administered on the old polo grounds, New York, one afternoon kite in the season of 1908. New York, Chicago and Pittsburgh were fighting it out in see-saw fashion for the pennant, and Brown, an old rival, was pitching against me. The eyes of fandom all over the country centered about the result of the raee, which had narrowed down to the real crisis. Neither side had pushed a run over the plate in seven innings, and naturally the great crowd gathered about the yard was wrought up to a high state of nervousness. In the midst of one of these general brainstorms Tinker laid hold of the ball, drilling a liner high and far away to left center, the ball crashing against the corner of the fence. Cap in hand, the Cub shortstop whizzed around the pathway, digging at top speed for a homer. That run was the only one scored in the battle, and incidentally the beating this accorded me practically blasted every prospect we had for winning the National league championship. At first Tinker had a weakness against low curve balls cutting the outside corner of the plate, but it didn’t take him long to remedy this fault. One afternoon after he had

fanned three times Joe took a solemn oatii he’d never let it happen again. He set about to cultivate a new style of batting against that particular sort of pitching. If you’ll pay strict attention to Joe in his batting poise nowar days you’ll note that he stands considerable distance from the plate. He also is said to hold a unique record in that he never has been hit by a pitched ball during his long sendee in the National league. When I first knew Joe he wielded a long bat and choked it as he stood close up to the plate. Now he swings with one at the shortest sticks in the big leagues. One of the best things Joe does against my pitching is to comb extra-base drives, hence he is duly qualified to hold the title of "My Batting Hoodoo.” (Copright, ms.)

Joe Tinker.