Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 177, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 August 1917 — SCARCE AS LIBERTY BONDS IN BERLIN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SCARCE AS LIBERTY BONDS IN BERLIN

Pitchers who can hit are as scarce as liberty bonds in Berlin. When a team has a flinger in the game who is reliable in making a base hit or even making a sacrifice fly, it has an extremely valuable performer, writes Jimmy Isanlmger, the Philadelphia baseball expert. Take two teams of about the same strength, with the rival pitchers of about equal ability. One of the pitchers, however, can hit while the other curver is a Joke at the bat. If the two teams are going at their'normal gait, It is a safe wager that the aggregation with nine hitters In the line-up is going to win the game. Alexander the Great of the Phils, Babe Ruth of the Red Sox, Walter Johnson of Washington, and Ray Caldwell of the Yankees, are -not only mighty hurlers of the sphere, but they can hit the ball hard. It is always a hard day’s work for a pitching toiling In a game, when the opposing flinger is no rally gummer at bat. It means that he is no soft spot for him in the battle. He must go at high pressure all the time. If the competing pitcher is one of those helpless Individuals whose efforts in an offensive way are laughable, it makes it easier for the other slinger. If hard pressed, he can walk the catcher purposely and feel falrty certain that he can fan the .pitcher,

who is next at bat, or make him hit in-; to a double play. How many rallies have you seen spoiled by flingers who are as helpless as a canary bird in a gamecock fight when he is asked to bat? Alexander the Great Is good for 25 triumphs or more each season with the Phils, but if Alexander couldn’t bat, his wins would not be quite so large as they are. _— Next to Gabby Cravath, Alexander is probably the surest hitter on the Phil team in a pinch. No batsman wastes his hits less than Alexander. If you dissect his record you will find that his bat has a great deal to do with his own victories. Last season he won a number of 1 to 0 and 2 to 1 tilts, in which he batted home the winning run. This season, he has been a menace to his opponents with the bat as well as with the arm. When Alexander the Great goes so the tee, Pat Moran always yells to his opponents: “Well, we have nine hitters in there today!” This is a warning that has a psychological effect on the other pitcher, particularly when he is a cipher with the bat. A team will welcome a good pitcher even If he cannot be expected to help in the attack, but when he can hit as well as pitch, then that club has a jewel indeed.

PITCHERS WHO HIT THE BALL HARD.