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Show WHEAT OF BROOKLYN IS NATURAL BATTER Slugger Crouches, Shifts Feet and Kicks Up Much Dirt. Has Decidedly Awkward Motions While at Bat, But Is in Position to Hit Anywhere He Is Called a Free Swinger. What is the difference between form and style? In other words, what is the difference between a natural propensity pro-pensity to do the right thing in a sport and the doing of that thing in an easy and graceful fashion? asks Thomas S. Rice, baseball critic on the Brooklyn Eagle. We have discoursed upon Heinle Zimmerman as the naturally easy and graceful ball player, and have given him credit for the gamp. Now come we to a distinguished athlete who is very much different. The same is Zac-cheus Zac-cheus D. Wheat, left fielder of the Brooklyn Superbas. Zimmerman would delight the golfer, because Zim keeps his feet in precisely precise-ly the theoretical position for doing -the best work. Zach stands well up to the plate, but has decidedly awkward motions while there. He shifts his feet, crouches a bit, kicks the dirt from behind him and hits the bell better than Zim. How come? The experts ex-perts on golf form would wag their-heads their-heads at the sight of Zach, or duck their heads out of the way of one of his terrific smashes. But the graceful and easy stuff does not fool the old-time baseball player or-manager or-manager any . more than does the awkward stuff. Uncle Wilbert Robinson Rob-inson of the Brooklyn Superbas says Wheat is one of the most natural batters bat-ters he ever beheld. "You can tell he is a batter as soon as he steps to the plate," says Uncle Wilbert. "Zach's every movement of the-shoulders the-shoulders and arms is well timed. He may kick up some dirt and give the groundkeeper unnecessary labor, but as. soon as the ball starts toward him you can see that his limbs are free. That is, he is in position to hit anywhere if the occasion arises. "Wheat is called a free-swinger, and, being left-handed, has a natural tendency ten-dency to pull to the right." |