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Show Sportdom's Periscope s U S n UNNING tho bases is tho most spectacular ? un C a baH ffamo nnd Js m fasclnat-ng fasclnat-ng than the mere clouting out hits. It doesn't tako any vast amount of brains to hit tho ball bomo of our most prominent sluggers aro not overburdened with brains, but it does tako a high order of intelligence and good baeoball sense to run the bases correctly. And it Is on tho bases where a great player shows his trua worth. ' That is where Ty Cobb shines. First and foremost, of course, ho is a groat natural hitter, hit-ter, but it. Is his keen judgment and sense in running tho bases that makes him tho most spectacular player of tho day. Tho proper distance dis-tance to tako oft first or second baso with various va-rious pitchers and various milolds is ono of the most important points in running the bases There are some infields which v -become "rattled "rat-tled tho moment ono or more men get on the bases. And this condition of mind often spreads to the pitcher, especially if ho c a voungstcr or a temperamental performer. Tho runner mav coax any number of throws from tho pitcher to the baseman, with tho uopo that tho ball may bo thrown away, and this Is often dono. l-HHi."- f"" I lilMlinlBI II mi i II The wiso uasc runner, who knows the various va-rious pitchers and has loarned to study their ' actiona can generally tell before the ball leaves his hands If ho la going to throw to the baso ' to nab tho runner. Somo pjtchcr3 telegraph : this Information In advance, and when tho ; runner knows how to take the mossage ho is j onablod to take a longer lead off the base than he would otherwise. Thero aro any number of playere who mako up by intelligence their lack of speed In run- nlng the base's, and theso will often steal mora ) bases than tho swifter runner who hasn't th brains. R RUSSELL BLACKBURNE Is ono of th-i ' baseball performers who, it would appear, aro meant to shine in tho minor leagues, but : who can never make good In faster baseball. Tho White Sox recently turned Biackburne over to Toronto, but Biackburne has stated , that ho intends to enter business and quit thi game. ' In 1000 he w;as tho bright star of tho minors, playing on tho Providence team under Hugh f Duffy. Tho White Sox paid a large sum for i him, and tho following year ho mado a poor showing In tho American League. Ho later hurt his knee and was out of tho game for f- nearly a year. Ho was then sent to tho MIL waukeo club and again put up a sensational performance, which won him another trial in ' the majors. wuc last year ho failed to show anything ; with thoYWhlto Sox. Somo persons said it waa .' lack of nerve. It may not bo that, but there aro certain players who Just can't play wheu ': they get in tho majors, whereas they aro world- i beaters in tho minors. p LANK, Coombs and Sender, that great trio v developed by Connlo Mack, will bo watched ;' with considerable Interest this year. Plank, lasf year with tho St. Louis Federals, led that leaguo J- in oillclent pitching. It remains to be seen what he will do this year back In the American Leaguo. It was in 1001 that Plank joined the Athletics, and he was ono of the great fig- ; urcs of tho greatest team ever gathered to- ; gether in tho history of tho game. Ho Jumped to tho Federals in the fall of 11)14. i Bender joined tho Athletics three years later, and Connie Mack, with tho aid of Mlko Powers, Pow-ers, worked pationtly with tho Indian until he became a great pitcher. But even after that he ; sorely tried, his manager in moro ways than one. Bonder jumped to the Baltimore Federals at tho time riank Jumped to tho St. Louis team. Last year toward tho end of tho summer sum-mer ho was given his unconditional release. Otto Knabo found tho task of trying to man-ago man-ago the Indian beyond him. ; This year tho Indian will play with tho Phillies. Phil-lies. It depends on himself whether ho pitches good ball. Ho is still a great pitcher and ho j is ono of the greatest strategists in baseball. i If ho keeps In condition ho will help tho Phillies Phil-lies wonderfully. Coomb great trouble formerly was lack of confidence in himself, but he gradually out- ; prow this. Ho Waa given his release by the j Athletics more than a year ago after an ill- ; nosa of nearly two years. Ho signed with tho : Brooklyn Nationals last fall and did fairly good work Thero aro many who think ho will pull - a come-bnek this season.. I |
