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Show BASEBALL QUESTION j NO ONE CAN SOLVE c a Why does one player throw a light 1 ball, whllo another player, who uses oven less speed, hurls a ball which comes to a fielder as if It was a lump ' of lead? This freak of baseball, one of the interesting in-teresting scientific problems of the game, Is an ever-interesting topic of discussion with ball players. Many Jr theories have been advnnced, but it fi is seldom that moro than two players on a club agree upon a possible solution. solu-tion. Years ago baseball experts tried to solve this mystery. In tho dim days when Malachi Kittredge was in his prime, and feared by base runners, ho was equally feared by tho men who had to stop his terrible throws. Malachi Ma-lachi had very small hands and some players believed that his inability to got a better grip on the horsehldo gave tho ball a spin which mado it feel so heavy. Another solution offered Is that a straight overhand throw imparts lightness light-ness to the ball. A side arm or an underhand motion causes a heavy spin, say some players, but there always seems to be an exception to their solution. so-lution. Other students of the game are inclined to believe that the player's finger tips are the cause. They give tho ball Us final spin and a heavy ball usually comes to a fielder with a downward down-ward rotion similar to the beginning ( of the break to a spit ball. And there may be a very close connection con-nection between the spltball and the "lead ball," for if ball players are unanimous unan-imous on any phase of tho game they j are in the declaration that they would j prefer to be hit on tho head with a sledge hammer than to have a spitter crash against their ribs. |