El Dorado Daily News

Billy

EVans

SAYS

Old Mr. Psychology plays no fa-

vorites in baseball.

Often the outcome of an import-

ant ball game is decided by some

seemingly

trivial

circumstance.

Usually the public has no knowl-

edge of the all important happen-

ing.

Recently I had an excellent op

portunity of observing the all-im-

portant role that psychology often

plays in baseball

The incident had a star batsman

and a rookie pitcher playing the

leading roles.

It was the last half of the ninth

inning. the home team was trailing

by a run, the bases were filled and

it was the star batter's turn at bat.

A base hit meant the ball game,

for it would almost certainly score

two runs and give victory to the

home team.

The veteran batsman had often

faced such a situation in the ma-

jors and enjoyed a reputation for

delivering in a pinch. The rookie

pitcher was facing a big league cri-

sis for the first time.

The veteran

star realized the

rookie pitcher was ill at ease. The

fact that he had passed the pre-

vious batter on four straight balls.

filling the bases. was ample proof.

It was apparently by the attitude

of the star batsman that he desir-

ed to work on the rookie pitcher.

The star came slowly to the plate.

knowing that the rookie was on

edge, anxious to have the game de-

cided one way or the other. It was

his thought to make him even more

anxious.

Turning his back to the pitcher

he knocked the dirt from his cleats.

rubbed his hands in the dust around

the home plate. and then for some

time wrung the three bats that he

was carrying.

The rookie pitcher was simply a

bundle of nerves. He stood on the

rubber ready to pitch but the star

simply ignored him. The situation

was apparently getting on his

nerves.

Finally he got into the batter's

box. ready to hit. He did so after

deciding the pitcher was about as

unnerved as he possibly could be.

The star had seemingly accom-

plished his purpose.

Now comes the spot where old

Mr. Psychology proves he is a fickle

person.

At this stage. the veteran catcher

of the team in the field, calls for

time just as the star batsman gets

into the box. Walking out to the

pitcher, he remarked:

"This is a tougher spot for the

batter than you. Every one ex-

pects him to make good. No one

expects you to get out of the hole.

He's worrying more than you think

he is. Cross him up, Bust the first

one over the plate with everything

you got. Get him in the hole."

Those few

words seemed to

steady the rookie pitcher. He put

the first one over for a called

strike, had the batter in the hole,

The star. not the rookie. was wor-

ried.

The catcher, by his timely inter-

ruption. had undone the work of the

star batter, by his tedious delay,

and changed the complexion of the

situation.

On the next ball pitched the bats-

man fouled out and the game was

over, the rookie had won the de-

cision over the star. The veteran

catcher beat him at his own game.