SPORTS. 



563 



in to bat aprain. And so the game goes on, alter- 

 nately, until nine innings are finished, the club hav- 

 ing the most runs winning. If the score be even or 

 "tie," more innings have to be played until either 

 side exceeds the other. Games usually begin at 4 p. 

 M. and last two hours. If darkness gathers before 

 the game is done, the umpire can call the game to 

 stop, and the club which is then ahead wins. 



The season for base-ball is from April 15 to Octo- 

 ber 15, the summer months being the most favorable 

 time. (H. B. B.) 



Dr. Leufs Hygiene for Base Ball Players (A. J. 

 Reach & Co.,Phila) gives the following explanation 

 and illustrations of "curve-pitching," as now prac- 

 tised. Its principles have been thoroughly investi- 

 gated, both as regards the varieties of curve and the 

 muscular effort required to effect them. The object of 



Always aim over the plate and the ball will be seen 

 to curve in, the amount of the curve depending upon 

 the rapidity of the twist imparted to the ball by the 

 fingers. The greater the full-length swing of the 

 arm, the greater is the speed and more sudden the 

 curve of the ball. Sudden sharp curves are called 

 " shoots," and the in-shoot is the most marked be- 

 cause it is easiest to give it the most rapid twist and 

 the swiftest momentum. The twist of the in-curve 

 ball is forward and from left to right, and any kind 

 of delivery that will give it this gyration with suffi- 

 cient rapidity will cause the ball to curve in. 



The out-curve, so called because it turns out from 

 the batsman, is generally produced by rolling the 

 ball off the thumb side of the index -finger with the 

 palm turned up and the little-finger edge of the 

 hand facing the opposite shoulder (Fig. 3). As in 



Flo. 2. In-curve. 



the curve pitching is to outwit the batsman while the 

 pitcher gains a point for the benefit of his own side. 

 There are four curves used : The in-curve, the out- 

 curve, the down-curve or drop-ball, and the np-curve 

 or rising ball, which are here explained. 



The in-curve, so called because it turns in toward 

 the batsman, is produced by rolling the ball off the 

 tips of the fingers with the palm of the hand facing 

 directly forward (Fig. 2). The ball must be grasped 

 with sufficient firmness to prevent its premature 

 slipping out of the hand. The arm is drawn back, 

 ami with a full-length swing brought forward, usu- 

 ally on a level with the shoulder. When about, 

 opposite the shoulder, the elbow is bent in toward 

 and across the chest, at the same time shai-ply bend- 

 ing the wrist and making a sudden jerky finger press- 

 ure upon the ball to give it the necessary twist. 



FIG. y. Out-curve. 



every kind of pitching, the arm is first drawn well 

 back so as to give it plenty of swing in coming for- 

 ward in delivery. The elbow is slightly bent and, 

 as the arm comes forward and just before letting 

 go the ball, there is a simultaneous side-bending of 

 the wrist on the little-finger side toward the oppo- 

 site shoulder, und a slightly jerky movement of the 

 elbow backward and away from the body. These 

 complex movements send the ball out of the hand 

 with a sudden jerk from the thumb side of the in- 

 dex-finger, with the hand upturned, and give tho 

 ball the requisite twist to make a good curve and 

 also insure adequate speed. The twist of the out- 

 curve ball is forward and from right to left. 



The down-curve or drop-ball, so called because it 

 descends sooner than if it had been thrown in the 

 ordinary manner, is rolled off the thumb side of the 



