Clipping:A pitch machine
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| Date | Monday, February 10, 1890 |
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| Text | “Fred Carroll and Billy Kuehne,” says the Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette, “have invented a very curious yet simple means for training the eye to judge swiftly pitched and erratically curved balls. The machine, or whatever it may be called, has been erected in the extensive back yard of an Allegheny residence, and the boys expect to do business with it daily. At the upper end of the yard the machine is set up. It is a powerful spring securely fastened to a piece of heavy timber. On the top of the spring is a cup-like arrangement in which the regulation base ball snugly fits. This is pulled down and fastened to an ingeniously made catch, or series of catches rather, for it can be set at any curve or angle to suit the operator. The spring is on a line with a home plate at the lower end of the yard. One of the players manipulates the machine, while the others take turns with the bat. A ball is placed in the cup, the operator fastens the spring down to any catch he chooses, the combinations of curves and straight balls being almost innumerable while at the same time it is an utter impossibility for the batsman to anticipate how it is going to come. When ready, the operator relieves the catch and the ball is thrown with the force of a bullet. It requires a mighty quick eye to get on to it, and furnishes not only excellent practice but a great deal of amusement. The balls go over the plate much swifter than is possible for the strongest pitcher in the country to send them, and by becoming proficient in sizing them up a batsman will have no difficulty in hitting the most skillful twirler, as the hardest-pitched ball would look slow and easy in comparison with those thrown with the spring. The inventors will probably apply for a patent. |
| Source | The Evening Item Philadelphia |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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