Clipping:Grass versus skin diamonds and the effect on the ball

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Date Saturday, September 13, 1890
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The reason so many young recruits from minor leagues fail when they enter faster company is due to the fact that there is a marked contrast between the two organizations, not so much in playing strength as in the surroundings. The greatest drawback to a new recruit is the different in the parks. Nine out of ten minor league clubs have a dirt or skin diamond, while every club in the National League has a grass or sodded infield. This fact has a greater influence on the work of a minor league recruit than a casual observer would imagine. Especially is this true of a pitcher. On a skin diamond the cover of the ball is skuffed and torn by coming in contact with the small pebbles. This causes the ball to became what is know as “wingy.” The cover becomes so rough that a pitcher can get a good hold and can therefore curve the ball as he leases. On a grass diamond just the reverse is the case. The ball becomes s hiny and slippery from being hit along the grass. It is hard to handle and it is for this reason that many successful minor league pitchers fail ignominiously in fast company.

Source Sporting Life
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Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

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