“Because if you do, they won’t believe it. There’s not one old ball player in a hundred who will believe any pitcher can make a ball curve in and out without stopping. There is such a thing as an outdrop, but a double-shoot—Great Scott! it will be the sensation of the season!”
“I don’t propose to use it much.”
“I should say not!”
“It will be a great thing on some occasions.”
“You bet! Why, it’ll paralyze a batter! He’ll think he’s got ’em.”
Frank pitched two more of those queer curves, and then stopped, saying he did not dare to follow it up, for fear of hurting his wrist.
“Look here, Merry,” cried Bart; “you’ll have to let me know when you are going to do that, or I’ll have a passed ball sure. And I want to know what the final curve will be, too. Can you pitch a rise and a drop the same as you do this in and out?”
Frank shook his head.
“I have tried all sorts of ways, but I can’t pitch a ball that will have a double motion up and down. Some fellow may strike it some time, but I am inclined to think it an impossibility.”
“Did you ever see a pitcher who could pitch a double-shoot before you?”