The  matter  has  been  discussed  among  a
number  of  my  friends  who  are  players,
but  some  of  them  scout  the  idea  that
there  is  a  scientific  principle  involved;
others  hold  that  there  is,  but  do  not
know  what  the  principle  is.
Curve-pitching,  as  practiced  in  modem  base
ball  playing,  is  a  scientific  fact,  the  practice  of
which  preceded  the  discovery  of  its  principle.
For  a  long  time  after  its  existence  was  familiar
to  every  ball  player  and  spectator  of  the  game,
there  were  men  who  proclaimed  the  impossibil-
ity of  there  being  any  law  that  governed  the
motion,  and  who  declared  it  to  be  simply  an
"optical  delusion."  It  has,  however,  been
practically  demonstrated  in  a  way  that  leaves  no
room  for  doubt,  and  a  scientific  explanation  has
been  found  for  it.  In  the  "Scientific  Ameri-
can," of  August  28,  1886,  will  be  found  a  very
explicit  demonstration  of  the  theory  of  the
curve.  The  demonstration  is,  however,  accom-
panied with  figures  of  a  ball  moving  through


INQUIRIES  ANSWERED


361


the  air,  to  that  it  ia  better  understood  by  con-
sulting the  representation  explained  in  the
•ketch.  The  philosophy  of  the  curve  is,  in  it-
aelf,  quite  simple.  A  ball  is  thrown  through
the  air,  and,  at  the  same  time,  given  a  rotary
motion  upon  its  own  axis,  so  that  the  resistance
of  the  air  to  its  forward  motion  is  greater  upon
one  point  than  upon  another.  The  result  is  the
movement  of  the  ball  away  from  the  retarded
side.
