Posted by: Joe Hernandez (coach2hit@yahoo.com) on Tue Jun 27 15:26:22 2006

> I've been hearing alot about the players in the DB-Era having a more linear style of swing. However, this photo tells that story differently.
>
> http://www.blackbetsy.com/imagefarm/joe1917.jpg


James,

Although I was not able to see the clip you sent, don't fall for the idea that everyone was a linear hitter during the early part of the 20th century. "Shoeless" Joe Jackson was unique and a pioneer. No other than Babe Ruth considered Jackson the greatest hitter he had ever seen. He went on to say, " He's the guy who made me a hitter." The Babe copied Joe Jackson's (Shoeless) hitting style.

Even Roger Hornsby, considered by many as the greatest right-handed hitter of all time, dramatically changed his approach to hitting with the emergence of Babe Ruth (again, thanks to Joe Jackson!). In 1920 he hit 9 HR, but by 1922 he hit 42 HR.

Joe Hernandez