Morrie Arnovich

Spring Hitter 

 

There is a baseball phenomenon called "the spring hitter." He is a mystery to the ball fan and a headache to the baseball manager. There is no apparent reason for it, but he hits exceptionally well during the months of April, May, June and sometimes July. Then, in the important months, in the dog days of the baseball chase, he wilts badly and nowhere resembles the hustling, hard-hitting player he used to be in the early months of the season.

Thus, whenever a player does well from the opening "Play Ball!" command of the umpire, the wise fan says, "Let's wait until July, and then we'll see if he can hold up." Generally, the hero in question falls apart, but his average is so good during his hot streak that at the end of the year, he still seems to be a good athlete.

One of the best spring hitters in modern baseball was a hustling Jewish boy from Superior, Wisconsin, named Morris Arnovich. Affectionately called "Morrie" by his followers, Arnovich looked like a Ty Cobb each spring; generally he cooled off late in the pennant chase. But nearly every June he was the National League's star batter, only to fade away rapidly as the season progressed.

Arnovich did not last very long in the majors. He played five full seasons before the Army grabbed him. Most of his career was spent with the cellar-dwelling Phillies. He played