Worst Idea Ever: The Pitching Gun

With the start of baseball season and spring in the air (even if it’s frozen), I thought I’d present possibly the worst idea ever. This article in the June 1913 issue of Popular Mechanics states "the pitching gun never fails to inspire fear in the hitter...". Gee, I wonder why? I mean you're only the target of a baseball that's been heat treated until it's hard as a brick. Oh yeah, and it's just been shot out of a cannon. I guess this is one way to keep your kid from wasting his time chasing that dream of joining the big leagues, though. Then again, how many budding hitters were put off the game and into a psych ward after watching dad blow himself up with the pitching gun?