The Washington critic., 1886-07-29
BRAINS ON THE BALL FIELD.

are Worked.
The st. Louis Browns, says the
Cou1ier.JourRdl, and the Chicagoes
owe much Of their success to the tricks
of the diamond. The average baseball
player Is q machine, who has no inven-
tive faculty whereby he is enabled to
get out of the ruts Baseball, like
other professions, has few men of
genius, who tower above their fellows
like the oak above the weeds around 1t.
OF all the clubs which show the &C.
MUS of trickcry the Chicago white
stockings are easily first. They throw
n dash of brute power into their tricks,
but the preponderance of brain power
is everywhere discernible. The latest
trick introduced by the Chicagos was
PfefTer did the work The runner
plays few feet off the bag and the
short stop and second baseman occupy
their usual positions, nearly midway
between the bases. The pitcher
knows the game, and standing
in the position to put the ball
over the plate, keeps his eye
on the runner. Williamson then runs
to the base, and the runner hustles also
TO reach It. AS the two run, Clarkson
or Mccormick, whoever Is pitching,
makes motion as If to throw the ball.
Williamson then resumes his position,
and the runner, thinking the bluff Is
over, advances along the path with
him. Scarcely have the two left the
bag when Pfeirer dashcs like streak
to the bag, catches the ball, and the
player Is caught.
Few will forget Kelly's trick OF
standing outside the coach lines and
having the ball thrown to him on the
claim that 1t was ripped, allowing 1t to
pass and the man on the third to come
home. Kelly is the first man also who
was known to secure run without
going nearer than twenty feet of base.
He cuts across the field whenever the
opportunity Is offered. Kelly has been
known to change balls during a game,
while playing behind the bat, and also
to call the flelders in on close de-
cision, bluillng the umpire into third
out.
Dunlap of the St. Louis Maroons is
another tricky player, and his absolute
knowledge of the game and rules war
rants the boldness of some of his plays,
such as dropping fly to force man
out under conditions which would turn
the head of any umpire. Not long
since when Healy was pitching and
Dunlap was In his usual position at
second base, the latter caught ball
which was thrown in from the outtield.
He made quick motion as If he had
thrown the ball to the pitcher, and
Healy second later took the position
to deliver the ball. He pretended 10
tumble the ball ON the hip and the
umpire called for Glow BALL" Mean
time the runner, who had reached
first base, stole way off, and before he
was aware of the fact McKinnon
touched him out with the ball which
Dunlap had suddenly thrown to first.
Latham of the st. Louis Browns
might be called a trickster, but he does
not rank with Kelly or Dunlap for in.
vention. In fact, the Browns are
rather shrewd imitators of the tricky
Chicagos. Latham did one great thing,
though, few weeks since. The
Browns had two men on bases, one at
first and one on third. Welch, prompted
by Latham, got up from the players
bench and ran from third base toward
home plate as fast as his toes could
carry him. The first baseman, who
| thought q run was about to be scored,
threw to the catcher, and the runnsr on
| first easily took second. Kelly, Dun
lap, Hccker and Latham are brilliant
examples of tricky and inventive ball
players, and are favorites everywhere.
llccker is the trickiest pitcher in the
country, both in his delivery and his
throwing to bases. Give the big fellow
a man on third and second at the same
time, and the chances are that one OF
them will be caught and put out. His
delivery is invariably surprise. a
few days since Baltimore player wa:
on second and wanted to steal third
IIecker knew what he wanted and SCI
trap for him. He settled down in the
pitchers box, allowing the man to stea
several yards Off. His movements were
purposely slow, so as to enable the
runner 10 think he had sure thing
Hecker then fumbled the ball in hi
hand, drew a long breath, and every
body thought he was going to pitch
but at sign from Cross he whirlet
instantly on his heel and caught tn,
runner midway between the bases
Nothing remained but for Hecker t.
walk over and touch the man,
Amos Cross has trick which seldom
fails to work. When a runner is oil
third and another at first base tn
predicament is generally considered t
be dangerous, but 1t is Cross delight
He makes the man at first think h
will give him second rather than throw
to Mack, and run the risk of lettin.
the man at third score. Mack alway
plays in, and Cross looks sleepy behint
the bat, and seems TO be constant,
watching the runner at third, Tn
man at first base confidently runs t
second when IIIckcr pitches the ball
but Cross is now all alert. He catche
the ball which lIecker purposely throw
triile wild, and makes a lightning re
turn to second base. Mack catches tn
ball, and If the runner at third start
for home, which he does If he
not acquainted with Cross wonderful
throwing powers, he is invariably pu
out, but If he has been caught on tn
trick before, Mack then devotes his al
tention to the runner near at hand, VIII
generally goes out at second base,
Jimmy Peoples has a play whic
catches many. When man is "
rhird base he creeps up slowly benin
the bat, and just when no one expect
it throws like lightning down to third
where Pinckney is always ready, an
the anxious runner is out. This throl
is Peoples forte. No catcher ca
equal him at it.
John w, llealey, the bartender at TIL
fremont House, while on duty behind III
bar, was seen to throw up his hands an
fall heavily to the floor. His death n
sulinl In o few minnins from nnnnlnN,