The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-09-02
TRICKS OF BALL-PLAYERS
Some of tine Celebrated Fiukes of WE'LL
known Players, and How They
Are Wnrkah.


Some of tine Celebrated FiaLes of WELL
known Players, asld How They
Are Worked.
The St. Louis Browns and the Chi4
cagOs owe much of their success to the
tricks of the diamond. The average
baseball player is a machine, who has
no inventive faculty whereby he is enab-
led to get out of the ruts Base ball.
like other professions has few men Of
genius, who tower above their fellows
like the oak above the weeds around it.
OF all the clubs which show the genius
of trickery the Chicago White Stockings
are easily first They throw dash of
brute power into their tricks. but the
preponderance OF brain power is every
where discernable The latest trick in
troduced by the Chicagos was played at
St Louis. Williamson and Pfetfer did
the work. The runner plays few feet
off the bag. and the shortstop and
second baseman occupy their usual posi-
tions, nearly midway between the bases
The pitcher knows the game, and stand-
ing 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 a motion to
throw the ball. Williamson then re-
sumes his position, and the runneE
thinking the bluff is over, advances
along the path with him. Scarcely
have the two left the bag when Pfeffer.
dashes like streak to the bag. catches
the ball and the player is caught
Few will forget Kelly's trick of stand
ing outside the coach lines and having
the ball thrown to him on the claim
that it was ripped. allowing it to pass
and the man on third to come home.
Kelly is the first man also who was
known TO secure a run without going.
nearer than twenty feet of a base. He
cuts across the field whenever tha
opportunity is offered Kelly has been
known to change balls during a game,
while playing behind the bat, and also
to call the fielders in on close deci-
sion. blufing the umpire into "a third
out.
Dunlap. of the ST. Louis Maroons, is
another tricky player. and his absolute
knowledge of the game and rules war
rant the boldness of some of his PLAYS,
such as dropping fly to force a 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 from the out-field-
He made quick motion, as if he had
thrown the ball to the pitcher, and
Healy a second later took the positior
to deliver the ball. He pretended to
tumble the ball on the hip and the UNI
pire called for '.low ball" Meantime
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 sudden-
ly thrown to first. }
Latham, of the St. Louis Browns.
might be called 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, 3
few weeks since. The Browns had two
men on bases, one at first and one at
third. Welsh, 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 a run was
about to be scored, threw to the catcher.
and the runner on first easily took
second. Kelly, Dunlap, Hecker and
Latham are brilliant examples of tricky
and inventive ball-players, and ara
favorites everywhere 3
Hecker is the trickiest pitcher in the
country, both in his delivery and his
throwing to bases Give the big fellow
man on third and second at the SAND
time, and the chances are that one of
them will be caught and put out His
delivery is invariably surprise few
days since Baltimore player was on
second and wanted TO steal third
Hecker knew what he wanted and set q
tray for him. He settled down in the
pitchers box, allowing the man to steal
several yards off His movements were
purposely slow so as TO enable the run
ner to think he had a sure thing. Hecker
then fumbled the ball in his hand, drew
a long breath and everybody thonght
he was going to pitch: but at sign
from Cross he whirled instantly ON his
heel and caught the runner midway be-
tween the bases Nothing remained
but for Hecker TO walk over and touch;
the man.
Amos Cross has Il trick which seldom
fails to work. When a runner Is ON
third and another ut first base the pre-
dicament is generally considered to be
dangerous. but it is Cross delight He
makes the man at first think he VIII
give him second rather than throw to-
Mack and run the risk of letting the
man at third score. Mack always plays
in, and Cross looks sleepy behind the
bat, and seems to be constantly watch
ing the runner at third The man at
first base confidently runs To second
when Hecker pitches the bail, but Cross
is now all alert He catches the ball
which Hecker purposely throws a triile
wild, and makes a lightning return to
second base. Mack catches the ball.
and if the runner at third starts for home,
which he does if he is not acquainted
with Cross wonderful throwing powers.
he is invariably put out, but if he has
been caught on the trick before, Mack
then devOtes his attention TO the runner
near at hand, who generally goes out at
second base.
Jimmy Peoples has a play which
catches many. When a man is on third
base, he creeps up close behind the bat
and, Just when no one expects it, throws
like lightning down to third, where
Pinckney is always ready. and the anx-
ious runner is out This throw is Peo-
pies forte. No catcher can equal him
at it
A Cunning Tailor.
Young James Blank, whose father Isl