The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-07
Food for the Fans.
From Sporting Life.

From Sporting Life
AS a result of an odd play which was
pulled off recently in a St Louis Phila-
delphia game a bet was made as to the
correct way to score it. The play was
like this Sugden on first, with one out,
and Wallace put pop fly over second.
Sugden played the ball, half way. Futz
tore in and got the ball about twenty
feet behind the bag on a pick up Wais
lace WAS safe at first but Sugden forced
at second No error figured as it was i'm
possible to catch, and the play itself was
one Of those 100 to l circus stops. The
bet is, does or doesn't Wallace get a hit?
Under the old rules which Harry
Wright fathered Wallace would have
been credited with safe drive, but half
a dozen or more seasons ago that lSgisla-
ton was wiped out and no room for the
exercise OF judgment was left No safe
hit can be scored a drive which
suits in the retirement of runner. The
best Wallace gets is a charge of forcing
out Sugden. de is a victim of circum-
stances but that doesn't get him any
thing. When the Reds were in New York
last week Joe Bean made a magnificent
stop of hard hit from Peitzs bat back
CRY Lauder. There was no chance
earth for him to have retired the German
baron, but he fired the ball to second
and laid out Corcoran thus converting
sure -ase hit into a force out The cases
are much the same. With the old lati-
tude for the exercise of Judgment many
oatsn sn who forced out preceding
runners were credited with undeserved
hits, and 1t was with fun knowledge of
this fact that the present rule was put on
the books Individual hardshps are
sometimes worked and credits for scratch
b1t
ether plan opened the way to favortism
The report that Billie Smith had jumped
the team was erroneous. Smith was too
i'll to play and returned to Birmingham
Saturday night. He was feeling all right
yesterday and will play in the game to-
day. From the pleasant smile of Billie's
face he is evidently pleased with Bir-
mingham and is far from being a dead
one Smith is one of the best fielders In
| the league and his loss would be seriously
| felt He is not the kind of a man, how
| ever, to leave a club in the hole. and
there is no foundation for the report
that he is thinking of doing the kangaroo
act.
| A telegram was received from Frank
Smith yesterday afternoon saying he had
left Columbus for Sylacauga. He will
probably appear in a Birmingham .ni-
| form this afternoon.
| Manager Wilhelm has not declucd who
will pitch today, but If Frank Smith re-
turns in time he will probably go on the
| slab.
| Charley Frank has not had Meekin in
| the box for several days and If he is in
| condition. he will probably do the pitch
| ing for Memphis today. If Meekin is not
available, Birmingham fans will prob
ably have their first opportunity of see
ing the much disputed st. Vrain.
| Until yesterday Breitenstein has proved
effective against New Orleans. The first
two innings proved enough for the ex-
National Lacquer and runs were scored
off of his delivery. He then retired and
Ehret another ex-National Lacquer was
sent In to pitch and in seven innings the
Pelicans pounded out just 10 runs.
From the Atlanta Constitution
Those spectators of the Fourth of July
afternoon fiasco who were so unfortunate
as to be seated on the new bleachers to the
right of the grand stand were treated
to an intermittent conversation between
the manager of the local team and
| few young fellows occupying seats on
| the stand Instead of doing his part to
win the defeat which his team richly de-
| served into a victory, Pabst spent a
| part of his time in 'jawing' with any
one who chose to guy him. 1t was not
! so much what Pabst said as his manner
of saying it that Disguised every one
| in his hearing.
Catcher Blue returned yesterday after
two weeks absence in the North. He
will probably be in the game this after
noon.
| The Atlanta papers take strong excep-
! tions to Lauzon because ne stood up for
his rights They do not seem to under
stand that as captain of the team it is
| his duty to defend the interests of his
club. The great difference, however be-
tween the Atlanta team and the Birmng
ham team is to be found right in this
matter of objectng to the decisions of
the umpire. Lauzor captain makes his
point as strong as possible, while when
| Pabst las a kick to make the ridiculous
spectacle is witnessed of every member of
| the team with one exception, joining in
the kick. Winters ard Leidy even com
ing from center and right to object to a
decision made at the plate.
|