Evening journal., 1904-01-29
SPORTING NOTES
AND HIS
HIDE THE BALL TRICK
Occasion When Time-Hon-
ored Play Came to
Grief

Perhaps the most disastrous outcome
of all attempts to work the famous
hide the ball trick happened to old
Bill Phillips. OF the Cleveland team.
in game in Providence In 1854.
II was nip-and-tuck battle, and IN
the ninth, when Joe Start had reached
first with two out Phillips decided II
was time 10 resurrect the time-honored
play.
Getting the bali Oh a quick throw
from One-armcd DAILY, Cleveland's
pitcher, Phillips made a motion as IL
to throw It back with his right hand
while with his left he clamped the
sphere around behind his back AS he
did so the ball slipped through his belt
and fell down one Of the trousers legs
Of his uniform.
None OF the other players saw the
incident, but lusty-lunged spectator
did
go it. Start" he yelled GO all the
way round. The ball is in Phillips
pants,"
Start darted for second and then
for third, Phillips all the time Dig
ging vainly for tho missing ball. Fail
ing to reach f. he sat down on the
bag and tearing the bottom Of his
trousers leg free from his stocking
he finally secured the prize and got IL
over TO Rriody.
A moment later Start scored from
third on q wild pitch and never again
that season did Phillips try the trick
that brought him such unhappy results
that day.
"Con Lucid was one Of my star
pitchers when i was manager OF the
old St. Louis team says Billy Hall
man. shortstop, now playing with the
Kidnapped IN New York" company
Il noticed that at the beginning OF
a game Lucid never rubbed the ball
in the mud or resorted to any Of the
other usual tricks to blacken or rough
en- it. When the ball was tossed out
TO him at the beginning OF the game
Con would rub It in his glove with all
his might.
"As he came in from the box one
day / discovered his secret. Half hid
den in his glove was a piece Of coarse,
new sandpaper.
What's that for, ConT / asked,
linnocentiy pointing to his glove.
Oh. said Lucid, that's a little in
vention OF my own. You've no idea
what a grip I can get on a new ball
when it has been in juxtaposition with
hat little piece Of sandpaper few
times'
The warmest one handed me when
J I was doing hench-warming for the
Babes. previous TO joining the Seleeites
! was when ] came back TO the bench
: after being up on the lines declaree
Otto Williams.
Il fent over to the water barrel fol
q drink fan was watching me an,
: just as / started 70 reach for th'
aqua he shouted:
Get away from there. Williamsl
That water is for players onlyi
Standing on the coaching line IN
a stormy game in Baltimore in 1884
Tebeaus eyes happened 10 turn TO the
bleachers After a long and earnest
gaze in that direction, Pasty walked
over to the 25-cent seats and pointing
to a youth with long matted hair
plastered over a half-inch brow, said:
Il want YOU
Il amt done nuthin'" was the
sulky reply as the fellow made ready
TO Yamoose.
Come down here, i tell you. / want
you" yelled Tebeau.
BY this time a big policeman was
at Patsys elbow.
Want him arrested for stoning your
bus last night?' asked the blue coat
remembering the savage assault on the
Cleveland players the preceding after
moon.
ARRESTED? I should say not" said
Pat Il want TO sign him as a pitcher
He hit me with a stone seven times
last night between here and the Eutaw
house i want a fellow with an aim
like that on my staff"
BY this time the man with the ac-
curate aim had vanished. But Patsy's
byplay was not wasted. Cleveland won
the game and the players rode all the
way to their hotel without being as
saulted.