The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-13

What is foul strike? It is dollars to
stale doughnuts that not one ball play
er out of ten can answer that question,
or as it had better be called, conun-
drum. George Blackburn, captain of
the White Sox, uses it as his pet catch
question. He declared the other day
that every blessed one of the White Sox
save Abbott answered wrong. The big
center fielder knew and popped the
right solution the first time up. Black
burn suggested that one of the news
papers should print the question and
receive answers. No, that would be
cruelty to animals. The natural reply
would have been, as most are made:
when man hits a foul before he has
two strikes" No, that doesn't peal the
onion. Here is the answer: When a
batter steps out of his box across the
plate to strike at a ball he is out no
hits it at all. This is a foul strike.
See?
Once again, Mr.. President Shiveley.
we suggest to you reform which you
ought to enforce in your Western as
ISOLATION In all well regulated ball
parks the players benches are covered.
AS it is spectators can crane their necks
over the bleachers or grandstand and
gossip with Jack, or Nick, or Bill to
| their hearts content. On Tuesday some
one in the bleachers called Mr.. Umpire
| Chic a very unorthodox name The
| little fellow thought Topeka player
did it-and he went after the
bunch saying: I'D like to know who
| made that remark" If Shiveley would
send out an order that the players
| benches be covered it would be done.
Leavenworth will get Harry Corbin,
one of its last years stars, back into
the fold. The big all-around player has
| been working at Winfield, though all
the time on a WoodpecIzer contract. He
has come off his high horse and will
again wear the yellow and black of the
prison city. There is a boy who can
do almost anything on the baseball field
He can catch, pitch, handle an infield
or an outffeld position. "Fll find a place
for him all right" chuckles Army, and
it is a cinch that the old fellow will.
Just at present the umpires seem to
have their fill of difficulty over the cir
cult, especially Owens and Chic The
former was practically run out of Leav-
enworth, not being allowed to officiate
there in the last game of the series
which the WoodpeckerS played at home.
And all OF it was because the rooters
and fans thought that he waS giving
them the worst of it. Here in Topeka
Chic is getting showers of cussings. On
Tuesday afternoon the attitude of some
of the spectators towards him was little
short of disgraceful. Some vile epithets
were sung out at him in full hearing
of the respectable and decent people
people who were present. That kind of
business ought to be stopped. Every
ball player ought to make it his person
al duty to aid in the suppression of
rowdyism. An umpire has plenty
hard enough time of it. Tt is a cineh
that he cannot suit both sides, and
somebody is going to kick. "A man who
is continually yelling that he is getting
the worst of it. is nine times out of ten
a very hard loser, or either not a gen.
uine sportsman. Put yourself in the in
dicator mans place, and see how you
would like it.
From the Fort Scott Monitor: Small
pox has broken out in the Joplin base
ball. team and this will not have a
tendency to increase the standing of
The club in the percentage column.
Pitcher Sam Morris was first taken
down with it and before anybody knew
what it was Vanderbilt was taking
care of the Indian. Now Morris is
about well and Vanderbilt is down
with q well developed case. The whole
team has been exposed and the man
agement is having a time. Conductor
J. A Durbin, whose son is on the team,
fears that Blaine will be taken down
with the same tagion. This settles
Joplin as far as getting out of second
place from the bottom is concerned.
The Daily Tfmes-Journal of Okla
homa City prints these two interesting
paragraphs:
lola. kan, July 1O.-A telegram