Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-10
SOME OF THE FUNNY
INCIDENTS IN BASE BALL
BY REVERE RODGERS,

II 1t Is really fact that Dad" Clarke,
the one-time eccentric pitcher of the New
York Giants. has been appointed Western
League umpire. the press reports ac-
claim. then look out for some sensational
things out In the wild district. For Dad"
can always be depended upon to per
form. He was the most eccentric,
though unconscious humorist that the
major league ever produced. With a Chuck
Connors vocabulary, peppery temper and
the obstinacy of an army mule, he was the
oane of a managers life, but source of
JOY to his fellow players. He had drop
ball, though, that was sure ..beaut." and
rafting good base ball head. But his
contrariness and eccentric conduct often
marred his work. l remember an occasion
once at New Orleans. when Clarke was
south with Arson on the spring training
trip. Clarke was then a young pitcher
and Arson was coaching him by advising
just what kind of balls to throw to the
batsmen. The New Orleans team that year
was corker. and 1t was winning from An
sons men. Still there was plenty of chance
for the major leaguers to overcome the
Crescent City clubs lead If only Clarke
would obey Anson's Instructions. But this
happened to be one of his cranky days and
whenever Cap" Arson suggested what to
pitch. Dad" would deliberately throw an
entirely different kind of ball. Consequent
~, Arson and Dad" were raging one
another all through the game. Finally in
the ninth inning, with two men out, two
on bases, and with New Orleans at the bat
and two runs ahead, Arson signalled for
Clarke to throw a drop ball to the bats
man, who had two strikes already on him
and no balls. What did Clarke do but
send up q straight ball of such moderate
speed that child could have banged 1t
out; and bang 1t did the batsman, too AS
he did so, Anson. who was catching, start
ed with q wild war-whoop for Clarke, and
Dad made for the center field fence.
Incl a ha al Yr6 1niry 70
scramble up the ladder and drop on the
other side of the structure in time to--save
his head from the shower of rocks that
Cap" hurled at him.
Another time In a game at New York
when Clarke was pitching, Big Dan
Brouthers three times champion batter of
the league. and the heaviest sticker that
ever played in the National League made
two home runs, triple and two two-bag
gers off Clarke.
The last hit q triple, and as Dan
started around the bases. Clarke-his eyes
filled with tears. his features convulsed
with anger and his fists clnched--started
around the bases after Brouthers, yelling
all the time like crazy man. HI, dere,
you big bIankety, blankety, blank lobster!''
screamed Dad" What tell you mean
you blankety. blank dog robber. by trying
to put young pitchers out of the business? %
Pete Browning, without doubt the long
est distance hitter who ever handled bat,
was another eccentric player on the Clarke
order He played the outfield for the Louis
vile and Cleveland teams and was a heavy
hitter of the Al class.
He always spoke OF himself as If he were
talking of some one else. He was the orig
inator of the slang term "bingle" for hit;
and If you should happen to meet him after
the game ne would get OF something like
this: Say, old Pete got three bingles to-
field fence, too. L tell you old Pete can
bang 'en out. can't he. boy? Old Pete's
keeping a carpenter busy patching up the
holes in the fence where his bingles go
through
This was his usual style OF conversation,
and the chances are that he couldn't tell
you which side won the game. for his whole
ments Of "Old Pete" But he was, in fact.
mighty swatter. Give him low ball,
just about his shoe tops, and II It was on
the old Louisville ball grounds--which were
little short of being an India rubber sur
face-that bali would come pretty near
tearing of plank after Pete landed on It.
N
Ed Crane. the crack Boston twirler. used
to tell a funny instance of an experience
he had when his team was playing in Gin
cinnati. In that city famous section,
wherein are located the Germans and a
countless number OF beer saloons, is called
Over the Rhine" Every one who goes to
Cincinnati generally takes a chance at
over the Rhine" 30 did Ed Crane and
his companions on their first trip to the
Queen City OF the West The stems
came pretty fast that night. and when Ed
foit that hA had all ha e0slld carry he