Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07
SIMPLY BASE BALL STORIES
By Hugh s. Fullerton.

Sadie Houck who was one Of the sweet
est little inflelders that ever played the
game has been out of the game so long
that most of the present generation of fans
have forgotten him. although the old timers
never will Sadie is out of the game because
his arm Is so weak he has hard time
sliding a stein Of beer the length of Bill
O'Briens bar
Last winter En- Gross pulled off one on
Sadie that is too rich to keep. Sadie was on
the night watch at O'Brien's. and suddenly
the electric lights went out. leaving Sadie
sitting in the dark on top of the cash regis
ter. fearing hold-up men.
Just then Providences old star catcher
happened In and called out:
What's the matter with the lights. Sa-
die?"
Il don't know. They went out a minute
ago
why. you idiot, remarked EN-. you left
the front door open and the current froze
in the fuse box there by the door,
For the next half hour Sadie stood on a
chair and wrapped hot towels around the
fuse box, trying to thaw out the frozen
electric current.
One of the old tricks of ball players. one
which is perpetrated every year. was. be-
lieve. original with Larry Corcoran. 1t is
the CUSTOM VI every CluD III the DlB ledS utS
to make at least trip a year between
Boston and New York the Fall river
liners and the veterans in the clubs always
lay for the new men.
About the time the steamer begins to feel
the swell of the sound or of the bay and
roll bit one of the veterans proposes a
game of billiards and sends the green man
hunting all over the boat for the billiard
room.
1t seldom fails to work. and when the
prairie born victim finally tumbles to the
joke he is certain to suffer during the re-
mainder of the year.
Half a dozen or more green players have
been persuaded to sleep in life preservers
through the entire trip, but 1t Is hard to
find victim now. a-.
Bert Briggs. the lanky Clevelander who
preferred the outlaws to Brooklyn this
year-probably wanting to play real base
ball-handed one to Doc Rice. his old side
partner. one spring when the Chicago club
was training at Galveston.
The team was stopping at the Beach, one
of the swell hotels Of that time. and one
evening some of the wealthiest society peO-
pie of the city had arranged dinner dance
in the hotel. The affair was to be one of
the SWEETEST ever held in Galveston. and the
hotel was in hustle of preparation. After
dinner that evening Doc Rice strolled into
the lobby and found Briggs. who was the
only player in sight.
Where are the fellows?" demanded Doc.
up dressing for the party" replied
Briggs, calmly.
Are we invited?" asked Doc in surprise.
"Of course. They invited Cap to bring us
all"
Why amt you going?"
Haven't got any dress suit. Amt you go
ing?"
Sure, am" said Doc.
"Arl right" said Briggs. I'll help you
And he did. He arrayed Doc in long
frock coat. a pair of white cotton gloves, a
flowing tie and lay-down collar turned
up. and then, escorting him to the door of
the beautifully decorated reception room,
turned him loose
Doc appeared in about half an hour in
search of Briggs. He had hunted all through
the crush for some ball player. until some
one took him aside and whispered a few
things to him
Bill Dahlen won a game Of ball for Chi
cago once by one of the oldest little tricks
that ever happened He didn't mean it,
but it was just as effective. 1t was in a
game against Boston. and Herman Long,
of course. was at short. Long and Dahlen
were great friends and they always were
scuffiing and pushing each other around.
joking.y. on the bases. Dahlen had stolen
second. sliding around Long. and was kid
ding the Dutchman about it, while Herman
making every effort to catch Dial off
the base. Each time he went behind Dial
there a scuff1e. Finally Dal standing
on the bag. drew his handkerchief out of
his hip pocket. and as he started to blow
his nose Long pushed him. Dal diving
back to the bag. arose and tiirted his hand
kerchief across Longs face.
Just moment later Long again ran to
the bag. Dial was ten feet up the line in
tent on blowing his nose. and Lewis who
was pitching, whirled and shot the ball to-
ward second.
At that instant Longs face contorted
agonizing!y. his mouth opened and he
sneezed. The ball went to center and Dab
len scored. Dars handkerchief had been
filled with the crumbs of cigarette tobacco,
which made Herman sneeze, and the sneeze