Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-02

of green pasteboard: on the four-leaf
clover were the names of over 3.GOO' sup
oorters of the Sox. while in the center
was horseshoe as an omen of good luck
1t took some tinle to secure the sigma
lures. blu: the Iromoters OF the stunt had
timed everything nicely. When jones
steIpsd to the plate in the first game OF
the series at New Yori, Il messenger boy
raced out on the field and presented the
Chicago- manager with the immense
clover leaf. 1t caused big laugh. but
must have had the desired effect on
Jones and the rest of the team. for Chi
cage won that day and tco ok the entire
series of four, games.
When the Chicago White Sox are at
home these same rooters win many a VIC
tory by their vocal efforts. It was the
Chicago rooters who first used the song.
He walked RICH. In. turned around and
walked right out again. as ammunition
TO rattle the opposing teams. Any time
visiting club went out in order the players
were always handed the song as they
marched back to their places When an
opposing pitcher took his place on the
rubber he was greeted. with something like
this: Smith is great pitcher. Is he not
Yes. he Is. and then after prolonged
silence everybody would come In strong
with. Not 1t worried many a twirler.
especially the high-strung fellows.
Last year Wnen Elmer flick was QClHS
such great hitting for the Maps q lake
captain who was a great admirer OF
Fl:ck.s sent him q caDstan bar for bat.
Tackled on TO the long pole was note
expressing the wish that every time Flick
came to the bat he would knock the ball
out of the lot. The long pole was pre-
scented to Flick AS he stepped to the plate.
Elmer swung at several imaginary balls.
then took his regular bat and faced the
pitcher. Flick made good with ven
e., L. hn frcf no
pitched into the risbt-ield bleachers for
a home run. After the game he expressed
a desire for the same kind of a present
every day if it would bring with it home
run.
While the players get their share of
criticism and praise from the occupants of
the stands and blea cheers. there is no In
diviGual who gets so many things handed
to him without asking for them as the
umpire. AS a rule there are umDires ga
lore present and they tell the official all
about every decision on strikes and balls.
as well as the bases. The home fans al
ways see every close play that is against
them but never see the many close ones
that are decided in their favor. The bon
mots handed an Umpire during the sea-
som would fill large book. A lot of them
! are very bad. but every now and then
some witty fellow slips over a real seed
one.
League staff and one OF the greatest UNI
pires who ever handled an indicator will
never. forget a little incident that hap
pened in Detroit. At the close Of the 1908
season Jack had really decided to retire.
He had several strenuous times in De-
troit during the season, and. just for
joke. Sheridan made little speech to the
fans before the game. telling them that
it was positively his last appearance. and
that he was never coming back again, and
that he was thankful he was alive after
some of his experiences. The crowd took
Jack i'm earnest. and although he had
often been the target OF abuse for many
of the rooters present. sudden stiffness
came over the stands. a number OF the
| fans told Jack to forget 1t and that the
league couldn't get along without him.
Everything went along finely until the
fifth inning. when Shegdaa called a De-
II oft man out on a close play at the plate.
There was only d slight protest on the
part of the players and everything was
reasonably quiet when bleacherite in
far left field piped out in high tenor
voice: -.....-...
II don't care II you never come back;
YOU can take your clothes and GO
II brought smile TO Jacks stern face
and made such a hit with the crowd that
it broke out in applause. ..~