The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-11-27

son, Casey, Burlington, Mathews,
Seward, Plank, Waddel, Bender,
Coombs. Krause, McQuillen, Bern
hardt and others.
The most marvellous pitching l
ever saw was given by the la
mented Charley Ferguson, who
before game in 'S5, to show
some English cricketers visiting
this city how a pitcher could curve
and control a ball, did something
doubt if anyone ever attempted
before or since. And, moreover,
l do not believe any other tWirl-
er could have repeated it.
Ferguson placed a cigar box
from which the lid and bottom
had been removed, on top of a
bat. which he stood on the home
plate; THEN FROM THE PITCH
Frs POSITION HE CURVE II
OUT OF II THROUGH THE BOX.
Only once did he knock the box off
the bat. When they talk of the
Rusies, Mathewsons and others as
the greatest" pitchers, they for
get this protege of Harry Wright's
CHARLEY FERGUSON mot
ONLY THE GREATEST PITCH
Err, BUT THE GREATEST ALL
ROUND PLAYER THAT EVER
LIVED.
The slickest batting l ever saw,
because of the nerve and brain
displayed, was by Eddie Collins
last summer. With three on bases,
two out, three balls and two
strikes called, a sun needed to
win. Collins caught the New York
infield mapping, and laid down a
perfect bunt, which scored the
man from third. Collins hadn t
been hitting Doyle that day and
didn't trust himself to swing at
the ball, so resorted to strategy
to win the game.
Collins did the greatest bit of
base running l ever saw when he
raced home from second on a
caught foul fly, which was relay
ed to the plate perfectly.
1t was long foul fly, which
Browne, the Washington outfield-
|er, caught and threw to Unglaub
without loss of time. Unglaub in
turn threw to Slattery at the plate,
without hesitating. Both throws
were true, yet so great was Col
Inns speed that he slid around the
catcher in safety. / believe this
is the first and only time, in the
major leagues at least, that a
man has scored under similar cir
cumstances.
suppose that when / was
asked to describe the greatest
play I ever saw. my inquisitor re-
ferred to a fielding stunt, and on
this score 1 have no hesitancy in
Saying that l believe the greatest
play ever made on diamond
anywhere was pulled off by Hal
Chase in this city two years ago.
The Athletics and Highlanders
were playing a series in midsea-
son, and in the first game Chase
pulled off a play which was SIM
ply wonderful, when he dashed in
on a bunt intended to advance a
man from first, and, by a fast I'M
derhand throw to Elberfled, beat
the runner to second. Hal had
his back turned, and didn't see
whether anyone was covering the
bag. He took chance, but the
''Tabasco Kid" was there to COM
plete the play.
But the next day Chase put his
great play, which we all regarded
as wonderful, completely in the
shade. Harry Davis, a good run
ner. was on first, when Danny
Murphy hunted along the third
base line. Chase. who started in
as soon as Chesbro lifted his arm
to pitch, was up to the plate as
Murphy laid down the ball.
Hal followed the ball along the
third base line fully 20 feet, beat
Conroy and Chesbro TO it, and
again, with his back turned, with
q lightning underhand throw and
without looking to see where he
was throwing. shot the ball to sec
ond, where Eiberfeld was Johnny
on-fhe-spot.
AE Elhsrfe1d received the ball
il time 81 force Davis, and. by an
other ren,a5kabIy fast throw, got