The Washington herald., 1909-06-13
Two Tigers Help to Prove That
Brain Has Superseded
Brawn Among Ball
Players.

New York. June R-That brain has
superseded Drawn among ball players is
proved by the fact that those who have
arisen 70 the TOP are men OF active men
tality. You VIII notice that the men
whose names you see most in the papers
are strategists. says the New York
World. Quick thinking Is what brought
Ty Cobb. Al Bridwell. Kid Elberfeld,
Dutch Schaefer. Hal Chase. Johnny
Evers. and a score OF others 10 the front
There are many players who have shown
themselves wonders physically, but who
could not keep up the pace by thinking
quickly on the base lines and had 20 make
way for the more fortunate youngsters.
There Is ample room for the inventor in
baseball and every season We see these
agile-brained athletes producing some
thing in baseball that IS new
Strategy In baseball Is a beautiful thing
when It works. But when that "Jinks''
Of all sport called Hard Luck bo0s up
and puts reverse English on the play IL
inserts kink IN enthusiasm that is hard
to straighten out for the rest OF the
game. While 1t may seem an incongru-
GUS statement. many BAH games have
been lost by brilliant plays.
Two Local strateEists.
Kid Elberfeld and Hal Chase OF the
Highlanders, are two Of the best known
exponents OF strategy IN the business.
but TO illustrate how the best laid plans
gang aft aglee." let's recall a certain
game with Cleveland
Elberfeld had reached first safely and
there were none out A couple OF runs
were badly needed. Instead OF making
the sacrifice play that the other team
was expecting. Elberfeld gave the signal
for the hit and run The unexpected is
always the foremost move in baseball
The idea OF a hit and run is % make
the second baseman run 70 cover the
bag and for the batter 10 hit the bail
through the hole that he left
The other variation OF the play Is for
the batter TO line the ball into right
field, II possible. so that the runner can
reach third Chase got the signal al
right. and with an aim as true as a rule
lined the bah for what looked Ike
perfect single over first. The outfelder
Of Cleveland, however, expecting a bunt,
had come IN close. 50 as to back I'D the
play at first
Got Chase's Line Drive.
1t so happened. 10 his own surprise.
that he arrived just in time 70 catch
Chase's line drive. and EIberfeld. who
was speeding toward second. was as
founded TO find himself doubled up before
he could get back TO first. Many fans
blame the Kid for leaving the bag. bu,
he had really made a beautiful plav.
But. unfortunately. the strategic move
had worked with reverse English
The other day at the Polo Grounds
Murray was on first. and he gave o'Hara
the signal for a hit and run. O.Hara
IS naturally a right field hitter. and he
figured that II would be comparaaivelv
easy 70 hit the ball through the hole
that Knabe. the second baseman for
Philadelphia. would leave when he ran
TO cover second Murray got away on
the jump and O'Hara smashed the ball
But, as luck would have II. he had hft
grounder directly over second that would
have been a perfect single II no strategy
had been attempted. II so happened that
the forcing OF Knabe to cover put him
directly in the path OF the ball. and all
he had 20 do was TO grab It. touch second.
and then throw TO first for a double play.
That's one time that old-fashioned hans