The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-22
MOBILE LOST AND
WON WHILE BARONS
SLEPT SWEETLY
ABOUT THE RULE CALLING BATS
MAN OUT ON THREE STRIKES
WHEN FIRST AND SECOND ARE
OCCUPIED.
BY BILL AK.

A foxy catcher. one afternoon some
years ago. remembering that men were
on first and second bases, Intentionally
dropped the ball on which the batsman
had swung the third strike, and, after
recovering it. threw to third. The third
baseman, as quick as a flash. threw to
second, and the second baseman, even
quicker, threw to first.
And thus was a triple play pulled off
when but one man should have been out.
This will never do" remarked the rule
maker after reading how the foxy catcher
had saved his team and inflicted defeat
on an opponent which deserved victory.
So he called together his comrades, and
10, a new clause was inserted in the rule
book.
In substance il was as follows with
first and second bases occupied, and with
not more than one man down, the man at
at the bat on whom the third strike is
called is out. it matters not whether the
catcher holds the ball or drops it.
1t operates, as is seen, tike the infeld
fly. It was a wise rule and retains it's
force unto today.
Now what I am driving at is this:
Monday afternoon, with Sentell and
Rhoton on first and second and with only
Bernie McCay down. Neighbors struck
out. The ball was wild, and it got by
Raub. Neighbors went to first. filling
the bases. Then there followed a rally,
and as a result Mobile scored enough
NV. 10 ,,,i,, fror, Pirn,ipohau1 though
Birmingham, previously had the game
bagged completely.
Had Neighbors been called out in ac-
cordance with the rule cited above, Bir-
mingham would have won the game.
Neighbors' out would have made the sec
ond Watson, who followed, popped up
and out, as is remembered, to Bowen. In
the fatal ninth, in other words, Mobile
would not have made a run.
But Manager Wordsworth did not make
a boiler. Few people around the field
realized what had happened. There was
no protest of any kind. Everyone was
asleep.
1t is not known whether Umpire Car
penter thought of the rule or not. The
play comes up very seldom Yesterday
afternoon, however when asked about
the incident. Umpire Carpenter said in
effect:
THE ball on which Neighbors swung
his third strike was in reality a wild
pitch.
THE rule was framed in order that
catchers might not purposely drop thru
strikes in order to double men at third
and second.
IN this instance, however, it was plain
Nv discernible that Raub had no chance
to catch the ball, much less to drop II
and retire men at third and second"
Now, Billy Carpenter is an excellent
umpire He is performing splendidly Sell
dom does he make a mistake But as
concerns that ninth inning play on which
the fate of the game hung, l disagree
from him.
believe the rules of baseball are iron
bound, and apply, under the same condi-
tons. at all times alike and with like
force.
This rule is in effect this:
when first and second bases are oc-
cupied. and not more than one man is
down, the batsman on whom three strikes
have been called is out, 1t matters not
whether the catcher holds the ball or
drops it,
First and second bases were occupied
and the third strike was called on
Neighbors.
Had all third strikes been as that one
Monday, which virtually was wild pitch
on the part of Fleharty, the rule in ques-
tion would never have been formulated.
But inasmuch as the rule does exist,
the Barons should have received the ad-
vantage of the technically
But we were all asleep. However, the
book of the official scorer will show, in
case our contention is correct, that Biz
mingham and not Mobile won Mondays
game
But Mobile has the advantage of pos
session which, in the Southern league, IS
euen 10 nnirta in law.