Evening star., 1909-04-11
BRA|NY uEUTENANTS
HELP WIN GAMES
Managers and Captains by No
Means MonopoIize Tactical
Side of Base Ball.

A competent lieutenant often con-
tributes as much to the. success or a
base ball team the manager or captain.
particularly if the former also acts in the
capacity Of field leader. This relates not
to mere playing ability. hut: the tactical
side of the game, the little opportunities
that come up at minutes notice and
are overlooked by the average player. but
taken full advantage of by the brainy
type of man.
Johnny Evers is something more than
the second baseman of the worlds cham
pion Chicago Nationals. He is a great
help to Manager Chance. because he
needs little or no advice from his superior
in a game, and is constantly taking the
initiative and accomplishing things that
no manager would have the time or op-
portunity to order.
The difference between Evers and the
class of players who won't try anything
except when ordered by the manager is
that the Cub infielder has base ball sense.
Evers Turned a Pennant.
1t was Evers who discovered Fred
Merkle's fatal solecism in the celebrated
game in New York last fall. In game
that looked irretrievably lost, Evers. with
hair-trigger thinking. noticed that Merkle.
who should have run to second base
turned aside and bolted for the clubhouse
because man on third had crossed the
plate.
Evers knew that 1t transgressed the rules
and appealed to the umpires. who saw
the Justice of his claim. The National
League directors at special meeting.
supported this contention. with the result
that the game was thrown out of the
records and ordered replayed. In the
extra game the Cubs took the opportunity
of winning a pennant that was seemingly
gone.
1t gives one instance where a quick
witted man won a pennant for his team
simply because he was a well-grounded
base ball student.
Much Of Billy Sullivan's light is hidden
under Fielder Jones' bushel. The great
knowledge of the game. and this has
helped his team in many games, although
In some quarters Sullivan is regarded
only as good mechanical catcher while
the tactical side of his ability is over
looked. These qualities will make Sullivan
the White Sox's new manager in case
Fielder Jones doesn't report.
Charles Doom. the Phillies' great back
stoD. who like Billy Sullivan. is some
thing more than a first-rate catcher.
Is not the manager or the captain of
the Phill'es. but nevertheless Is in the
thick of every fight with his advice and
SUGGESTIONS
Undoubtedly Left-hander Covaleskie's s
wonderful feat in defeating New York
three games in five days last fall was due
TO the brainy coaching of Doom, who
knew the weaknesses of the Giant bats
men,
On the second day of this torrid series
at the Polo Grounds a dOuble-header had
been scheduled. In the middle of the
first game Doom was spiked and limped
of the field. When he reached the club
house he found the Giants physician on
the job full OF sympathy.
'Dooin's Marrow Escape.
Let me look you over" said the Good
off and the Polo Grounds physician utter
Sonny, you'll not use that leg any
more this season."
Then he took out long roll of cotton
and tightly bandaged Dooin's leg. In
fact, 1T was bound SO tightly that Doom
could scarcely walk. The catcher saw
through this artifice, and when the ply
sician left the clubhouse he quickly un-
wound the stun and cast It aside. Then
he used a few ball players remedies and
soon the leg was all right.
When 1t was time for the second game
to start, the club physician was sur
prised to see Doc n walk on the fl Id with
his mask in hand. And he didn't limp.
either. In this game Covaleskie beat the
Giants, due to DoOin's quick-wittedness In
thwarting the scheme of the Giants ply
sician.
Persons who have been stirred by Dan
Murphy's lightning fielding, or applaud ~
one Of his long hits do not know that the
Athletics veteran star is a constant whip
per-up on the infie.d.
Murphy works like machine with the
catcher and shortstop, and many an op-
ponent's batting rally is smeared up by
his quickness of intellect in befuddling
base runners.
Another live wire is Germany Schaefer
of the champion Detroits. Many per-
sons who have been entertained by the
antics of this base ball clown do not
realize that he is the master of base ball
that he is. Schaefer Is funny, but never
to the point OF impairing the success OF
the team.
In fact. Schaefer's eapers have often
put opposing players off their guard, and
he has got through with plays that he
could not do otherwise. This Is particu-
larry true when he is on the bases and
pitchers who have smiled at him dancing
around first have been surprised on look
ing next to see him squatted on second.
Jennings made Schaefer his captain last
season. when Coughlin resigned.
Other big league captains are not men,
toned because 1t Is obvious that they
should be good base ball tacticians. This
story relates only to the private In the
ranks