Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-23
STORIES OF
THE DIAMOND
Jack Doyle Says Baltimore Or
ioles Were the Greatest
Team Ever.
PULLED OFF STAR STUNTS
Tricks and Schemes Used Away Back
in the Dos Were Enough to
Fill a Book.
No. III.
By JACK DOYLE.

BY JACK DOYLE.
Copyright, 1910. by American Press Asso
ciat1on.l
Every now and then one will read OF
or see a daring, sensational or brainy
piece of headwork pulled off on the
diamond. To the average fan this or
that stunt may appear wonderful, but
TO the player himself It Is only part of
his work 1 do not want to be ego
tistical, but it is fact. When 1 was
q member Of the old Baltimore Orioles
I managed to pull off many clever
stunts and helped engineer several sen
sattonal plays which were very sue
ressful and thought nothing of it. 1t
was part of my daily work. I've al
ways said and still think that the old
Baltimore team was the bratnieSt ag-
gregatien OF bali tOSsers ever brought
together. The tricks and schemes they
worked successfully on the diamond
would come pretty near filing a book
For instance, here is one they pulled
of and what consider the greatest l
ever saw. 1t was made by Willie
Keller and Johnny McGraw in a game
with Washington away back In the
ninettes. Unlike most plays, this
wasn't a fielding stunt, but q piece of
base running. Willie was on first and
McGFaw at the bat. The latter shot a
neat single into left Geld, and Al Sci
bach loafed a bit on 1t, seeing that
Keeler was sure to make third with
ease, but expecting him to pull up
there. Willie instead Of pulling up
went full steam ahead for home plate,
and before Bill Joyce had received the
bah was virtually over the plate. Nc
Graw never stopped at first, but kept
on to second to draw a throw that
would enable Keller to score. Nc
Graw recognized Selbach's loaf. and
like a fash he guessed that Keller
was going home. He never hesitated
at second, but dashed for third, arriv-
ing just as Joyce was gathering in
Selbach's throw out Of the grass.
Here McGraw did some very quick
thinking He remembered that Joyce
had a bad arm and thought that the
catcher would not be expecting a
throw. Without pulling up at third at
all he scooted for the plate. His
quick thinking turned out to be right.
The dust from Keeler's slide was just
lifting as McGraw dived for the home
plate and beat in the throw with a
close decision. There two runs scored
on what should have been only a sin
gle, though the scorer had to give Nc
Graw credit for a home run. This is
Just a sample of what won three pen
nants for Baltimore.
Long List Not Desired.
Recently a manager or Il prominent
club In the American league was quot
ed as saying that he had long list of
code signals that could not be beat.
This fellows ideas are all wrong. No
team should have a long list of signals.
It is not always the ball club with the
most signals that wins games. The
Did Baltimore club, of which was
member for several seasons, had very
few signals, and what they did have
were very simple ones at that. Still,
the team managed to win three ban
ners in a row and came very near cap
turing the fourth. Here is another in
stance. When Jimmy Collins managed
the Boston Americans and won three
flags no signs were used at all except
Ing, Of course, those necessary between
the two ends of the batteries The
most complicated system of baseball,
while theoretically astounding, has
never been a practical success.
A short time ago 1 had quite little
chat with Amos Rusie, the famous old
New York pitcher. Amos Is now a
lumberman in Munc1e,
Ind, and not a pearl diver at S1.5O a
day. as has been reported many times,
and the big fellow is contented with
his environments. In his day Rusie
was the greatest twirIC~ doing slab |
duty. He had everything tat a Twill
er needed-contrOl, speed and good
well know 1t, for caught |
him in many games. I'll never forget |
nv first trip with Rusie' ON the road. |
The members Of the team told MIN |
hat every trip they made on a Pull
man a number of pairs of shoes were |
stolen. They said that suspicion
to the porter, and Amos was
asked to sit up and watch for the mid
night raider. Rusie selected a seat IN
the smoker prepared to do detective
duty and little bouncing duty on the
side. He dosed off after awhile ana
wasn't awakened until about In the
morning, when the porter walked into
the smoker with several pairs OF shoes
that he intended shining in order to
get morning tip. Rusie at once de-
,ided that he had found his victim and
Jumped from his seat and grabbed the
porter. In less than three minutes ne
had the co1ored man in worse condition
han Wolgast had Nelson.
The porter spent week or so In the
hospital as a result of the mixup, and
{ cost the New York club several hum
lred dollars to square things.
9~Ne he1R-