The Washington herald., 1910-09-18
PINCH HITTERS.

two runs 10 win the game. The frs'
batter up strikes out The second con
meets with the opposing pitchers curves
for a single that lands him on hrst base.
The next man 10 face the pitcher hits
the ball. He is thrown out at first. but
there is man on second base. advanced
by the sacrifice. SIN. two men are out.
Things look decidedly blue TO the home
team rooters.
Then the crafty manager sends in a
pinch hitter-s man who is accustomed
to step into the breach-a player noted
for hi ability 20 hit the ball. The fans
wipe beads Of perspiration from their
brows. while the pinch hitter very de-
libeTately knocks a bit OF sod of ms
shoe with his bat He steps 10 the plate
and an expectart hush falls over the
thousands gathered to see the game
The result means everything 10 the
nome team. The aggregation OF bronzed.
smooth-muscled athletes have been play
ing great baseball. They have fought
their way to the top Of the heap in the
race for the pennant. A victory will give
a lead In the league race. A defeat viii
give them a temporary setback. And set
backs. even temporary. have been known
10 work havoc with that fine bit Of
mechanism baseball team.
So. while the fans are wrought 10 q
fine pitch Of suppressed excitement the
players, outwardly calm. await the ac-
tons Of the pinch hitter. 4 strike is
called From somewhere on the coach
ing lines the man on second gets a signal.
II Is invisible TO the crowd. But the
perspiring athlete on second base in
terprets 1t. He capers down the base
line, towering between second and third
base Ike a bird ready to dart in either
direction. He Is watched by the shrewd
eyes of the players on the opposing team.
The pitcher throws the ball for the bat
ter to strike at Then the player who
has been wavering between second and
third bases apparently undecided what
10 DO becomes an animated sprinter. He
has caught the signal 10 steal Down
the base line he dashes. The crowd is
on its feet, yelling franticslly. gesticulat-
ing wildly. shouting announcement 10
AAlN NAit4f4a GAE u 4acAs JUL AAAt U4li
comes whirling al the third baseman
from the catcher at apparently greater
speed.
It is a moment OF intense excitement.
Can he heat the ball? Not by running.
surely, for the sphere Is coming straight
as bullet toward the hands OF the alert,
waiting shird baseman. But the runner.
nh H., f.-
throws himself headlong az his goal and
in a cloud of dust grasps il with hungry
fingers. The third baseman catches the
ball with the precision OF long practice
and tags the runner.
Is he safe? Is he Out2 are the two con-
tradicting questions uppermost in the
minds of the crowd The umpire Of
before the runner made his frantic dash.
Upon his decision rests the fate Of the
home team To the crowd in the grand
stand the cloud of dust raised by the
sliding athlete acts as a screen. Then
the umpire wheels and brawls in stem
torian tones Safe"
All but the strongest voices Of the
i4Al htlitO ANbAtAS al t lhrhF ~ AlllS lllllt
from cheering. Those whose voices have
failed pound madly with their feet,
pandemonium reigns for some minutes
In the meanwhile the pinch hitter is still
on duty. The game is far from won. He
must hit the bail safely so that the run
ner on third base can reach home and tie
the score. And he proves equal 10 the
h. AL h.. -
into the inheld he is perched on first and
the dust covered athlete who stole third
has slid to the home plate. Again the
umpire calls safe" And the score is
tied.
On the first ball pitched the pinch hit
ter darts for second base. Like his
teammate, he too hurls himself at the
bag, But, unlike the previous "stealer'
he throws his feet forward and drops his
body a bit to the right in falling. He
falls away from the bag in other words.
There is method in his feat The catch
er's throw to second is a bit TO the right
and the second baseman has to reach to
the right side 10 receive the pellet Con-
sequently the runner drops to the side
is no doubt that the runner is safe.
This particular pinch hitter seems i'm
bued with greater ability as a base run
ner than ever before in his career as a
baseball player. But still the willy
manager is doubtful as to his players
ability TO steal another base. With a
reputed erratic hitter at bat something
must be done 10 win the game. A ten
second Splinter is sent out to run for
the man on second base
And the ten-second man lives up to his
reputation as a base runner While the
erratic hitter is having two strikes called
on HIM he speeds toward third base The
inevitable slide is necessary, for the
members of the opposing team, antici-
pating the attempt 10 steal, watch like
hawks. Such a shout goes up from the
crowd that none notices the umpire's
momentary indecision as he erouches
peering through the cloud of dust raised
by the runner. Finally he calls the run