Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-27
SPORTING COMMENT.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

- 1t is SO seldom that one sees anything
new in ball game these days that
when player pulls something that
shows thought and strategy it is ap-
preciated.
Doc White in the game yesterday
turned a trick that was new and in
cidentally clever. He had killifer on
first in the second inning when he made
quick throw to the bag. Gandil shot
the ball right back to Doc, who pitched
10 the plate. Killifer did not have a
chance to get a lead, but really had
his back turned to the plate when the
ball was pitched. But the ball was
wide of the plate. This put killer on
the alert, and when White again threw
TO Gandil to drive him back killifer
jumped out and took his lead just as
soon as Gandil threw back to White.
expecting Doc to pitch to the plate.
But instead White crossed killifer and
him off of his balance and feet from
the bag. 1t was clever trick and
would catch most any base runner.
All this talk anent the rubber-cored
bail and the cork-center ball and about
the need of more batting brings to
mind the time when ball was used
which brought about more smuggling.
In 1850 the Brotherhood year. there was
the same yell for extra batting that you
hear today. The new organization de-
cided TO crafty the wish and. first of
all. moved the pitcher back, and then
they had special ball built. This ball
contained about twice much rubber as
is in the Reach-Spaulding globule. The
result was. of course. a remarkable in
crease of batting. but with it came lot
of very poor fielding. Not only did this
new bail go fast and burningly through
the infield that an infielder had to duck
or die. but it took all sorts of leaps, and
when hit to the outfield it would take
such peculiar turns that it seemed to be
blown by the wind 1t is not an exag-
geration to say that frequently a ball
would be hit TO center. and with the
centerfielder set to make the catch ii
would be gathered In by either the right
or left fielder. But there was plenty OF
batting. There We're averages over the
400 mark. but the game was not i'm
proved and the ball was not continued.
- The purchase OF the entire stock of the
Cleveland club by Charles -Somers, until
yesterday half owner with John Ki;foyle,
undoubtedly indicates that the latter gen.
rieman. after this years experience with
a losing team and a most valuable ball
plant, got cold feet and decided to get
out of the game
Under the new regime the Cleveland
club stands a better chance for pros
pering both artistically and financially,
for the clubs which always do best are
those conducted by a single hand. The
one-man club is the one which wins pen
rants and makes the most money 1t has
ever been so in base ball, and. while most
of the clubs are owned by stock compa
ries, they are, however. in absolute
charge of one Individual. II there is one
business in which too many cooks spoil
the broth II is base ball.
\ dispute is en- again between the men,
bers OF the Detroit and Philadelphia
teams as to which is the gamer. For
several years the impression has been
out that Connie Mack's team would quit
in a Pinch. and there have been many
open accusations TO this effect. Whether
there are really any grounds for such
charges is not known, though In two
campaigns the Athletics were on the
heels of the Tigers. only to be beaten to
The wire.
So far as the showing of the teams in a
world series il concerned, il is about an
even thing. The one crack the Athletics
had at the Giants in 1905 made them
look rather bad. but the Tigers have never
doomed up very well in the big series in
the three chances they have had.
There is every indication that President
Tom Lynch will have fight on his hands
when the next election of the National
League rolls around. Like all his pre-
decessors. Lynch has made enemies be-
cause his umpires have not always given
satisfaction.
One would suppose that club owner
would realize that IL is a most difficult
task TO get d competent staff of umpires,
and even when this has been accomplish
ed they are never going TO give absolute
salts faction. for the reason that every
close decision leaves opening for
criticism. But II has grown to be a habit
with the owners OF clubs in the National
League to charge every blunder made by
an umpire against the president of the
league, and this has caused most of the
.rouble in the ranks of the old organiza-
ZION. Lynch has good staff of um-
hires as il is possible to get but II would
not matter il his staff was perfect there
uould be the same number of kicks.
"a
- Hugh Bly,, about twenty-five years old
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