Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-05-29

have defeated the Cubs or Pirates for the
worlds series or not, it certainly was UNI
able to win without IL.
But II there is one play which above all
others caps the climax in a game of ball
It is wrapped up In this combination OF
thrilling circumstances: 1t is the last half
of the ninth, the score to l against the
home team Two are out and the bases
full; there are two strikes on the batter.
Stop a moment and think-did you ever
see such a situation? Have you ever sat
in the stands or bleachers with one leg
wrapped three times around the other, your
lower lip caught under your teeth. your
breath long ago gone and every muscle
and nerve in your body drawn to the
breaking point? Have you? Bases full, two
outs, two strikes, last of ninth, score to
against usl
oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun
Is shining bright 4
The bands are playing somewhere and
somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and
somewhere children shout;
But there is no JOY in MudYille-mighty
Casey has struck outl
The experience comes to few men in .
lifetime, but when It comes no man will
ever forget 1t, II came to a crowd at
vlnton street park one day about three or
ahead and old Joe Dolan at bat with two
strikes and the bases full in the last half
of the ninth He had just one chance to
mount up TO the skies OF adulaton or sink
to the depths of ignominy in the este
nation of the fans. 1t is an awful moment
in the life Of batter as well as a pitcher.
Those who recall this incident remember
that Old Joe slammed the next ball pitched
against the left field fence and was stand
ing on second base when the third man
crossed the plate. The score was to 1
instead of to l and only three runs were
needed to win.
But you say this play is purely physical.
a matter OF luck. Not at all. II involves
nerve and judgment and, OF course, the
ability of the batter TO outguess the
pitoner. Base ball is a constant guessing
match between pitcher and batter, any
way, but 1t Is not In any sense a game Of
chance or luck.
Batting is no more a matter of guessing
than is fielding a hit ball. Take one OF
the plays shown in the accompanying
photos, You can discern the ball hit by
the batter well on its way to the fielder
and the fielder is we'll on his way to the
ball before the runner has left the plate.
The secret OF fielding lies in the alertness
of the mind TO gauge and judge the course
and speed OF the ball. The best fielder
will start with the crack Of the bat"
That is the only possible hope he may
have of ever intercepting or catching the
ball. Walt one second and 1t will be too
late.
The other day in ST. Louis Red Fisher,
formerly left fielder for omaha, made q
catch which the st. Louis papers pro-
nounced one Of the most phenomenal ever
seen in that city, and when we remember
that such men as Curtis, Welch and Jimmy
McAleer have played ball there we can APP
preciate that this was something Of
catch. The papers gave minute descrlA
ton Of the catch. Fisher was playing in
left The moment the ball was hit he
turned like a flash and started on a dead
run toward the fence, apparently never
looking or caring where the ball was.
Then suddenly he wheeled 10 look In the
direction OF the ball and then he ran back
wards few yards, then turned and ran
forwards, then faced the ball again and
gave one wild, high leap into the air,
reaching as far up as his arm with the mltt
hand would 90. He came down In a heap
but he had the ball in his glove.
Luck, you say7 Oh, no. Science; nothing
else. Fisher got a bead on that ball the
Instant IT was hit; he kenw where It was
going and he started for the same places
and when the ball arrived he was there 40
meet II. ~AA
Expert fielding is the ability 20 judgWA
course and speed OF hit ball Anybody
who can play at all can catch fly.