The Washington times., 1910-10-07
GREAT TRIPLE STEAL
81 WAS WITHOUT A FLAW
81 Milan Elberfed, and Cunningham Made Baseball His
tory Unaided BY Fukes Accidents - Somerlons.
Interference No More Than Law Allowed.
+,
By THOMAS S. RICE.
Game today with Boston, 3:45 p. L
Two games tomorrow. 1880 p. m.


Washington added another to its freak
baseball records yesterday, when a triple
steal was pulled off by the home folk in
the third inning of the second game.
This play is said 10 be one Of the most
unusual in the history of baseball, and
a story was going around some time
ego that only two triple steals were In
the books. Now there Is A third.
The point to the triple theft by Wash
ington was that II was absolutely un-
tarnished and free from fluking. Everey
man involved on the ofense and defense
did exactly what the best baseball
brains and skill could suggest The
success achieved was simply due 10 the
fact that Washington's young heroes
Outplayed Boston in this particular in
stance.
The stage setting for the steal was as
follows:
Street opened the third inning for
Washington with a single to left. Dixie
Walker famed. Milan was safe on
Gardner's error. Elberfeld walked. fIl-
ing the bases. Cunningham was hit by
pitched ball, forcing home Street. The
run was the first for the Nationals,
and they were still one behind. Gessler
fouled to PUrtell. making two out.
Somerlott came 10 bat, and he is
breaking no fences as a pinch sluggcr.
II was a desperate StruatiOn-thTee men
on bases, two out, one run behind, and
rather weak batter up Something had
10 be done. and our brave b. b. boys
did It. McHale was pitching and Car
rigan was catching. CarTigan is rated
as one Of the best catchers III The came,
and McHale, although youngsters. is
man of brains and ability, and has had
some experience in the big leagues.
Now we're OF. Here is how il hap
pened, and you want TO remember n,
because IL Is a piece Of baseball his
tory that will be reCited in the Stove
League for years 10 come.
McHale, a righJ-hander, wound Up.
and all the men on bases hfked for the
next station Milan got a good start
and made a flying dive for home Nc
Hale saw him, never falt5red a moment.
but made a perfect throw 10 Carrigan-
The backstOp made N absolutely per
feet catch of the ball. Also, he made
an absolutely perfect tag ot the runner
as he sailed through SomerloJtS legs
and over the plate. Umpire . LouEhlm
said Milan was safe by about an inch.
Elberfeld stole third and Cunningham
second while Milan was going home 10
die no more.
Some talk has been made that
MfIan-s success was due TO Somer-
lofts clever blocking of Carrigan at
the plate, but that IS all in your eye.
The runner always counts on the bat
ter helping him on steal or hOmS.
The rules prevent the batter from
punching the backstop in the jaw or
pulling a bag over his head as the
play begins, and he is supposed 10
stand briskIy but meekly TO one side
and see his cO-labOreT N the baseball
vineyard eXterminated, but, as a mat
ter of truth, he gets in the way a
much as possible without iucurrinS
the risk OF having the runner called
out for interference
That was precisely what SOmerlott
sid. Hc refused to take a trolley ride
while Milan was receiving a smother
from CarTigan- lie stuck around, then
spread mis- legs and let Milan slide
through them, which dtSconcertcc
Carrigan not a little. and helped the
good cause materially II Somerlott
Blocked the catcher more than the law
allows IL was Umpire OLOughlin' g
place to call Milan out: but the. arhl-
traitor did not think som merlottS aC-
tivities were sufficient TO warrant
such a penalty. Hence there can be no
charEe that Milan did not honestly
swipe the plate
II was a great piece Of luck for two
kids like Cunningham and SOmeriott TO
be mixed UP in such play.
This Is a bad day. and We hear tell
last night was a hard night for some
OF WashingtOn's best citizens. But
that's neither here nor there We are
hllleu 10 pay bDSNcil LAllo elAAIa A-eolA "a
S.45, and the Athletics two games to-
morrow, beginning at 100 2. N. Wash
. ington'S even break I'm losing the first
and winning the second game yesterday
was not enough to retain the hold on
sixth place when Chicago was winning.
and we are now safely ensCOnced in
seventh. where We are likely 20 remain
[-llnIess We win from Boston today and
I twice from the Athlete tomorrow. IhaI
, We will clean up the next three S2mes
Is not likely. even though Walter John
son is to pitch one OF them We do
greatly fear that the season VIII end
with the naughty Nationals sliding or
tho cellar door and entirely TOO famil-
Gar with the St Louis fellows In the
cellar beneath.
Johnson famed two men while Work-
ing the last two innings yesterday. and
\. n. % Ec-- he snaEln