The Washington herald., 1911-07-10

From the New York Telegram.
While in st. Louis Fred Clarke, of the
Pittsburgs, had ''tifr'' with the umpires
Johnstone and Eason. Mr.. Clarke has
been ''tiffing'' some Of the season.
This is the yarn that he spun to Charles
B. Power, a baseball writer of experience
| and years Of discretion: During the first
two games here I thought I had dis
covered that the balls our pitchers were
compelled to use had been doctored. and
started an investigation. 1 soon learned
that the management of the St Louis
club had secured a lot OF soapstone
from New York concern. had it shipped
here and had 1t dumped in the pitchers s
place in the middle OF the diamond.
when I had this fact established TO
nv own satisfaction / decided to get
further proof, so when that ball was sent
out on foul ground to-day I picked II up
and examined 1t carefully, and I found
that It was covered with a Shiny sub
stance, It was then that rubbed 1t in
the sand before returning It to the in
field. When tombstone called for a new
ball I did not object to his doing so, but
told him what I had discovered. He
spit on the ball to get rid of the SOAP
stone, and I replied that nothing would
be half as effective as dry sand, and that
was why I rubbed the ball on the ground.
did not lose my temper until Johnstone
said he would fine me IS for having vio-
lated the rule against soiling ball.
HOOray!
Now 1 have still further learned that
when the Pittsburg club played in New
York on it's last Eastern trip the Giants
were also well supplied with soapstone,
and that at the end of their innings in
the field they would see that the ball In
play was coated with the substance.
Bresnahan evidently got the secret from
McGraw, and the pitching mound in the
ball park here is covered with soapstone.
1T is any easy matter for the home
pitchers to have a pocketful Of dry sand
with which TO rub the ball when they go
on the rubber, but a visiting pitcher, be-
ing unaware Of the unsportsmanlike tao
tics, finds himself trying to control a
ball that slips from his hands, hence the
poor control of Adams; Camnitz, and
Leifeld, though the latter, after he found
out what was the trouble, got along all
well supplied with sand.
Am sure of my facts7 Well, am
willing to wager any one connected with
the st. Louis club any amount Of money
within reason that I can prove every
word have said. 1t was because tried
to show Johnstone just what sort Of
trick was being played on US that VAs
put out of the game"
1t takes Pittsburg to develop real base
ball sensations In this case, It seems as
IL Clarke is hitting American League
Park In this city on the head, for the
Pittsburgs have not played a game on
the Polo Grounds this year.
The Evening Telegram took occasion to
ask the gentlemanly attaches Of Ameri-
can League Park as to whether there was
any truth in the assertion of the Pitts
burg manager.
Col Phil Schenck, who handles the
lawn mower, the ground roller, and other
implements of the field, grieved sorely
over the yarn. "Mr. Clarke must take
the American League for a lot OF pikers,
said he, and thereupon laughed scornfully
up his sleeve.
One of his stan Joined in and observed
with indignation: We'll, 1 should say as
much. Soapstone, Ell? Why, we grease
the pitchers box with two barrels Of pork
fat and half keg of lard oil every morn
ing. soapstone might DO for bush
league, but none Of that for u.s., More
than that, we have been thinking Of pro-
viding each corner Of the pitchers plate
with crock of the best dairy butter, so
that the home pitcher can always leave
plenty Of grease behind when he goes
back to the bench. The only trouble is
that some difficulty win be had to keep IL
hard during this hot weather"
Where in the name OF the baseball i'm |
mortals did Clarke get this soapstonc IL
lusiop into his noddIef In the last four
games, which were played by the Pitts
burgs in this city the Pittsburg pitchers
gave but six bases on balls and four of
those were given In one game. In the
final game OF the series the Plttsburg
pitchers never issued a present.
The idea that the New York playersi