Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-05
By Umpire Billy Evans.


The comedian Of the ball field is fast
becoming extinct.
Nick Altrock, who was one OF the real
funny players connected with base ball.
has been out Of the majors for several
years. No more popular player ever wore
"a Chicago uniform. Few players were
ever greeted more warmly on tho Amer
lean League circuit than Nick.
RUDE Waddell, who during his career
has been q source of much amusement to
the fans, and considerable worry to his
various managers, is a thing Of the past.
RUDE passed out Of the majors last year.
and as his arm no longer possesses its
once great cunning. he will probably
spend the rest Of his base ball life in the
bushes.
Herman Schaefer is perhaps the only
real funny man in the American League.
while Louie Evans. the Cleveland boy
with the st. Louis Cardinals, carries Off
the honors In the National League.
Schaefer has given the American fans
many laugh. but Herman perhaps was
at his best during the recent invasion Of
Cuba by the Detroit Tigers. Herman
certainly had the time of his life with
the Cuban fans during the Tigers stay
Of month on the island. He can go
back there with any old team and be a
favorite.
The Cubans are highly excitable race,
and when Herman would get on the
coaching lines and give an excellent imi-
tation OF Hughey Jennings skirt dance
and grass-pulling stunts the crowd would
go wild. The Cubans always referred to
Schaefer as the clown. and any time he
took his place on the coaching lines he
was greeted in that way by the Cubans
in their own language.
Perhaps no person in Cuba afforded
more amusement for Schaefer than Cas-
Almendares team. AS would be expected,
Castillo was no Ty Cobb when it came
to getting around the bases. In fact, he
just about waddled down to first base,
duck. Any time he reached first base
the bases were blocked until he was
either retired or batted home. The Amer
lean fans can imagine what fine Come
on Mr.. Castillo was for Schaefer.
Any time Castillo hit ball in Schae-
fer's territory Herman would juggle 1t,
kick 1t, drop 1t and do everything else
that would lead Castillo to believe that
he might reach first in safety. AT each
tumble the mammoth Castillo would
make every effort to increase his speed.
At the opportune moment Schaefer would
pick the ball up clearly and speed it to
First Baseman Tom Jones. just a step
ahead Of the pOnderOus Castillo, much
Cuban. Schaefer would then roll on the
grass in delight, while the Cuban rooters
would say unkind things to the slothful
Castillo.
Perhaps the unkindest act toward Cas-
tillo was a relay play pulled off by
Schaefer. Charley O'Leary and Tom
Jones. Before one of the games Schaefer
and OLeary had little conference rela-
tive to Mr.. Castillo. 1t was agreed that
IL Castillo should hit fast ground ball
to OLeary or Schaefer during the game
the one receiving it should toss 1t
would relay 1t to Tom Jones. AS luck
would have it. about the sixth inning
Castillo hit a fast grounder to Schaefer.
No one was on the bases at the time, and
quick as a fash Schaefer threw the ball
to O'Leary in deep short. The Cubans
thought the Tiger second sacher must
| be crazy, but when they saw O'Leary
sending the ball with ridelike speed to
| Tom Jones they OWNED what Schaefer
was doing. The throw beat Castillo a
couple of steps. Every one i'll the crowd
the players except Castillo. who made
all kinds Of dire threats to get even with
the hilarious Schaefer
With Castillo on first, and the other
bases unoccupied. Schaefer always had
! a great time with the bulky native if a
| ball was hit into his territory. The nat
ural way to try for a double play would
| DO TO throw the ball to second and then
to first. With Castillo on first, Schaefer
Jones, retiring the batter. then Jones
would get the ball to O'Leary before Cas-
tillo could reach second. AS there is no
force on this play, it was necessary to