Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-26
BY BILLY EVANS.

Base ball abounds in freak plays. Sell
If visiting player happens to be. the
victim the home team is given credit for
having pulled something/foxy. If home
player is the offender he is usually looked
on as a piece of solid ivory.
In the fourth game of the worlds Sc
ries Eddie Collins and Jack Barry pulled
one on Larry Doyle that made the Giant
leader look foolish. Philadelphia fans
reveled in the situation. Gotham rooters
berated Doyle. Fact Of the matter, 1t
was a very wise move by Collins and
Barry, but not nearly so dumb play by
Doyle as most fans thought. have seen
Barry and Collins pull the same play a
half dozen times in the American League
season. Some Of the brainiest base run
ners in the league have been fooled even
more badly than Doyle.
The play happened with Doyle on first
and Snodgrass at the bat. Evidently the
hit-and-run signal must have been
flashed. for Doyle started to run as Ben
der started to deliver the ball. Snod-
grass. In an attempt to carry out his
part OF the program, hit at the. ball, his
effort being little pop fly to Baker.
Doyle was over half way to second when
took In the situation In a moment.
Collins raced to second base ahead of
Doyle as If to receive throw from the
direction Of third. He kept making wild
gestures with his arms and yelling at
Baker. AS he was making the play I
could imagine just what he was saying.
having been umpiring the bases several
times when such play was pulled. 'Sec-
ond base, Baker, second base" was prob
ably what he was yelling. Barry in the
meantime was probably saying few
things like. You'll have to hurry the
play, Frank" Don't make it close" and
few more similar expressions
The intent on the part Of Collins and
Barry was to deceive Doyle into believing
that Baker was handling a ground ball.
stopped once as if in doubt and then
hurried on Very likely. shift in the
conversation by Barry and Collins
caused 1T. In all probability. the two
of them, in order to make Doyle believe
that Baker had fumbled the ball and
talk at Bris Lord in left field. Get
the ball to third, Bris," was perhaps
the sentence that caused Doyle to start
on his way again.
space of few seconds. Naturally, the
Philadelphia rooters were having the time
of their life over Doyle's dilemma. The
noise they made was certainly deafening.
me dlant supporters were making an
equal amount of noise in an effort to ex-
plain the situation to Doyle. AS re-
suit. Doyle heard absolutely nothing. Had
he been able to see his coachers, he might
have been savedA He had such a running
start, however, a double play might have
resulted under any conditions. Any way,
Larry did not come to until he saw
Baker throw the ball to Davis, and the
umpire wave both men out. The play
caused Doyle to be numerically roasted,
much Of which was undeserved.
~
Just to show how easy 1t is for the
base runner to be made to look bad, I re-
call a play on Dave Altizer when he was
with the Chicago club. Chicago was
playing Cleveland and Altizer had reached
first on a single. The next batter gave
the hit and run sign to Dave, and he
started for second at a ten-second clip
when the pitcher began to wind up.
George Stovali, who was playing first for
Cleveland. was holding the base runner
on, and was only step or two from first
when the batter hit terrific line drive
right into his hands,. 1t was only mat
ter of taking a few steps and touching
first to double Altizer. which he did.
It seems to me Nick Altrock was