Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-12
By Umpire Billy Evans.


who will win the game today. Mr..
Sheridan" asked a fan one day last year
OF the veteran umpire.
DO You really want to know who Is
going to VIM" asked Jack. with a smile.
Of course I do. I've good reason for
desiring to learn who Will be the VICTOR
replied the eager fan.
We'll. I'll let you in on the secret, but
you must never mention it to a SOUL
said Jack. 1T will be the team that
makes the most runs"
Qult your fooling. Mr.. Sheridan" re-
Piled the fan. I'm really in earnest"
SO am l." said Jack, who was now
beginning to get sore. DO you think
for a minute I'd be poor, much-a buse d
umpire II knew who was going to win ?
Id be plunger IL could look into the
future and be able to tell the winner of
games and pennants. You don't look as
II you were crazy. but 1 really think
you are when you ask questions like
that"
The gentleman in question was beating
retreat before Jack had finished his
speech, and it Is well he did, for no
umpire likes to have his honesty Ques-
toned.
Base ball is one sport in which the
dope counts for little You are the real
thing today and an also ran tomorrow.
one day q pitcher is invincible. the next
time out he Is batted all over the lot.
one day the favorite slugger can swat
the ball to all corners of the field, the
next day he is lucky to make a foul.
one day a star catcher makes base run
ners look foolish by throwing them out
mile. the next day the base runners
may run wild on the same catcher.
Full Of Uncertainties.
Base ball Is truly a game Of uncer-
tainties. On this very feature the sport
thrives best. The unexpected is always
happening, and it's the doing Of the un-
expected that makes a hit with the fans.
The Cubs were a big favorite over the
Athletics in the worlds series. yet the
team led by Connie Mack galloped home
an easy winner. Critics said the Cub
catchers would be invincible, while the
Athletics were certain to be at disad-
vantage in this department. Just the
opposite was true, for Thomas and Lapp
caught in brilliant style. 1t was said the
Cub pitchers knew the weakness OF the
Philadelphia veterans, and should keep
these men from hitting, yet the batting
of the older men played very prominent
part in the sweeping victory.
Prior to the worlds series there was
pitch. 1t was agreed that the brunt of
the work would fall on Bender and
Coombs. but it was generally believed
| that Manager Mack would use Morgan,
because of the Cubs dislike for spit
ters." It was also thought that the vet
eran, Eddie Plank. would be brought into
use. The uncertainty of what is liable
to happen in the good old game was well
demonstrated by the plan of battle adopt
ed by Mack III using Coombs in three
games and Bender in the other two. In
cidentally, Mack also did the unexpected
when he had Thomas catch Coombs in
the first two games. when the youngster
Lapp had received Coombs during the
regular season.
Perhaps nothing illustrates the uncer-
tainty Of base ball any better than the
performance of Pitcher Ray Of the ST.
Louis Browns last year. This young fell
low was picked up in the wilds OF Mus
cogee Okla. He Joined the st. LOUIS
club just prior to the starting Of series