Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-13

what play that could come up on the
field was most disliked by the umpire.
Not what play the umpire regarded as
the hardest, but what play he disliked
most. and consequently what play that
got him into the most trouble.
There are SO many plays that car come
up on the diamond that are not relished
by the judge of play that it is rather
difficult to answer the question PROFOUND
ed by the Bostonian. Speaking for my
self. | dislike the plays in which the ball
arrives ahead Of the runner in plenty of
time to retire him, yet the umpire is
forced to call him safe because the field
er has failed to get the ball on the
runner. Nine times out of ten such
play will cause the umpire in charge a
great deal more trouble than play that
Is ten times as close.
To those sitting in the stands such a
play tends to make the umpire look fool
ish. Should you ask the player for his
opinion on such plays it is a cinch that
he will tell YOU that it is just such plays
that make the umpire. Nothing looks
more foolish to the fans than to see the
umpire wave a man safe. despite the fact
that the fielder had the ball waiting for
him as he slid into the bag. The fielder
with the tall makes a stab at the base
runner. Sitting at a distance of several
hundred feet. you regard the play as an
easy out There is much indignation on
your part when the umpire waves the
man safe.
If the fan could just be in the position
of the umpire on most Of those plays
there would never be a doubt in his mind
as to the proper decision. ! have often
steps. yet have the fielder miss the run
ner by as big a margin as foot. Such
happening is often due to the fielder
being spike shy, and also through his
inability to follow the direction of the
man sliding. 1t is a difficult problem to
good
fall-away slide will hurl his body. Thus
it is easy to see why the average UNI
pire dislikes such play. 1t is a trouble
maker always.
Since our American teams defeated the
Cubans this year 7 have read much
about the inferior playing of the Havana
teams. A number of the stories have
accused the Cubans of not being able to
play inside base bail. / was rather sur
prised at such assertions. That is the
one thing about the CubanS' play that
impressed me most in the fall of 1910,
when l worked a series on the island.
with the Athletics and DetrOits Of the
American League as the contesting teams
against the Cubans.
The delayed steal, the hit and run, the
squeeze play worked from second as well
as third. the fall-away slide and all the
other little bits of strategy that feature
base ball were employed by the Cubans.
HelT always 10 OutsucSs
the batters. The pitch-out was always
called for if the squeeze play or the
hit and run was anticipated. The catch
ers would often waste as many as three
balls in an effort to get an American
player stealing, and were often success
full.
Anything that the American players
would try would surely be taken up by
the Cubans on the following day. Con-
trary to many notices / have read this
fall, the Cubans impressed me as brainy
players instead of being mechanical. 1t
does not seem to me as if they could go
back to that extent in one short year
The only fault / noted about the Cubans
was their tendency to grow excited and
blow up under severe grilling. It is pos
sible that If coachers kept after the
Cubans constantly they might affect
their play.
On the Havana Reds in 1910 were four
American negroes. Grant Johnson, Sam
Lloyd. Pete Hill and Petway. AS a short
stop Sam Lloyd would be a big Lacquer IL
it were not for his color. Pete Hill is the
Ty Cobb of the colored outfielders, while
have worked back of few better catchers
than Petway. There is no doubt that the
Havana team felt the loss Of this quartet
of stars keenly. While it is only natural