Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-26

News. Peculiar plays galore come up,
some of which strain the rules severely.
but it is always possible to reach a deci-
sion by proper and sensible interpreta-
ton. Possibly that most perplexing plays
of all are caused by what might best be
called "barrys,' on the part of either
players or umpire. Fans sitting in the
stands are often in doubt as to the num-
Der of men out, players are often in the
same position. Every fan has seen some
player throw his glove away thinking the
aide has been retired. only to discover that
but two men are out. 1t isn't often that
fans and both teams think the side is out,
when but two men are down. yet that is
Just what happened in a game played in
the Texas League last summer.
John Ffllman, well known minor
league manager and player, was party
to just such an incident last summer. The
tale which Fillman relates to me in his
letter is most interesting and unique
one. To put the fans wise to just what
happened I am going to reprint Fflman s
letter. and then consider the happenings
later on; it is as follows:
Il have been reading your interesting
column in the Sporting News from week
to week, and at your invitation, which APP
peared in recent issue. | am writing you
relative to a play that happened in the
Texas League last summer.
1T came up between the Beaumont and
Houston teams. the game being played
at Houtson. with Umpire Van Sickle Of
ticiatinS. Beaumont was at the bat and
had Il runner. Cook, on third another
runner, Mayes. on first, Eddie Wheeler,
it's manager at the bat, and one man out.
Wheeler hit "a long fly to left field which
Whiteman, our left fielder, caught and
threw to the plate. hoping to catch Cook.
The hummer on third beat the throw home
and was safe. MayeS remained on first
Wheeler. after hitting the ball, ran to
first, and after seeing Whteman's throw
going to the plate he continued on to
second.
ALLEN. our catcher naturally thinking
it was MayeS. trying to advance on the
throw-in. threw the ball to knaupp, our
shortstop. who tagged the runner, and
retired the side apparently. Both teams
changed sides. Mayes, who had been on
first and who was supposed to have been
retired. went to his position in center field.
! played second for the Houston club,
and was manager and captain of the
team.
''On my way to the bench / realized that
We had retired Wheeler twice, but /
thought to myself, If they want to give
us three outs for two l have no kick
coming. Their pitcher warmed up. and
our first batter took his position at the
plate. About that time Wheeler took a
tumble to himself, and came in to make
a kick to Van Sickle. Wheeler claimed he
had made the play unthinking. and Van
Sickle didn't seem wise to what had
planned to the umpire Van Sickle sent us
back to the field, and Mayes went back
to first. Beaumont scored three more
runs before the third out was made, and
Houston lost the game.
Eve protested the game, but President
4 hol III,
got all the worst of the ruling. if it was
the correct one. OF course, l made mis-
take in not getting the ball and tagging
Mayes when he left first to go to his po-
sition in the outfield, but it was natural
one on my part; most any one would have
done the same thing. They had given us
three outs for two. AMI l didn't think any
one would discover the mistake. None Of
the fans noticed 1t, neither did the UNI
pire.
member that proverb of the diamond,
Take nothing for granted in base ball
Here was my contention on the protest:
What right had Wheeler to run down to
second and draw the throw, when he had
already been retired on a fly ball? Here is
another point in my favor: After Wheel
err had discovered his mistake, and gone
in to protest to the umpire. Mayes was
still in center field. / could still have
tagged Mayes. before it would have been
possible for him to get back to first, but
the Beaumont pitcher. who was standing
in the center of the diamond with the
ball. refused to give it to me- and in the
confusion Mayes got safely back to first.
Did not the pitcher interfere with the
play, when he refused to give up the ball,
and, again, what right did he have to
the ball when the Houston team tech
n.cally should have it il: the field?
Please give your opinion through the
columns of The Sporting News"
How is that for funny one? 1 have
heard and read Of lot of freak plays, l
have had number come under my per-
sonal observation as an, umpire. but l be-
live the one related by Fillman takes the
title for the concrete championship. 1t
doesn't seem possible that payers UNI
pireS and spectators would all fall for
the three-Out stuff, when in reality only
tive men were retired. That some play
er, scorer or fan didn't call attention to
the mistake seems out of the question.
yet Fillman's explanation Of the play and
Wheeler's belated discovery bear out the
entire statement.
On a first hasty preliminary reading 1t
seemed to me that Umpire Van Sickle
had erred, but after carefully going over
the facts, l can't see how it would have
be en- possible for him to have acted other
wise. Not entirely content with my own
version Of the affair, l wrote a number of
the best base ball authorities on rules,
and they joined in my belief that Van
Sickle had acted correctly, for the rea-
sons | will give 6ater.
OF course Van Sickle must be censured
for calling out Wheeler, thinking that he
was Mayes. Umpires will make mistakes
as long as the game is played, SO we must
pass over that point without further COM
ment. II seems to be the general opinion
that the entire case rests on the delivery
of the ball to the batter. Since Wheeler
made his protest before ball was de-
livered to a batter on the opposition, then
Van Sickle, 1 believe, was right in up
holding Wheelers contention and giving
Beaumont another out. If Wheelers
pitcher had delivered one or more balls
to the batter and then protest had been
made Van Sickle would have been forced
to overrule Wheeler's protest. and declare
the side retired, even though only two
men were out. 1t seems the same rule
would apply In this as to a man batting
out of turn. everything depending on
whether or not a ball is delivered to the
batter before the protest is made.
Wheeler acted within his rights when
he ran down to second on his long fly.
Surely a man cannot be penalized for
running out his hit to the limit. How
Van Sickle confused Wheeler with