Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-20

| Did you ever notice now stars IN
| certain sport always are expressing re-
grets that nature didn't cut them out to
| shine in some other branch? writes Billy
| Evans in the Sporting News Seems
| rather strange statement. but 1t Is true.
| nevertheless. 1t runs true in any form of
| amusement. Did you ever see team In
| vaudeville, really clever dancers, that
| didn't want to sing? Good singers. who
make big hit with that end of their
| act, usually insist on inserting a few
| steps into their finish. no matter how
| awkward they may be. Very often the
| funny comedian aspres to the drama.
while the heavy man yearns for the
| lighter roles. The stars of the diamond
are no exception to the rule.
| Several years ago I was umpiring a
| couple of series in Detroit. Willie Hoppe,
| the world famous billiard player. was
giving exhibitions in that city at the
| same time. While it may not be gener-
| ally known. Hoppe is great base ball
| fan. Not only is he a fan, but he likes
| to take active part in the sport. Few
| billiard stars like Hoppe. whose success
depends so much on the fitness of their
hands, probably ever would touch base
| ball, but Hoppe is not that kind OF a
champion. Although it was August, and
Manager Jennings, worked out with the
Tigers every day.
About the same time, George Mullin
was pitching as good ball as he ever did
| in his life. His great work on the rubber
was doing much to keep the Tigers in the
runnings. Now. Mullin Is a great lover OF
billiards, and. incidentally, plays a very
keen game. He is also great admirer
| of Hoppe, and seldom misses seeing the
champion play. Hoppe, on the other
hand. Is great admirer of Mullin as a
pitcher, and is always in the grandstand
| when Mulln is likely to be the twirling
| selection.
Just before the start of a game in
which Mullin was to pitch, Hoppe and
| the Tiger pitcher were seated on the De-
troit bench, talking sport in general
| Pretty soft for you. George said
| Hoppe with smile, you pitch today,
| then take rest. and If you're feeling
we'll. you may consent to work Satur-
day." Saturday, by the way, was five
| days distant.
| when mentioning soft jobs. speak
about yourself" answered Mullin. You
meet some dub. make the game as short
as you like, and collect the money!
| IF I could pitch like you. 1 would
| never handle a cue again " said Hoppe.
Believe me. he was in dead earnest, too.
| That may be true" replied Mullin.
but II could play b lizards we'll enough
to have the title Of champion 1 would
/
| bail player"
The situation made me smile. Here was
great pitcher, whose name was on the
| lips Of fans the country over because Of
his phenomenal work for the Tigers. who
would gladly trade his base ball ability
to acquire the tie of the worlds best
| billiard player. Here was the leading ex-
ponent of the bill ard game regrett.ne
| that nature had not cut him out to excel
with the bat instead of the cue.
~ cf0 u
their berths exists not only in relation to
other branches of sport, but to the differ
ent positions in their own line. There are
any number Of star payers in the majors
and minors who would really prefer to
play some position other than the one
at which they have made their fame.
You doubt such a statement? Next sum-
mer. when watching the various teams
out of position in the preliminary work
outs
| Take the case Of Hal Chase for instance,
one of the greatest players that ever
guarded the initial sack Usually Chase
puts in but little time playing first pr or
/ to the start of the game. He is either
doing pitching stunt to some of the New
York catchers. or holding down second
base. No play being difficult for him at
first. perhaps he shifts around simply to
experiment with positions that are a lit
tie different.
| Chase always regrets the fact that he
that department instead Of as a first
sacker. Chase, by the way. isn't a joke
as a twirler at that. He has something
on the ball, and never misses a chance to
do little of the twirling when the New
Yoi kers play an exhibition lame. Al
! though left-handed thrower, Chase S
confident that he would make a good sec
Ond-sacker if assigned regu a!.y to tina,
position. His skill is SO great at first that
mani gers naturally ridicule any desire
on the part of the Californian to do any
thing other than hold Gown sack No. |.
"Do you still think you are a pitcher,
| Hail. remarked Clark Griffith to Chase
{ one day last summer. just before game
between the Highlanders and the Nation
ais
| ber." responded Chase with a smile.
Some day 1 expect to be called upon to
stem the tide Of defeat
| Il thought cured you of your desire to
pitch one afternoon in Detroit, said
Griffith.
Lots of pitchers get hit hard their
first time out" replied Chase.
! Then Griffith proceeded to relate how
he called on Chase in a pinch. and how
Hal failed to pinch. Since I happened to
naturally enjoyed the recital all the more.
This Is how 1t all happened:
The Tigers were playing New York at
Detroit and were giving the Gothamites
| severe trouncing. Jack Chesbro was
I pitching. and. although he appeared to
have lot Of stun. the Tigers were TAX
| ing all kinds of liberties with his deliv-
cry Late in the game the New Workers
started batting rally that brought
| them up within a few runs of the De-
| troiters.
| Griffith's pitching staff at the time was
| badly crippled and he was forced to send
| ChesbrO back. thinking possibly his old
head might get away with the game The
first two men up were easy, and then in
side of minute New York was in trou-
| bic. Men were on second and third and
| Crawford up. Sam always hits Chesbro
and Jack worked his hardest trying to
make Sam hit bad ball. but he refused
to bite and was passed. filling the bases.
At this stage OF the game Manager Grit
nth called a halt in the proceedings
Rossman was the next hitter and knew
Griffith was lamenting the fact that he
didn't have a good left-handed pitcher
to rush into the breach. AS Griffith
walked on the field Chase rushed up to
] him and whispered a few words in his
! ear AT first Griffith shook his head, but
Chase persisted. Then Griffith went over
and said few words to Chesbro. Imag-
| inc the crowds surprise when Chesbro
went to first and Chase took his place on
| the rubber.
! Tiger fans admired Chase's nerve and
many Of them hoped he would be able to
dispose of Rossman, but no such good
| luck was In store for Hal. On the sec
ond or third ball pitched Rossman hit
| one I'D against the right field wall clear