The Washington herald., 1912-11-26
By SAM CRANE.

Now that Germany" schaefer and
Nick Altrock, the most famous Of the
present-day Comedians of the Dia-
mond," are to double up on the vaude-
vile stage and try to draw laughs from
audiences throughout some circuit or
other, and Hdghey Jennings is to fol-
low John ]. McGraw and Rube Mar
GUARD in the same laudable endeavor to
do the uplift behind the footlights, 1t Is
brought to mind that several other base
ball celebrities of former days, who were
none the less prominent In popular favor
in their day, had the spotlight focused
on them to their great financial ad-
vantage, IL not to their regulations as
actor men.
The clowns Of the diamond have been
many but there was a great difference
between the clown and the comedian.
And again, there was a wide disparage-
ment between those players who tried to
be funny and couldn't ana those who
were naturally witty and did not have
to draw out forced laughs.
Mike Kelly was perhaps the first player
who made a hit with the baseball public
as a comedian.
King Ker' could carry a crowd with
him, whether a partisan one or friendly.
with all the ease and sangfroid Of a
born actor. He was not only one OF the
best players who ever wore spikes, but
he was brainy and witty, and his audac-
ity in pulling of funny and foxy plays
right under the umpire's nose caused
more real thrills of gTatifiCation and
wholesale recrimination, according to the
team one was roofing for. than IL he
made a cleanup home run every time
he went to bat.
Kelly Good Natured.
Mike was always good natured. He
never retaliatcd for the guying or
knocks hurled at him during games
when he performed his most outrageous
stunts. but would always get back at
his detractors in the most amiable and
cutting way.
There was no trick known in baseball.
No matter how brazen 1t might be. that
he would not attempt IL he saw a chance
to win a game by doing it.
/ have frequently seen him cut directly
across the diamond from shOrtstOp to
the home plate, and as there was only
one umpire in those days he would often
get away with il. And then what a
joIIying he would give the unfriendIy
crowd that was clamOring for his gore.
At baseball Tepartee he was in a class
by himself. and in no way was he Of
fensive about it. And | never knew of
a spectator who got the best of him.
One of the neatest tricks he ever pulled
on was IN Boston "nen ne was praying
right field. He was also a change catch-
er In Boston. in the fall months, a
thick fog is frequently driven in from
the harbor. and this. when mixed with
the smoke from the engines on the rail-
road adjoining the ball park back of the
left field. formed a dense, thick cloud
that would obscure the outfelders from
view of the spectators, umpires, and
players.
Won Game on Fake Catch.
In this particular game. the Boston Red
Stockings were at bat for their ninth in
ming. The Chicagoes. for whom Kelly
was playing right field, had played their
ninth and were one run in the lead.
With two out and two on bases, Joe
Hornung. of the Reds. hit a ball ter
rife smash into far right field that
looked good when it left the bat for
clean home run, and doubtless was, but
Mike. who was out in the dense cloud of
fog and smoke. ran back some distance.
then stood still, and with hands extend
ed apparently caught the hall and then
made a break for the clubhouse on a
dead run.
The umpire took off his mask. waved
his hands, shouted out" and everybody