Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-28


| fighting hard for the pennant at that time.
with chances about even. A double header
was on tap, and Cleveland had got away
with the first game. Detroit got COM
manding lead in the second contest. Dark
ness was fast gathering over the field, and
the Maps hoped to prevent defeat by resort
ing to every known tick to consume time
1t was unfortunate foT Cleveland that Tim
was again the umpires as he hates to- work
game without having a decision reached.
No such thing occurred, and in finishing the
five innings Hurst gavea couple OF decisions
that are unique in the annals of baseball.
Outfelder Joe Birmingham was credited
with a putout on fly ball that he never
caught; while Catcher Clarke was struck
out without ever having left the players
bench In the fourth inning one of the
Tigers hit fly to Birmingham that Joe got
under: but as it was about to nestle in his
hands he pulled them apart and allowed the
ball to drop safely to the ground. Tim de-
clared the base runner out, nevertheless
and his decision went. When the Maps were
to go to bat in the first Of the fifth was dark
enough to call the game. Tim had decided
that the Maps had already consumed so
much time that he would make ball game
out of it. Clarke, one of the first to bat in
the fifth, was slow about coming up. Hurst
adrnonished him several times, and assured
him that he had better hurry. Clarke in
sisted that he could not find his bat Finally
Hurst ordered the Tiger twirler to pitch.
Three balls were delivered without anyone
being in the batter's box. Hurst officially
declared all of them strikes, and Clarke had
famed without even leaving the bench.
. AIN got me into funny predican,ent the
~ first year worked in the major league,
and incidentally gave Herman schafeI
comedy. Cleveland and Detroit figured in
this incident also 1t was the day before the
Fourth of July, and a fairly good sized crowd
was in the stands. The weather was very
threatening. Neither club appeared to be
pennant contender, so the outcome OF the
game did not mean very much. Before
started the game both managers agreed that
they would hurry in every way possible, IN
order to finish the contest For three and
half innings everything moved along in
whirlwind fashion In the last half Of the
fourth Cleveland made three runs. At the
close of the fourth slight rain was falling.
| It was evident that in few minutes storm
would break.
With the first of the fifth the dilatory tao
tics began. Each player took his time about
coming to the plate. Before stepping into
the batter's box he would carefully dry the
handle of his bat on his uniform. Then he
would strike at the ball; and, whether he
missed it or fouled, he would allow the bat
to slip from his hand and 60 flying in the
direction of third base. The coacher would
pick it up and walk leisurely up to the batter
with it, Then one of the extra players
! would rush out from the bench and dry it
off with a towel. In an effort to delay the
game they were going the limit.
Naturally, it was an embarrassing situa-
ton for youngster just breaking in, and
happened to be working back of the plate
and was in charge of the game that day.
looked in the direction of Sheridan for help;
for all the Tigers were yelling from the bench
for me to call the game. In response to my
signal of distress, Sheridan yelled:
keep them playing until it looks as if the
park might float away!'
In playing the first half of the fifth the
Tigers had consumed almost as much time
as It had taken to play the first four innings.
We finally finished the first half of the fifth.
Seeing that all hope of making the contest 60
down in the records as an unfinished game
had vanished, the Tigers were willing that
should call it; in fact, they were very an
xious that should. Instead | kept them
at it. Scoring any more runs was out of the
/ QUESTION nc the hall was S0 s0ppv II was i'm.