Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-03


It was a liner and normally a sure
lift. Tommy turned with the crack
Of the bat, ran without looking at
the ball to left field, stole one
glance at the rapidly approaching
leather, and with his back toward
the home plate he jumped an in
credible distance into the air and
speared the ball.
II may not sound spectacular.
but Coach Heisman calls Il the
greatest fielding play he ever saw
on a college diamond, and I'm well
content to agree with him In the
verdict.
A VOLUME could be FLIED with a
narration OF Tommy's wonder
ful stunts Once in a game at
Clemson, with Tech leading in the
last OF the ninth, two out, two
men on bases and the score s TO 2
in Teoh's fawor, a nasty fly was hit
oack OF shortstop. Mcmillan start
ed back after 1t and Just as he
was slowing down and settling
himself for the catch he stumbled
and fell. There was no time to get
up, no time to do anything but
throw himself full length and
stretch out his hands. This he ala
and. lying nat ON the ground on
his back and with his hands be
yond his head at full length, he
caught the ball, retired the side and
saved the game.
Probably no incident Of his col
lege career showed better his in
nate baseball instinct than one
which happened when the Tech
team was playing at spartanburE
with the Wofrord college team
Tech had a grand team that year
with Lafftte and Day as twirS-
ers-and IT won % out Of rs games
The Jackets had Just made a clean
run OF IL straight wins and en-
tered the thirteenth game with
Some superBttttous misgiVinEs. 1t
Was a hlustery day, with gusty
young hurricane blowing into the
QlHTf1OnQ
was skinned and sandy and TO com
plfate matters tho ground keeper
had used overTnuch lime on the
lines.
With the score to in Techs
favor IN the eighth inning
and with men ON second and
third beSeA the times we're
tense. The batter hit the first ball
pitched mighty waIlop toward
Mcmillan. And as he aid SO the
worst gust OF the day swept a cou-
pie OF carloads OF dirt, sand and
lime down across the field and
right toward Mcmillan. The murky
blanket reached the clever little in
ffelder before the ball did.
The situation looked hopeless. No
man could see through the curtain
OF lime and dirt
Yet suddenly. out of the middle
Of the miniature whirlwind, the
Dan shot, straight into the first
oeseman's hands, the runner was
out and the side retired
AS Mcmillan came back to the
bench he was paving at his ewes
and almost blind.
Well how IN tho Dickens did
You see that ball7" Coach Heisman
asked
Jaw. didn't see It," replied
Mcmillan lightly. y just knew
where it was coming and put my
hands out and 1t jumped in"
WslL how did you manage to
throw II 10 first-you couldn't see.
could your Coach Heisman per-
sisted.
"See-naw," said Mcmillan. But
don't you suppose l know where
first is2T
WHEN Mcmillan finished his col
lege course he decided on
baseball as his profession. And
Bernie McCRy grabbed him and
took him to the Baton Rouge club.
where he played his first profess
sional season in 1906, batting 1877
and fielding .S72-no very brilliant
performance. The next year. at
Jacksonville. under the leadership
Of the eruptive Dominick Mulla-
ney and playing then on the same
Cracker. he came nearer TO his
club with vedder Sitton. a present
normal gait, batting .256 and lead
ing the shortstops Of the league
with an average OF .934
The year 1905 was McMiuan,s
last in the South. Though his rec
ords were not as good as the pre-
vious year Coating .2l7. fielding
.elS). Pat Donovan looked him over
carefully while his BROOKLYN team
was training in the South and I'm
the fan he grabbed him.
Mcmillan continued his Senss-
tioual fielding In the National
league and showed a mark of .ql4
IN loo games with BROOKLYN. His
batting average, however was hut
.2l2.
The following year 1910. NcA1u-
'aus batting SiuWped and Brook
lyn asked waivers ON him. Gin
cinnau claimed him His batting
mark for that season was only
.lN5 but his fielding was q21. and
DE ranked with such men as
Sweeney OF Boston. Fletcher. of
New York. povuey. of Cincinnati
aut Zimmerman. of Chicago.
That year IL was decided to send
him TOO the Eastern league. But
Brooklyn wanted him for the Roch-
este" team while Clark Griffith.