The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-30
Manager Takes to
Telegraph Pole on
Getting the Gate

-(HdltdnooEd IanS often remember
with chuckles the stunt pulled by
Johnny Bierkotte in a game at Cham
beriain field in 1909.
Johnny was exiled from the game by
Dixie Van Sickle of stee-rike fame
He hesitated for a while at the bench
and was shooed further. He tried
ito stop in the stand, but was discov-
cred. Finally the jumps got the player
out of the park. A few moments la
ter the fans beheld a slim figure on
the top cross bars of a telephone pole
on Vine street, yelling loud derision
at the jumps. The figure was inn
mediately recognized as the exiled
Bierkotte.
The umpire was totally helpless. as
Bierfkotte, or Berkel, as he later
styled himself, had every right to ex-
ercise the American citizens right of
free speech after he left the bali Yard.
The stunt was repeated last season in
the Michigan league by Malachi
Kittridge, the old Washington catcher
who manages the Saginaw team Of
that organization.
Malachi according to Jack Cessna,
who also used to play with Saginaw,
is still some catcher, albeit his years
are beginning to prey upon his tenn
per. @~
kittridge. who still continues to
club, has a reputation of being a crab
longer than the proverbial arm. He
raves and RACES at the umpires con-
ttnualiy, at the players, and even the
spectators get II once in awhile when
they fail to come through" in n pHy
Geological moment, as for instance,
when the opposing pitcher is wavcfing
on the ascent.
This, however is as much "A part of
Mal 81 he
quiet ACCOMPLISHMENTS of Connie Mack,
and all his players know 1t. With
their manager always full of pep
II sets them to hot stepping, too, and
thus keeps the club going But with
him out OF the game the club per-
forms like a headiess horse and for
that reason opponents of the Saginaw
club make every effort to drive him
off the diamond. when the disposal of
the rest nf the club is easy
Jack Cessna, who is now playing
with Bay City. Saginaw's bitterest ri
val. tells how. on one occasion Kit
fridge was made the victim of q clever
ruse which was the cause OF both Of
his being chased out of the BAH park,
and his teams defeat
The game was. as usual, tight one.
Kittridgo vas behind the bat and Cos
ma was up a runner who had
reached first, stole. and was declared
safe by the umpire Malachi opened
his mouth TO protest, when Cessna,
initiating his voice az much as posi-
BILE, sent forth "a howl of protest that
nearly scared the arbitrator's ears.
'Out of the game YOU" ne Toared.
pointing his finger at the sstanished
Malachi, who stood there with his
mask in his hand. and his mouth wide
open. And though the veteran made
valiant protest the remembrance OF
the disparagement Of the umpires dis
corning powers was too singing to be
forgotten, and off the field went Mala-
Chi. as sore a man as ever was seen
in q ball park.
Then it was that Bay City's mana
ger also put up IL howl, and he, too,
was banished,
Kittridge few minutes later in
civilian clothes appeared in the grand
stand and began to direct his players
from that point II vantage. The Bay
City manager spotted him instantly,
and. coming down beside him, signaled
to his players In call the umpire's al
tention to this tlarrant breach of au
thortty And out Of the stand Went
the bafled Malachi.
Later a man was seen standing up
in the bieacher section, waving his
arms about madly. IL was the ire
pressibie manager of Bay City, who ha
followed kttridge into that section
Of the field and was thus calling his
team and thus the arhitrator's notice
to the fact that the old catcher was
sttll defying the Indicator mans in
functions,
And this time Kittridge went ont of
the park. amid the howls OF the pops
lace while the greatly interrupted
game was resumed
But all was not over, Before long.
the people within the mark LeAaI4.A-.
cognizant OF "a portlY figure high up
ON a telegraph pole outside the park.
holding on with one hand. and brand
ishing the other in great eclat. II
was the persistent Malachi bowling his
defiance at the umpire. and showing
the never say-die spirit which always
characterized him in the big league