The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-05-07
BASEBALL PLAYERS
 IN BIG LEAGUES
 DON'T KNOW RULES

Major league ball players study ev-
 cry angle of the games but one-the
 rules. It is strange that in the great
 est game in the world, the one neg 1ected thing is that which is first learned in almost every other sport. Ana yet we do not recolIect of having ever heard of a club in the major leagues that compelled it's players to
 have a knowledge of baseball playing
 rules. It is highly improba that one player in the high circle of base
 ball Is thoroughly acquainted with the rules. Many upsets have been caus- ed by ignorance of playing rules. Not season goes by but some important
 turn In a teams race is featured by ignorance of 8 certain rule of the game
 on the part of one or more players. 2
 Turn to the history of the season
 of 1908 and you will find that the New York Giants lost the National
 membe bers-and one, Fred Markle, in particular-were not acquainted with certain important and not unconn-
 mon rule of the game.
 The fact that a member of the Cubs knew the rule of which the Giants team the National league flag. John ny Evers' everlasting fame because he knew the rules thoroughly and took advantage of that knowledge.
 Fred Merkle became a persecueed victim of ignorance of playing rules. It would seem that the fact that a ma jor league pennant was decided by knowledge of the rules should serve as sufficient reason why every major league player should devote part of his time to becoming fully acquaint- ed with them. But the MerkIe incl dent although rememb bered and often referred to at this day, failed to serve a $ a lesson io norance as ever.
 In the last game the Detroit Tigers played at Montgomery, Ala, on their exhibition trip there was a remarka ble misplay. It happened that the chief actor was Oscar Stanage, a player who is conceded to be the brainiest back stop in the American league. AL though Stanage committed the bun der, there was not another man on the playing field aware Of it; at least no one called the catcher's attention to the mistake, did any one try to prevent it. The play happened in Montgomery half of the first inning. One man was out and a runner on first. Two strikes had q1een called on the batter, when the pitcher, Troy, served low curved ball. The ball struck the ground in back of the plate and bounded through Stanage's legs. The batter, however, swung and missed and Stanage ran after the ball Now section $ of rule 51 reads: "A batsman is out if while first base be occupied by a. base runner the third strike be called on him by the um- pire, unless two men are already out
 But Stanage, recovering the ball, made a hurried throw toward first. The ball. passed four feet outside the bag. Gainer tried to block %.it but failed, 1 One runner reached third and the 1 other got to second. Both scored a l few moments later. It happened that i the same play came up at Mobile three | days before. The Mobile catcher missed a third strike with base occu- pied and none out. The batter start- ed for first and the runner on first started for second. The catcher re- covered the ball and was about to | throw when voice from the outf1e1d l shrieked: Hold the ba11!'' Hold the | ball!'' He held 1t.
 Tn two games, with the same situa- ton arising twice, but one man knew | of the rule. When the same play1 came up a few days later Montgomery ! did not know 1t and Detroit did not | remember it. although the Tigers prob |