The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-28
Gossip OF the Game
By JACK BETHEA

Probably in no game played on Rick
wood Field this season have more un-
usual plays come up than in the CON
test of yest,rday afternoon. The fans
were kept t.tinually guessing and ad-
miring.
Two occurred in the fourth inning.
The Gulls were robbed of a run when
O'Dells bounder struck starr on the
foot while he was en- route from fiy,t
TO second. In the same inning with
Schmidt ON third and Clark on first,
Miller flew out to ELAN behind sec
ond. ELAN threw to the keystone
bag aud the ball was relayed to first
where Clark was doubled In the
meantime. Schmidt had crossed the
pan before the play was completed.
There was considerable discussion
as to whether the run should be scored.
The official scoger held that the run
was void on account OF the double
play and side out. Other scribes MAIN
tanned that inasmuch as Schmidt
counted before the play was completed
Mobile was entitled to the run. Um-
pire KERN was appealed 10 and de-
cided against the scorer. and allowed
the run on the grounds that Schmidt
scored while the play was in progress.
KERN says the play has come up
several times in his experience. While
he was umpiring in Toronto he made
the same decision The Toledo club
protested the game. but the umpire
was upheld. Hart says play came up
I'm Louisville and it was decided IN
the same way.
In the seventh Marcan pulled great
stunt. With one down Miller hit to
left for one bag. Campbell hit a high
one just inside the first base line and
Marcan took IT, 1t looked so easy that
Miller hugged the bag, thinking that
Marcan would smother il.
lie was badly fooled. The Baron
second baseman allowed the ball to
touch the ground. taking it on the
bounce. As Miller dashed by in an ef-
fort to make second Marcan slapped
the ball ON him and then beat Camp
bell to first, completing a double play
unassisted, retiring the side.
Marean was the only Baron to hit
for extra bases. He doubled to left
in the fifth. Messenger sacrificed
perfectly, but the best Mcdonald could
do was to pop out to Starr Marcan
also made a beauty knock down of
STAIRS liner in the fourth. lie got
his hands on the ball but. it was too
hot to handle.
In the second Clark did his best to
bother Clifton on pitchout, but with
cut success. Schmidt was on first and
went down. Hardgrove sent over a
wide one and Clark, unable to even
APPROACH the ball. threw his bat out
Clifton took the ball without wiggle
and caught the Gull catcher with room
to spare.
Stock and Paulet were distinctly the
stars for the Gulls Yesterday The
shortstop took six chances without
an error, besides doing effective work
with the stick.
In the first Marcan stung a hot one
to Stock, who handled ii cleanly but
threw high. Pauet went into the air
and was on the bag before Marean
loafed across. The play was almost
duplicated when Messenger hit one to
the same place.
Paulet accepted 10 chances with an
excusable error. He more than made
up for this in his batting. He scored
double and a homer In four trips to
the plate.
Even though the game Is fopelessly
lost, 1t is never pleasant to see play
ers loaf. 1t denotes lack of the
proper playing spirit. There was a
good deal of this evident among the
Barons yesterday.
In the ninth Knisely took his time
about going after Schmidts homer to
center field. He made scarcely an eff
fort to field the ball. In the first in
ming Marcan was guilty of the same
offense with less excuse than Knisely.
He stung one to Stock, who threw
high to first. Paulet went high into
the air for the ball, but Marcans
sprint came too late the Gull was back
on the bag when he arrived.
The charge recently made by Cova-
leslSi that Wee Willie Prough had
lodged a contest with the Crackers,
fearing for his pitching honors, is at
tracing considerable attention around
the circuit. Only in Chattanooga is
the matter receiving any credence Of