Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-25
Thrilling Moments on the Diamond
How Chance Outgeneraled Donovan.
By Edward Lyell Fox.

In an upper row of the grandStand at
Detroit one man sat apart from the
others Below on the clOse-ro!led turf
the st. Louis Browns were coming to
bat for the last time against Detroit.
For brief moment the man turned
his gaze from the field-turned it to be-
yond the outfield fences, where the tree
tops, autumn tinged, were showing them
selves in a glow of red and gold.
1t was late September. and the Tigers.
with the American League championship
already in their grasp, wee finishing out
the season at Bennett P; The tension
of the pennant race had ..ited. For the
next few weeks it would he nothing but
a gradual easing off-a relaxation before
the worlds series which was soon to
come.
Yet because of this very situation the
man was holding his lonely post, re-
moved from the general augmentation of
the stand. He was there. you see, on
mission. Now the inning began and lean
ing forward he watched the Detroit pitch
era tall, sharp-featured man. whose hair
showed streaks of gray just under the
edges of his cap. The first ST. Louis
batter facing him. Donovan promptly
turned on the full force of the terrific
speed that he had been using all after
noon. Ball after ball went crashing into
the catchers mitt, and when there came
no sign of let-up the man far up in
the stands began to look worried. Once
he muttered Frank must have been
wrong
A minute later he drew pair of
binoculars from his pocket and focusing
them on the sturdy Donovan. waited
patiently.
Finally that for which he had been
waiting came. Aided by the strong
glasses. he saw Donovan's arm begin to
move YEARLY. The terrific, speed lessened
and was gone. The st. Louis batters,
one after another. swung their bats
sharply. The ball went singing to the
four corners of the field. Donovan. pow
erless to check the onsla ught, was driven
from the box. At the beck of Jennings.
the Detroit manager. he walked slowly
from the field Another pitcher was hur-
ried to the firing line. The aspect of
the game was changed. 1t had become
tense. The crowd was shouting now.
To the man in the upper row. though.
everything was over. For him the In
pounding Donovan. Slipping the binoc-
ulars into his pocket he walked slowly
from the grounds And as he turned for
the last time to the field. watching Dom
to himself: Frank was right. after ALL.
Now that man was scout sent by the
CHICAGO National League club to watch
Detroit. Rather he was sent by Man
leader of the Cubs. confident that his
team would carry off the National League
pennant. was throwing out his battle
lines for the worlds series. To that end
front he had sent the scout to Bennett
Park Also Chance sent him there to
verify report he had heard.
1t was to the effect that Donovan. one
much speed steadily through a game.
Chance had heard that Donovan, racked
by the strain of the American League
pennant race. was no longer able to
He had heard that Donovan was begin
ming to show signs of always weaken
ing badly in the eighth or ninth inning.
And upon receiving verif1cation from
the scout Chance laid his plans accord
ingly.
Several weeks have passed and in the
National League Park at Chicago the
second game of the 1908 worlds series Is
being fought. Walled in by great
crowd. the Tigers and the Cubs were
locked In hard combat. Seven innings
had been fought and neither had scored.
Donovan. pitching to his utmost. had
other. Only by the shappest of fielding
had they kept Detroit from crossing the
plate.
Upon the command of Chance, one
after another of the Cubs had gone to
bat and waited. Never did they strike at
a ball unless they absolutely had to.
Chance had ordered, wait him out.
His plan was to make Donovan pitch all
the unnecessary balls possible. Chance
was trying to make the mighty Tiger
wear himself down. But now the game
was drawing to a close and impatient
at the restraint that had been put upon
them the Cubs were begging their man.
ager to 'Iet them hit it," Still Chance
demurred.
Then Hoffman. beginning Chicago's half
Of the eighth and forced by the count of
balls and strikes to swing at the next one,
poked a hit down the third base line, He
beat it out. Now Chance watched Dom
ovan intently, and a moment later saw
the sign for which he had long been wait
ing Upon raising his arm Donovan's
mouth drew at ths corners, disclosing the
weakness that had come over him. In
stantly Chance ordered Hit 1t out" The