The Washington herald., 1914-02-15

John America. Woo posffDea
WITH the Natisaais during the. fs-
Dess Jake stahl regime, In 1903,
once stole second with the bases
full.
n was generally believed that
this bone-headed stunt was COM
nitted here In the Capital, but such
In not the case, although there are
fans In WanhinGtoa who declare
that big ysAn talked In English
and did his thf,aking IN Swedish.
Many weird tales are recouated
of John Anderson, who, by the way,
was not . bad ball player.
1 got him frsn Jimmy MeAIeer
the day he dashed maaly tn sec.
oad base. emily to Asd II occupied
by one of his own Teammates.
As long as Fred Merkle lives he win
be known to the fans as the man who
failed to touch second, costing the New
York Giants championship.
John Anderson once swiped second
with the bases full, and he. like Merkle.
is still marked man.
Anderson has quit the game, but MGR
HE is still a member Of the New York
club.
He pulled bone, is a common ex-
preston in connection with baseball
Merkle was victim of circumstances.
John Anderson simply lost his head COM
pletely and didn't know whether he WAC
playing baseball or riding horseback.
Don't mistake for an instant that John
Anderson was not a good ball player.
He was a fine fielder and could hit. he
was also fairly fast on the base paths.
Wanted an OutAelder Badly
1 had a chance to win a pennsnt with
my New York club back in 1904 and
needed a .hard-hitting outhelder.
At that time Jimmy McAleer was man
ager OF the St Louis Browns. and John
Anderson was playing on that club.
One day the Browns drifted into New
York for a series and as John Ander-
son had been in batting slump 1 dug
up McAleer at his hotel and tried to
dicker with him for the big fellow.
Anderson yssuld fit in well with my
club" I told Jim, 'and I'll give you
1900 cash for him. What do you say?"
~Nothise doing, Grin, need all
the players ! have. I don't want
to sell or trade any Of my tesm,-
McAleer replied, and no amount Of
eoaxinE would make him change
his mind.
Now comes the memorable ball game.
when Anderson pulled his famous bone
headed play on the base paths. 1t hap
pened on the afternoon OF that game
day, the Yankees were playing the
Brownies on the old Hilltop field.
An unusually big crowd was on hand
for Jack Chesbro, the famous spitball
finger, had been advertised to pitch for
the New Workers..
My club jumped into an early lead and
the Browns were helpless before Chesbro.
The score at the start Of the ninth in
ming was to o in favor Of the Yanks. j
that well.
Suddenly the Browns started vicious
batting rally, q few errors helped. and
before anybody realized what had hap
pered three runs crossed the plate before
a man had been retired.
Chesbro. instead of pulling himself to-
gether, continued to get into hole. The
Browns again filed the bases. Anderson
himself getting on with scratch single.
John was prancing Off first base, and
a dangerous batter. up.
Finds Somebody There.
Just as 1 was getting ready to put in
another pitcher. Anderson dashed madiy
for second base When he arrived the
bag was occupied. and Chesbro snapped
the ball down in time to nip big John as
the latter started back towards first. Nat
uralfy the base-runner on third saw what
was going on and hiked for the plate He
was turned back and tagged out
wallace had a-couple Of strikes on him,
and In disgust swung at third one re-
firing the side. and ending the ball game.
All this time. kept watching McAieer,
who was sitting on the st. Louis bench.
Poor old Jim was wild: his face was pur-
pie with anger. He wanted TO say some
thing. but could only gasp.
Al Hast he reeevered HIS vsuce.
and while I grisned NJ Hin sfre1
sersss The 1eid he junped - kis