The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-07-30
D o p E

By "SmIksosst''

By ''Stsiksowt'
Of course. the sensa ton of the week in
baseballdom has been-that twenty -one
inning battle between the Giants and the
Pirates record in the National League,
which is likely to stand for while. I
have just had squint at the official box
score and have browsed with relish over
the individual performances in the
field. Arthur Fletcher, the Giants short
stop, according to the report, played his
position sensationally; making stops and
stabs at the ball which fairly made the
spectators gasp. He is credited with elev-
en- assists, four put outs, two hits, and one
error chucked up against him. George
Burns, in left, made eleven put outs, no
errors and two hits; some fielding this, DO,
and in the sun field, too. Your old friend,
--bonehead Merkle, at first, gets twenty
five put outs; no errors and failed to hit,
with eight trips to the bat This is I'M
usual for Fred, who is generally there to
bring 'em home. Bob Bescher, besides
performing wonders at bat and field, stole
his usual quota of bases, but this is always
expected of him. Fletcher and Burns
kept him company
Rube Marquard-where are those knock
ers who have persisted all summer he was
all in?-the RUDE was all there, and finish
ed strong, the backing he got from his
team mates inspiring him as the game pro-
ceeded to the extra innings. On the Pia-
ates' side Hans Wagner, of course. held
the lime light; not only ON account of his
gilt edge field work Nand smuggling, which
reminded many present of the old vets
palmiest days, but, because he pulled one
of his old and favorite stunts: stole the ball
from third baseman Stock of the Giants,
but, unfortunately for him, did not stow
it away secure enough in his shirt, SO, as
he stepped away, after making grand
slide home with the ball in his possession,
mind you) the ball fell at the foot of the
umpire. who, upon McGraw's righteous
boiler, declared him out for interference,
and sent the other runners back base.
Clark, so we are told, protested the game,
claiming that there is no rule to back up
the umpire's decision. If he is reported
right, he d better read up.
say, in referring to this incident, that
it is IAN old and favorite stunt of Hans"
because once, back in the nineties, when
he covered right for the Pirates, and long
before infeld material was discovered in
him, he sprung the very same trick on
Billie Gilbert, the diminutive second base
man of the Giants. He got away with it
upon that occasion, fooling Bob Emslie,
who was calling them from behind the
bat, failed to lamp the performance on ac
&c he ~ &c
second after the big Dutchman's slide.
The ball stolen by Hans on this occasion,
was autographed by the strategic Tor pill
fering) Hans and placed on exhibition in
Spaulding & Co.'s windows in Chi. Some
cites that abOunds there) heard of it, and
which he received in return the famous
sphere. No official cognizance of the in
cident was ever taken by the National
Commission, as no kick was ever made
by the Giants; they felt too cheap.
Are you watching those Cubs? If not,
you had better. They're making terrific
efforts to overlap the Giants-their his
toric enemies. / always maintained that
it w8s the old time hatred of the windy
city aggregation for the Giants that kept
much of the interest in the National at
fever heat. From the days that used to
see old Pop Arson lead the frisky colts in
the field, down to the peerless Frank
Chances reign, game between those
two clubs meant gore. 1t was treat to
hear Pop passing the compliments Of the
day with Buck Ewing, and say thing
or two, from the coacher's box, to Tim
Keefe or Micky WEIGH, in the box for the
Giants; that was in the old polo grounds
10th street, where now some of the tall
est and biggest of the uptown fats are To-
Gated. / wonder how many of you here
abouts can bark back that far?
But honestly, if it is on the cards that
the Giants must surrender the flag this
year, do not know of any other sport
that would like to see coping more than
Hank O'Day. There's one glory to the
game for you; and say this despite the
fact that many time have been guilty
of calling him highway robber for som e
of his decisions. Hank is all right. Had
they left him alone at Cinci. he would
have kept up his early season cyclonic
work with the Reds, but, in those days
there were too many managers in the
Reds camp, who thought they had it on
Hank, hence the fizzle, after making such
a splendid start.
Anyway, the Cubs are coming back into
their own. The early season apathy
shown by the Chi. fans and their desertion
of the west side grounds in favor of the
Sox and the Feds has been Offset the past
week by twenty-five thousand audiences
at each game of the series with the Giants.
No wonder Mr.. Charley Taft refuses to
sell out, who would?
The two leagues race just now, espe-
cially that of the Nationals, are lallapa-
loosas. 1t is beginning to look as any,
body's rags; let one of the leaders falter
and you are going to see one of the great