Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-14

against MatneWSOn, DuC 1 nave WaCCneQ
him closely, and I rate him wonderful
pitcher. would call him the greatest money
pitcher, and johnson the greatest pitcher,
of them all. Plank Of the Athletics has a
weakness in letting man get lead off
base; but he has covered this up well
Walsh of the White Sox has one Of the best
motions to catch runner mapping off first
that ever saw. l have always found Ford,
who went with the Federal League, a
troublesome man to hit or to steal on.
RRAINY players in the field can greatly
- aid pitcher against the batter. Wallace
of the St. Louis Browns, Clark, formerly
Cleveland catcher, Sullivan of the old Chica-
Browns old catcher, Mcbride of Washing
ton, and Wagner of Boston are all of wonder
full help to pitchers. But when Hal Chase
was with the New York Yankees he was
better than any of them. He was always
schen1ing some play. to help out his pitcher.
In.the course of the campaign few years
ago Jennings, our manager, devised trick.
We were to use it for the first time against
New York. If reached first base, Craw-
ford, who followed me, was to bunt. In
stead of stopping at second, the usual play
on sacrifice, / was to whirl along to third.
The first time we worked this play it was sue
That afternoon after the game l looked
around our clubhouse for drink of water.
where's our coo1er?" asked the trainer.
you'll have to 60 into the Yankees COOP
At the old American League grounds in
New York the two clubhouses adjoined each
other. I walked into the Yankees quarters
and stopped at the cooler near the door.
The New York players were hidden by
high row of lockers. I heard my name men,
toned. Chase was talking.
Cobb made us look like chumps today
we'll get him. You stick to third base, and
I'll play the ball there without paying any
attention to the batter going to first.
3All right replied the man to whom
Chase was talking. From his squeaky, pen
etrating voice recognized him as Austin,
the New York third baseman.
l. sneaked out of the clubhouse without
anyone seeing me, and got hold of Crawford.
4Sam," I said, 3Chase is going to cross us
on that bunt play tomorrow. Now when
we do it you dig for first base and I'll stop
at second. They're going to try to get me
at third. Well both be safe, instead of your
s.. The next day. got on base. Crawford
hunted; Chase rushed in and bounced on the
ball. After rounding second l made pre-
tense of continuing to third; but pulled up
sharp Chase fell for it, slammed the ball to
Austin, and we were both safe. That made
Chase sore. He is always sore when one of
his schemes goes wrong.
3Why didn't you go on to third that last
trip, TYP" he asked.
Because got drink of water in your
clubhouse yesterday I replied.
II knew you must have been tipped of, y
growled Chase.
4You tipped yourself off, I grinned.
But Chase thereafter perfected his play
to such an extent that although we worked
ours on other teams nineteen out of twenty
one times that season we did not dare to try
it against the Yankees.
To be at the top of the batting averages
along with Baker, Collins, Jackson, and the
rest of them, you have to keep on the job
ready to meet trick with trick. have OBJ
served that baseball is not unlike war, and
when you come right down to it we batters
are the heavy artillery.
NOTE-This article apas qpritten Nth the
collaboration of Edacard LyeH Fox.
HoUSEMAID coURTESIEs