New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-16
SuperbaS Baffled by Speed
and Shoots of MCGraW'S
Prodigal Son.
ONLY THREE MEN
REACH FIRST BASE
LObert at Third Gives a Fine
Exhibition, Smoothing Path
for Marquard's Triumph.
By HAYWOOD BROUN.

when the prodigal himself furnishes
the fatted calf, he is dOubly welcome
Rube Marquard, once Graceless
Jumper. leaped back into favor Of fans
by pitching a no-hit game against the
Superbas - the Polo Grounds yester-
day. The Giants won "a score OF 20
e..
As an enthusiastic rootcr remarked.
Il was an excellent performance for
MarQuard. taking into consideration the
fact that he was pitching full game
for the first time this season. Best of
all, Rube's feat was accomplished with
out straining the official scorer. There
was no possible question that Brooklyn
went hitloss.
Only three men reached base against
Marquards pitching, and two Of
these were deadheads The third
was safe when Fletcher fumbled
grounder which should have been the
prelude 70 a double play. The shortstop
made the error doubly sure by first
fumbling the ball, and then booting it.
Hoodoo Fails to Work.
II seemed well nigh impossible for
Marquard 90 complete his triumph for
along about the seventh inning the
rooters noticed that the Brooklyn bat
tiers had been idle and loud expression
was given TO the wish that the RUDE
might pitch q no-hit game. Now, 1t IS
well known that as soon rs anybody
mentions the possibility Of a no-hit
game, an opposing batter Immediately
tears board or two of the fence.
Every pitcher is familiar with that
fact, but somehow or other the rule
failed 10 work yesterday. Yet there
were many anxious moments before the
record was safely housed. Two out in
the ninth is the spot where most no
hit games go wrong, and as Zach
Wheat was the batter at that particu-
lar point in the battle Rube might well
have been nervous.
He pitched a curve 70 Zach which
was just a little low. but another curve
cut the plate for the first strike. Wheat
then fouled a ball for the second strike.
Meyers started to walk away when
Rube's next pitch crashed into his nit,
but Rigler was not 70 be moved 20 any
leniency by the circumstances of the
game. "Bsll two" he said.
Meyers gave a signal and RUDE re-
fused Il. Again the Indian framed q
suggestion, and once more Marquard
ehok his head. The big pitcher wound
up % the tip Of his toes and made
face as If he were about to hurl the
ball over the grandstand. Then he let
go n ball which just foated up 10 the
plate. He had dared TO quit his speed
I'm the pinch Wheat swung and topped
the ball bit TO the right of Marquard.
Rube completed an easy play at first
base.
Rube's smile as he ran of the field
might be classed as paternal, for this
was his first no-hit game. lie pitched
a one-hit game against the Cardinals
IN 1911 and held the Reds to two hits
last July. George Davis. of the
Braves, was the only player to hold
team hitless in the National League
last season, but Benz and Scott both
accomplished the feat in the American
Good Support Helped.
Il is fair to put the emphasis on
Marquard's work when speaking of
yesterdays game, for 1t Is his name
which will 90 down IN the record book,
but naturally he could not have sue
ceeded without good support As
matter of fact. his backing was even
better than that
Lobert, at third. gave one OF the best
exhibitions of fielding which Polo
Grounders have seen since the days of
Arthur Devlin. He made fine stop TO
his right in the third inning. and in the
sixth he again saved Marquard by
scooting in TO pick up Miller's bunt.
The tap was perfectly placed. and It
was only by shooting the ball while on
the run that Lobert could get his man.
Scoop and throw seemed to be all one
motion without an interrupting flicker
Nobody would have thought of scoring
the hunt anything but a hit If Lobert
had overrun it. Snodgrass averted an
other danger in the seventh by tearing
deep into centre field to collar a long
liner from McCarty.
Marquard owes thanks TO Rucker,