Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-22
BLACKLISTED
HoaO Bqqs OutOed the "FIeG-The Game Without DeaiThe
Team Scores, and Ike Small Goes IN for Strategy.
inside Baseball
Ru CHARLES E. VAN LOAN

Writer of Baseball Fiction.
game you'll have to write the official
scorer. 1 can't remember everything that
happened, but there's a few spots that
kind Of stick out In my memory. We
had II UP and down-me and Anstruther
for six innings, and nothing on the
score board but horse collars. was
holding 'em as safe as If they was locked
up in a vault; they only got two hits In
the six innings, and the thing that tickled
me the most was that Jimmy Dougherty
hadn't got to first base in three times
up. That's how good L was going. The
Flea was getting sorer and sorer, and
the line of talk he was using would have
been kind of unsafe in billiard room,
or on the street, but didn't mind 1t the
least bit in the world I knew what he
was after. He was trying to get me to
take notice of him, but I worked in a
grading camp for four months, and I'd
heard all that talk before.
The third time he came TO bat was
in the sixth, with one man down. He
waited, but l wasn't throwing many
wide ones that day, and he had to hit
It, I got the ball without moving out
of my tracks, and let him run his head
off before 1 threw 1t, and what he said
then would have got him half killed in
some towns / could mention.
But what's the use of the best pitch
Ing in the world If there ain't any hit
ting behind you? Old Anstruther held
us to two hits In the six innings, and
both OF 'em came with two men out.
For heavens sake" says 1 to Small
after the first half of the seventh was
over, "aint you never going to get me
any runs? I don't ask for flock. Gimme
two-gimme one, and I'll be satisfied,
One lonely little ace, and we've got EN-"
Wen do that" says Small. This
miserable old man Anstruther Is getting
| Ii -. swfaVA
him a party. Go UP there, Tucker, and
take smash at the first one"
Dave went up, and turned around and
came right back again. He never could
hit left-hander, anyway, though he
could mako a right-hander holler for
what they call a change Of venue.
! We'll" says Ike, picking out Pansy.
this game on the Ice. If don't hit one
a mile I'll bust my back trying"
He hit It all right enough, Lefty tried
| to sneak over his fast one, and Ike was
laying for It. He whaled the ball to the
fence for a triple. Up to that time
hadn't paid much attention to the crowd,
| but a deaf man would have had to sit
up and take notice of what happened
after that long drive. Fish horns and
horse fddles and tin pans and hats In
the air. It was beautiful. Then up went
Martin Dunn and slapped a bunt down
| the frst-base line, and beat 1t out, Ike
scoring Those lunatics about wrecked
the grand stand, and out on the bleachers
every Bellingham fan took a punch at a
visitor.
Ike came back to the bench, putting
like wheel mule at the top Of a grade.
He sat down beside me, and wiped his
| face on his sleeve.
We've got 'em now" he says; ''but
we mustn't let 'em get away from us,
Listen, kid. McLaurin and Harrigan are
tine first two men up for them next in
ming. Then old Anstruther."
'HuhP 1 says. Three of the softest
marks in the world
Yes" says Ike; but suppose they
go out in order-what them"
What then?" I says. why, nothing
Three outside out; that's all there is
to IT,"
use your head" says Ike Don't
you SEQ that that'll bring Jimmy Dough-
erty up to lead off the ninth inning7"
well" says /, 'it can't be helped
I've had him eating out OF my hand all
day. Wen have to take a chance"
I'VE won't do any such thing!" says