The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-16
Copyright, 1N5)

not pitched anything resembling his
usual brand of baseball. But the Rube
had developed into such a wonder IN
the box that it took time for his let
down to dawn upon me. Also it took
tip from Raddy, who sat with me
on the bench.
Con, the RUDE isn't himself to-
day." said Radbourne. His mind
not on the game. He seems hurried
and fustered, too. If he doesn't ex-
rlodc presently, I'm dub at calm
the turn
Raddy was the best judge OF a
pitchers condition, physical or men
tai, in the Eastern League. 1t was
Saturday and We were on the road
and finishing up a series with the
Rochestcrs. Each team had won and
lost a game, and. as | was climbing
close 10 the leaders in the pennant
race, ! wanted the third and decld-
ing game of that Rochester series.
The usual big Saturday crowd was IN
attendance, noisy, demonstrative and
cxacting.
In this sixth inning the first man
I'D for Rochester had flied to Mccall
Then had come the two plays sig
nihcant of the Rube's weakening. He
had hit one batter and walked an
other. This was sufficient, consider
ing the score was three to one in our
favor, TO bring the audience TO its
feet with bowling, stamping demand
for runs.
spears is wise all right" said
Raddy.
watched the foxy old captain
walk over 10 the Rubc and talk to
him while he rested reassuring
hand on the pitchers shoulder. The
crowd yelled its disapproval and UNI
pire Bates called out sharply:
spears, get back to the bag"
Now. Mister Umpire, amt | hur-
ryin' all [ CAM qucricd Spears as
he lcisurely ambled back to first.
The RUDE tossed long, damp,
welt Of hair back from his big brow
and nervously toed the rubber. /
noted that he seemed to forget the
runners on ba,,; and delivered the
ball without slancing at either bag.
or course this resulted in a double
steal. The ball went wild-almost a
wild pitch.
Steady up. old man." called Gregg
between the yells of the blcachers
He held his mitt square over the
plate for the Rubc to pitch TO. Again
tho long twirler took his swing, and
again the ball went wide. Clancy
had the Rube in the hole now and
the situation began to grow serious.
The RUDE did not take half his usual
deliberation, and OF the next two
pitches one of them was a ball and
the other strike by grace OF the
umpIre'S generosity. Clancy raped
the next one, an absurdly slow pitch
for the Rubc to use. and both run
ners scored to the shrll tune of the
happy bleachcrs.
| saw Spears shake his head and
look toward the bench. 1t was plain
what that meant
"Raddy, | ought to take the Rube |
out" | said, but whom can | put in ?
\ OH worked yesterday-Cairns' arm
i sore. It's got to be nursed. And |
Henderson. that ladies' man | just
signed, is not in uniform"
I'll go in replied Raddy, in
stantly.
Not on your lite" | had as hard
time keeping Radbourne from over
working as had in getting enough
work out of some other players. 81
guess I'll let the Rube take his medi-
cine. ] hate to lose this game, but
If VIC have 10. wc can stand it. I'm
curious, anyway, to see what's the
matter with tho Rubc. Maybe he'll
settle down presently"
! made no sign that ! had noticed
Spears appeal to the bench And
my aggressive players, no doubt see
1T% the situation as ! saw it. sang ont
their various calls Of cheer to the
kuhc and OF defiance 10 their an
tagoni>t>. Clancy stole off first base
so far that the RUDE. catching some
body'> warning too late, made balk
and tho umpire sent tho runner on to
second. The Rubc now showed pain
ful evidences OF being ratified.
lie could not locate the plate with
ont slowing up and when he did that
a Rochester PLAYER walloped the ball.
Pretty soon he pitched as if he did
not care. and but for the fast fielding
Of the team behind him the Roches-
tiers would have scored more than
the eight runs it got. When the Rube
came IN 10 the bench | asked him
it he was Sick and at first he said
he was and then that he was not.
SO let him pitch the remaining
innings, as the game was lost any
how, and we walked off the field a