The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-10-05

100 "u F'")eT OHS OF tne pralnieSt
Ball Tossers In the Game-He Is
Also Ready With His Trioks-Lesie
Mann Vouehes For Knabe.
What has become of the tricky ball
player, the one who is always on the
alert, always ready TO pcrpetrate some
thing on the uususpccting opponent
when the umpire is not looking? Has
the evolution OF the game pushed him
aside, or have the players lost the cum
ming of former days? There is some
cause for his absence, for nowadays
one does not see the smart little tricks
that add acst and interest TO combat.
The present day players do not at
tempt 10 catch their adversarics nap
ping with little clever manipulations
that are exercised at time when they
might change tine entire complexion Of
game. Whether the men do not think
quickly enough or whether they lack
the nerve TO attempt the plays is hard
to say. The shreWd plays are not seen
on the field as they were less than Il
decade ago, and as result the games
do not contain the flash and fire they
did then.
Knabe Ready With Tricks.
Only one player remains actively en-
gagged in the national pastime who pos
seSses the grit. nerve and ability to
think 10 get away with a little cunning
when the umpire is not watching too
closely. This player is Otto Knabe Of
the Cubs. He is one of the old school
and still one Of the pcppery athletes
whose work at second base for the
Phillies was always interesting and cx-
citing because he was over ready to
stop an opponent with some harmless
trick.
On the field lie has lot of enemies
because Of his readiness to outgucss
and outthiuS an opponent. OF the field
he has n great many friends, because
he has a pleasing personality, is good
joker ana appreciates one when it is
perpetrltcd ON him. Baseball to him is
a conflict. lie loves to play it and loves
to win and never ovcrlooks an opportu-
nifty to do something to win. When he
Is engaged i'm Il contest he has the OPP
position watching him because of his
cleyerncss IN spGuging Il trick at a crit
Zeal point of the battle
Plays Trick on Leslie Mann.
Leslie Mann also Of the Cubs, can
voucb for Kuabe's cunning in a ball
game, for it was only this year that the
stocky iHlicldcr pulled one on him he
probably will never forget Knabe was
with the Pirates at the time and was
playing second base when he used his
trick on Mann, who was ready to fight
and sworc that he would get Otto be
fore the season was finished. lie never
got the chance, for a few weeks later
Knabe was signed by the Cubs, and
now tho two players are the best of
friends.
The trick that Knabe worked on
Mann was clever rs well as laughable
to those who saw it and appreciated
the smartncss of it. Mann was on sec
ond base as result Of double, with
no one out. The next batter up drove
long fly TO llinchman in right field.
Steps on Mann's Foot.
AS soon as the ball was hit Mann
went back to second base to prepare
for quick start for third. AS he was
a noted sprintcr in high school and
college he set himself the same as a
dash man does for a sprint. Knabe
saw Mann's position and instantly
placed himself at Maun's side, and
when the latter broke for second step
ped on the foot that was on the bag
The Cub outiieldcr, of course, hardly
realized what happened, was tripped
stumbled on his hands and knees and
barely made third base lie had to
| slide To reach the base ahead of the
peg, whereas ii Enahe had not trick.
ed him he would haye gone in stand.
ing up.
When Mann reached third on that
| play he was furious, shook his fist nj
Knabe and called him many names
Manager Tinker was In the third base
coachcr's box, aud he also "ravcd''
and wished he were I'm the game &c
get back mt the smart second base.
man. Enabc only smiled at Mann and
Tinker and went back 10 his work
with more Zcst than ever
There was no harm In this little
trick, ana II proved that Knabe is al
ways ready to do something that viii
turn an opponents chance for victory
into defeat. And he is about the only
one left In the National league who /,
ever prepared to enllyen hostilities 10y
his thickness.