Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-18
LATEST CLOWN in
BASEBALL MAKES
A TERRIFIC HIT
Carl Sawyer, of Washing
ton, Out-Schaefers Schaef-
er, and Altrock Flees
HIS STUFF IS GREAT!

A new comedian has flashed across the
baseball horizon, youth whose antics
are more mirth-provoking than those of
Nick Altrock, Germany Schaefer, Arlie
Latham or any other funny man the
diamond game has produced.
He is Carl Sawyer. late of Des Moines,
which is in Iowa, and now utility key
stone sacker and coach for the Senators.
outside of washington fttle Is known of
his second-baslng skill, but already he Is
n sensation as a clown.
Sawyer is worth the price of admission
any time he is billed to stage his "frisky
donkey" act dod his flip-fiopping and his
swimming" through the grass He will
make you forget your worries, make you
take defeat of the home team with n smile
and cause you to laugh until your ribs
feel as though Jess Willard has been
banging them for week.
Sensational Debut in Gotham
Sawyer made his first big yeague ap-
pearance as coach for the Senators in
the seventh inning of that opening Yam
kee.Senators' battle-and not one of that
10000 crowd ever will forget him. He
conducted himself with decorum until Nc
Bride doubled and Johnson sent him to
third with sacrifice. And then he broke
loose from his dlgnifled moorings.
He leaped high into the ozone-and
came down with crash upon his head
The crowd gasped IL feared his neck
had been broken accidentally. But Saw
yer rebounded like rubber ball, leaped
again. dived head first for the second time
and again bounced up for the third high
dive Each time the crowd shuddered
But its anxiety over Sawyer was wasted,
Sawyer apparently has no bones in his
head his neck or his back.
And then just as Caldwell was about to
wind up to pitch to Morgan Sawyer per-
formed his Swimming" trick. He jumped
into the air. dived head first to the EARTH
and, as soon as he landed, rolled over on
his stomach and vigorously began using
the breast stroke, afterward shifting to
"doggie' fashion. meanwhile kicking his
legs in frog fashion
Sawyer's Antics Delay Game
The capers of Sawyer temporarily de-
layed the ball game. Caldwell, convulsed
with laughter, halted in his fiinging ef-
forts The players forgot all about the
business in hand and joined the crowd in
its roars of laughter. Umpire Connolly's
attention was focused upon the acrobat.
A stern look came upon his classic fea-
lures Were these stunts legitimate?
Should he stop them and chase Sawyer
to the cooler? What should he do?
Connolly finally did just as the crowd
hoped he would do--order the combat to
proceed and permit Sawyer to continue his
entertainment.
Immediately afterwaTd Morgan singled
scoring Mcbride. And then Sawyer in
high glee. staged his "frishy donkey"
or came his cap to serve as a tail
Swishlng it wildly, he galloped up and
down the coacher's box, meanwhile kick
ing in approved donkey style. Suddenly |
ne bolted. as an animal would do II beaten |
with a whip, and then he began to bray
in a voice that echoed throughout Harlem.
Tries to Bite Fancied Foe
While the crowd rorcked the stands |
with it's laughter, Sawyer began to bite at |
an imaginary foeS varying his attack by !
twisting suddenly and aiming volley of I
kicks at the person" who beat" him
with the whip,
The fans forgot the game-forgot that !
Morgans drive had put the Senator's two |
runs 10 the good. They forgot whatever
troubles may affiict them-and howled /
with joy. Never in ball park have such |
gales of laughter swept from one corner
10 the other, And 1t kept up until Sawyer, |
exhausted by his own efforts, subsidized to
the point of braying only
The interest in the game itself from
then on became secondary to that in Saw
yer. The fans ceased to speculate as to
which team would win; ceased to COM
ment on Walter Johnsons mastery pitch
ing. The all-absorbing topic was the new
coach and-"Who is he2"
During the eighth, ninth and tenth in
nings, Sawyer acted in fairly dignified
manner. There was nothing to get unduly
excited about--and he didn't. But in the
eleventh, when Morgan again sent a run
across the plate with hit. he resumed
operations and made New York forget |
It's sorrow over the loss OF the combat.