Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-30

Just to illustrate how doing the un-
expected often creates the break. am
going back to the third game of the
1915 world series. When Boston went
to bat in the last half of the ninth the
score was tie at to 1. Hooper, the
first man up, led off with clean single,
low liner over second base. 1t was
up to Scott to bunt and get Hooper to
second. if possible, for a run at this
stage meant the ball game. National
League batters insist it is almost i'm
possible to bunt Alexander safely in a
pinch.
On his first two attempts Scott failed
to connect, and, with two strikes on
him, it seemed certain that he would
swing at the next good offering. The
Philly infield, which had been dashins
in on each pitch, moved back trifie.
evidently figuring that there was no
chance that Scott would essay bunt
on the third strike. Scott caught every
body mapping. 1 was among those who
never looked for the play when ne laid
down a perfect bunt between first and
the pitchers box on the next ball Alex
ander delivered. Only a great play on
the part of Niehoff enabled him to get
a decidedly close decision at first over
Scotty. Hooper, of course, moved to
second on the play.
Scotty Advances Runner.
/ still recall the gasp of surprise
that came from all over the field as
Scotty pulled play that is rarely at
tempted during the season, and seldom
pulled successfully. 1t was daring
play to take, but Scott is one of those
easy going chaps who are willing to
take any kind of a chance on the field.
when from their Indifferent style of
play one would expect just the opposite
methods. Had Scott hunted foul he
would have been declared out. and a
lot of people would have probably
classed the play as prize bone. NO
dou BIT, many others would have insisted
that Scott must have forgotten that he
already had two strikes on him.
He took a daring chance, got away
with it. and. since one is largely judged
on results in base ball. be drew much
praise for the skillful execution of a
rarely attempted play. Scott had not
been able to do much with Alexander,
and he. no doubt. figured his chances
for bunting safely were better than
making a base hit. The fact that no
he must have figured. would also in
crease his chances of getting away
with the play. There is no denying
that Scots play changed the the entire
not advanced Hooper Alexander. in all
probability. would not have purposely
passed Speaker. He would have made
iris earn his way to first. 1t is possi-
BILE he might have been retired, and
had such been the case there would
have been no scoring in the ninth
Another break of the game In which
Scotty figured enabled the Phillies to
win their only game of the series. This
play came up In the eighth inning of
the first game with the score a tie, a
Philly runner on first and one out. With
the hit-and-run play called for, Ban
croft hit a fast grounder through the
box, on which Shore had no chance to
make a play. 1t looked like the surest
kind of base hit, for the ball was
hit SO fast it seemed there was no
chance in the world to make a play on
1t. Stock. on first base at the time,
was off with the start of the pitch.
Scott decided there was no chance
FOR play at second. even though he
saw Barry dashing after the ball.
Barry's Great Stop.
1t seemed that Stock would surely
try to so to third on the hit. and Scott
started to move in the direction of
third to do his part in a play at that
bag. AS he started in that direction, to
his great surprise. as well as that of
every other person in the park. Barry
was seen to stop the ball with his I'M
gloved hand. Immediately he made a
move to toss 1t to second, but found
the bag uncovered. Scott hastily re-
traced his steps, but reached the bag
a trif1e late and both runners were safe
The break of the game had put run