The Hartford republican., 1917-02-23
WITTY SAYINGS BY
BASEBALL PLAYERS
NATIONAL GAME ENCOURAGES
QUICK MENTAL ACTION,
SAYS WRITER.

the New York Herald.
In the long stretch from mid-April
to mid October, which is the cham
rionship season, there are many in.
stances Of this. Quick answers, as
they are known among baseball men,
are frequent; they are of diverse apt
ness, and vary from razor-edged re- |
partee to the retort courteous. II
you were in a position to hear you !
would hear as much witty persiflage |
on the diamond and on the bench OF
, the rapier as of the bludgeon sort.
Every game has its verbal swings and !
sparring and they "get across"
A Coveleskie Yarn.
Harry Coveleskie, the Detroit /
pitcher, was in deadly earnest In MS
proposed solution of debated point
in game last summer, but his sug-
gestion was none the less amusing
and distinctly novel. The Detroits
were playing at the Polo ground, and
when Billy Evans, the umpire. called
a Yankee player safe at first base
/ Coveleskie entered vigorous objec-
tion.
"That man was out, Bill!" he ex-
claimed to the umpire.
"No, he wasn't, Covey," answered
Evans, in his easy way.
II say he was out! Sure he was
OUT"
mo. he wasn't" repeated the um-
pire. Come on, let's play ball"
But | tell you he was out" in
sisted the big Pole. "He was out,
and can prove it. Well take vote
OF the infield."
Tells Connie His Position.
Not all the humor comes from the
experienced player and not all OF 1t
is intentional. The story of the bush
Lacquer who, when Connie Mack
wrote asking him what position he
played, sent back n photograph OF
himself I'm u crouching position and
inscribed "This is the position play"
is true. So Is the one of the Milwau-
kee fan who hurried through the
gate one threatening afternoon and
in response TO the cry of the gate
tender, Here, you forgot your rain
) check" replied. as he rushed for the
grand stand, +" don't need any; !
got an umbrella"
The ball players ready gift of per-
tinent expression was instanced last
fall at the close of the post-season
/. series between the Brooklyn Dodgers
and the Boston Red Sox. Scott, the
: Boston shortstop, was a star in those
games, his adroit stops and long. un-
!. erring throws played havoc with the
4 Brooklyns. Manager Robinson of the
I Brooklyas, was commenting on this
phase OF the contests. THAT fellow"
explained Robby, "made the greatest
pegs to first l ever saw. You know
how he does it? He puts the ball
ON a trolley line and shoots 1t across.
Not Always Same.
."That's a large ball you use," re-
marked an Englishman to Jack War
hop, the pitcher. when the New York
Americans were training in Bermuda.
"Yes," answered Warhop. dryly. "but
it'll be smaller when Walter Johnson
pitches it,"
When Billy Murray, a sharp tong
ued Irishman, managed the Phillies,
he had a pitcher who had tried his
soul by his inability to watch base
runners. This pitcher allowed a Wis
iting base runner to take long lead
Off first and steal second unmolested.
At the end of the inning the offender.
on coming TO the bench, was greeted
by Murray with:
"Tell me one thing. What did yon
allow that man to steal second for?'
What man? j didn't know there
was anybody on first"
Murray turned to his other play
ers. "Say, Bransfeld, and you, Grant
and. you. too, Knabe, after this when
there's anybody on first tell it to this
pitcher, and tell IT to the outflelders
and all he others. don't want any
secrets on this club"
One On Ping Bodie.
Ping Bodie, formerly of the White
Sox and with the Athletics this year,
has long been a target for stories
having to do with supposedly un-
due quantity OF hgurative wooden
matter in the Uranium. Bodie was at
the bat in game against the Yanks
and stopped the play to remove q
splinter from his hand. AS he did
SO Birdie Cree, from the New York
bench. gave him this bit of advice:
"stop scratching your head, Ping"
A hard man to beat in an exchange