New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-27


nv the longest home run drive ever
navev Robertson smote the home run
~ prendergast, a right-handed pitcher,
aha had gone to the relief Of the much
abused Tom Seaton. With one out in
tho eighth inning, the fleet right gar
ssn.r Of the Giants connected fairly
I'm full force on fast ball. The pei
l.. burtled back toward right field with
~. velocity of a perfect golf drive. II
as low liner, that seemed 10 climb
~ little Jumps as il hummed IN its
fight ,,.
,;cb, field at the time, turned his back
w,th the swing and waddled as fast as
he legs would carry him for the right
seld gate. He hadn't gone half way to
.be wall when the ball shot high over
ais head in the final trajectory. and,
clearing the twelve-foot barrier Of the
right field bleachers just over the u
Of the Fatima sign, smacked up against
,he rear wall of the extreme right
Neacher exit with sufficient force to
splinter a board.
Authorities Differ
There may have been longer and
harder hits. A. d. Runyon, the
nstriarch of the press box, claims Ty
Cobb rapped a longer drive in 1915. The
Tiger star smashed one into the area
Nav between the bleacher and the
srsndstand. Henry Fabian, the prairie
ranger Of the Polo Grounds, claims
Cobb's thrust hit the concrete end OF
me grandstand, instead of carrying the
wall as Runyon maintains. SO right
there enters the element of doubt.
Joe Jackson once drove the ball pre-
sumably over the extreme upper right
hand corner of the Stadium. As mat
Ter Of fact. the ball next day was
found on the roof. Certain 1t is there
never was a prettier home run tnan
that Of Robertson. And Furthermore. he
vas the first gunner who ever dropped
shot safely into the right held
blssehers since the modern stand was
built
After his herculean triumph the fans
we're ready to forgive Davy Robertson
most everything. His had been a most
Disappointing home stand. The onetime
nvai of Ty Cobb had gone into a pro-
,racted slump that simply pulled his
cork. He had begun TO act like a play
err who had lost hope. II took long
time for him to get a grip on himself.
When he came back he came back with
a vengeance.
Tom Seaton. an ancient and honor
able foeman with the Phillies of 1914,
who has effected comeback with the
Cubs after a whole lot of ups and
downs in the late lamented Federal
League, opposed Sheriff Slim Sallee on
the mound. McGraw's lean and lanky
-, a ha O. a
He should not have been scored on.
Only Five Hits
Sallee held the Cubs 10 five hits. One
OF these-a very questionable one
was punched with two others and an
error in the eighth, and saved Chicago
rom the humiliation of a shut-out. In
six Of the other eight innings the Wis
tors went out in one, two, three order.
Elliott opened the second with a
single, but was caught off Holke's bag
for the third out. Wolter singled with
one down in the ninth. Doyle and
Merkel both struck out. So, barring the
eighth inning, when the game was
sewed up tightly, not Cub runner
passed first base.
The fielding of the Giants was of the
stamp that carried them through TO
twenty-six consecutive victories last
fall Zimmerman was especially dead
ly in both range and patrol. Heinie
speared a wicked belt from Zeider in
the fourth that was headed for the left
field pavilion. IL started like just such
a shot as that of Robertson. Zim and
Beal furnished one Of the finest duels
Of third base play ever seen on local
field. Both were the personitication OF
brilliarce. McGraw's picket line from
time TO time hauled in malicious drives
that threatened the peace Of mind OF
Sheriff Sallee.
Il has been said Chicago was lucky
10 score on Saliee. Well, there was
some luck in connection with all of
New York's three runs off Seaton. Out
pitched. old Tom nevertheless fought so
gsllantly that he could have Kept. ms
slate clean with proper support.
Giant runs came hard simply be-
cause Giant base running was not al
ways up 20 Giant standards. A few IN
stances will suffice. Holke ran right
INTO sudden death in the second on III
lofts bluff throw to break up double
steal Robertson might have beaten his
ount 20 Seaton in the third II he hadn't
turned round 10 see what the pitcher
was going 10 do with the ball.
Blunders on Bases
zimmerman a moment later was
doubled AZ second trying TO advance on
a sacrifice fly TO left field. He barely
delayed his fate till the run scored.
Davy Robertson ran right into Deal on
The lines in the sixth and enabled that
gentleman TO whip the ball to first IN
time 70 double up Fletcher.
A brace OF runs fell 10 the Giants in
the third. Burns and Herzog singled
70 left and Robertson sacrificed. Zim-
norman hit TO Zeider. Rollie had an
easy play for Burns at the plate. but
threw high and Georgia was safe
herzog, of course, took third on this
play. Buck scored on Fletcher's long
arift TO Mann, fractional second be-
iorc the latter's throw-in to Zeider re-
tired Heinie.
The run in the seventh came almost
as cheaply. With two out Flack
mufed long fly from McCarty. The
latter scored from second on Sallee's
single. Robertson's homer has been de-
scribed
kaufg's tumble Of Merkle's single
helped the Cubs TO their run in the
eighth. Merkle reached second with
none out. took third on a pinch hit by
hendryx and scored on Mann's rap 10
Zimmerman. Heinie committed larceny
on this bid for blow and threw 20
herzog, forcing Hendryx at second.
Elliott scratched hit through Herzog.