The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-27
WHEN SPIKES WERE. PART
OF GAME. IN BASEBALL
BY JAMES j. CoRBETT.
Copyright. 19l7, by King Features Syndicate, Inc

Yes, sir" commented William
t'kid") Gleason, the white sox lieu
tenant, times have changed. Now
adays ball game Is just that. When
/ was young some bail games were
affairs where spikes and fists played
an important part as ball and bat.
"Umpires in this era are regarded
as excellent risks by accident and life
insurance companies, Back in the
SOS IL wasn't so-~no, sir
"Spiking In looked upon as helm
Gus crime nowadays Back In the
ara when l played with the Baltimore
orioles, a player who couldn't use his
spikes with precision was regarded as
~ duh. Sounds like sxaggeratIon, hgat
It's true. The lighting. peppery 0ri-
oies are said TO have introduced the
little splking trick. Anyway. after
they had used their spikes with regu~
larity. the other fellows bought files
and began to operate on theirs. Soon
after practically every player In the
game wore raxor~edge spikes~-~and
used them. No players equipment
was complete without at least half
dozen files.
Whenever a runner got on the
sacks il wasn't case Of science and
OF speed The contest usually resolved
itself into a spiking duel Whenever
a runner tried to advance, his farst
thought was to carve up the infieider
or catcher. Reaching the bag safely
became a secondary matter. And II
was the same with the infieldsr. He'd
first give the runner little spike
tr~atsnent--And then had apply the
ball.
II doubt II there was a player In
the game in the late ao's who didn't
suffer at least a haIf-dozen spike cuts
year. And whenever they were
chopped up they stayed In the game
Just little thing like having leg
gashed from knee to ankle wasn't
considered valid cause for going on
tho hospital list. And oftentimes the
boys, after being cut badly. never even
along about their business OF trying
to get the other fellow. while the
crimson tinged their stockings and
they grinned despite their pain. AZ
ter the game was time enough to
bandage the legs and take precau.
tions against blood poisoning.
And the boys didn't stop at spikinx
below the belt I recall one Fame
In which a base-runner beat a third
baseman TO the spikes and cut long,
deep cash just above the kneecap.
Did the third sacker yell for doctor?
No, sir. All he did was to turn to the
runner and say:
I'm get you the next time you
get you good.'
And he did. The next time up tho
fellow who had spiked the third base
man doubled and shot for third on
an infield Erounder. The shortstop
grabbed the ball and shot 1t to the
third baseman. Did the third sacker
merely tag the runner sliding In I?
Oh no, he did not. All he did was
to kick the runner in the face as he
slid into the bag. Then he stepped
on his back and applied his spikes
In . nice refined way.
"A base-runner spiked second
baseman--and spiked him artistically
The next time that fellow started to
steal second the second sacker was
for him. The baseman paid
no attention to the throw from the
catcher. being too intent upon even
ing up things. He met the runner
.cn feet from tho bag ana Just az tibet
runner was about to throw himself
sor slide. the baseman tripped him, |
rho runner slid the rest OF the way
IN his nose. erasing all the skin, while !
he ball went to center field I'M
needed.
Yes, sir. those were great old |
lays"
What or who - brought about
he change In the conditions? r, I asked
the kid"
Ban Johnson" was the reply.
n = J