The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-03-02

AsCAAeA1 h1D4e plSdyS III DdS0Ddll are very numerous depending on now we view them, but asked to tell of the greatest play" probably any fan would have to stop and scratch his hhead. That comparatively few make a definite impression on the popular memory is due to several causes. It may be that their results are insig- nificant, or that the game in which lthey are made is unimportant- But tmore frequently a great play passes Sunnoticed because it is followed by ranother which overshadows it
 For instance, few baseball fans re- member that Rube Oldring of the Athletics hit a home run into the left field bleachers in the Polo Grounds during a Worlds Series match with the Giants several years ago. At the same time it would be difficult to find a, man or boy in the United States 3who does not know every detail of "''Home Run" Bakers drive that won 5his team a game and game him his sobriquet.
 The reason is plain. Oldring's long tdrive did not win, the Giants over Scoming the lead in a later inning. RStill, it was one the longest home trunS+much longer than Bakers fever made in a Worlds Series.
 The greatest play eyer made in an important game, to my way of think ing, was the handiwork of Outfelder V Harry Hooper in the last game of the Worlds Series between the Giants and the Red Sox at Boston in 1912. But even this was overshadowed by the now historic huff by which Snodgrass gave Boston the championship. Still tIt was Hooper who really saved that game.
 In one of the early innings when the Giants had lead of one run Josh Devore reached first base and was thrown out stealing second. If he had waited a moment everything would have been different, but he didn't. Hooper, who had been play Eing in close for Doyle. so as to be .,able to make quick throw in case Devore started for third, moved back ftoward the fence as soon as Devore had been disposed of. And his judg- ment was accurate.
 Doyle caught the ball square1y or S41he nose and sent it on long drive &4hat would easily have cleared the t1itt1e fence fin right center with it. kG5OR1lS OI DdED wire. Auu G1OOp6l S;started with the crack of the bat ssSeefng where the ball would go, h. tran as far as he could, then threv himself backward against the bari swire. With head and shoulders lyins Aback over the fence, he reached ou eand caught the ball fairly, though i was really out of the grounds.
 But for that marvellous catch n0xIo'e Iriv houo fOr -home run, and there would have beel no necessity for the extra inning tha resulted in Snodgrass' fatal error. Tn Giants would have won,
 It is generally conceded, however by those who saw it that the mos GSpectacular catch on record wa ltmade by Jack Murray of the Giant @while the champions were in Pitts lburg some six years ago.
 It was a dull, dreary afternoon, tEtorm was expected any minute. Whe Tijt finally struck the score was tieC k4heTe were two Pittsburgh runners o bases and one hit would have sent sthe winning run.
 Now the press box at Forbes Fiel sis atop the stand, and, when the storl Sbegan all the reporters fled for cove -Lightning was flashing and & bIac cloud had rolled over the grounds S gas to make the batter invisible frol aouF lofty position. But we heard tt crack of the bat and a yell from tt Pittsburgh rGoters.
 It was impossible to see in wflio direction the ball had goneor rath impossible for us, Murray has told n EfreqHently that even he didn't see ltwhen it started. Suddenly there " 8 blihding flash of lightning and,
 the players began hust1ing for cove we saw Murray on a dead run in ce ter field. For g. second there " darkness again and then anoth flash By this one we saw his figu silhoatted against the lighted sky. T ball was in his outstretched hand. ] had taken advantage of the unRatul light to catch it as it came whizzi over his shoulder.
 For a second none of the Pittsbur players realized what had happent but when Murray came running vi with the ball the umpire declared side out and play suspended on z
 count of rain.
 That was easily the most spectaC lar catch ever made in baseball, a
 there is not a reporter in Pittsbur
 who will not agree with the sta
 rlent. They all wrote columns abC it the following day.
 But it is not so much the physi effort as the quickness of thought l hind it that makes these sPectacu
 plays in baseball as wonderful as u
 really are.
 To thiAk and act simultaneously
 one of the requirements of a
 league player, and, unless that facu