The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-18
Corbett's Daily Letter
 On Great Sport Topics
By JAMES J. coRBETr

my part. Herzog, with the ball in his hand, could have waited on the bag and undoubtedly nailed me going in. But he wanted to show the fans how easily he could put me out-and then jeer at me about it later
 The baselne was mine. As a base runner have the sole right to the base line. I didn't intentionally spike Her zog: I had no such thought in mind. And wouldn't have spiked him even accidentally if he had stayed where he belonged. But he didn't. So I had no other choice than to go into hfm. He was playing rather low and when my spikes hit him they gashed his legs. The impact knocked him down and guess fell on top of him. i We scrambled to get up. As Herzog | rage, and swung a punch. Just as l was about to square off for defense Fletcher, the Giant shortstop, got in back | of me and pinned my arms. | s''While Fletcher held me, Herzog took about four punches at me. Each missed. Then I broke away from Fletcher and punched Herzog on the mouth By that time other players jumped in and the l fight ended.
 Umpire Bill Brennan motioned me out of the game-but let Herzog stay That seemed unjust. Herzog was the aggres- sor and more at fault than I. When he wasn't chased I concluded that the best thing for all concerned would be for I me to quit the series. l realized that l the very next game would cause them to ride me worse than ever and the serious rows might reselt My further | presence in the series might have caused | lit to be called off, because 1 was an- gered to a point where I had determined to stand no more roasting. 1 meant to fight back. So I easoned that the best thing would be for me to quit the team.
 That night while I was seated in the
 hotel dining room Herzog walked over and said:
 1 - I want to see you in your room after you get through eating
 l All right. Buck, said, feeling that
 Herzog wanted to get together to patch up differences. But that wasn't Her zog S purpose, because in the next breath he said:
 Yes, and when see you there I'm going to give you damned good lick ing
 If that's the way you feel about 1t, Herzog, I'll accommodate you. I'll be in my room in 30 minutes
 1 About a half hour later Herzog, all dressed up in a nice tight fitting khaki shirt and tight pair of trousers which had the stripped for action look, came tiiito my I1SiTl9 zimmerman, or the Giants, already was there, as were Bush, Stanage and Trainer TuthiIl os the Detroit team.
 "'If you want to apologize now I'll accept your apology
 "1 haven't anything to apologize for, answered.
 All right; let's fight, he said And he added:
 Which way do you want to fight?'
 And now, Jim. I'll explain a peculiar situation. have been termed as a bat tier around the baseball circuits, yet had had boxing gloves on but twice in my life and I knew absolutely nothing iabout the science of the game l wasn't sure whether Herzog was boxer or
 not. l had the advantage over him ir
 size and weight, but had Herzog been a boxer I guess there would not have been much to that fight, except my talk.
 ing good beating. 1 When Herzog asked me what kind o1 fighting we should do. answered:
 "It doesn't make any difference tc
 me. Rough and tumble will suit me al right
 ".All right-rough and tumble,' sait
 Herzog.
 And then we went to it. "Herzog and engaged in wild swing ing match. Each of us swung abou six blows without hit. Then I luckily landed wild one on Charities jaw. II. } went down. I helped to pick him up but when he got to his feet he started l to swing at me. So we squared off agail and before Herzog could get home punch landed another on his chin ant he went down again. That ended tn, fight.
 "The next day quit the series l ITO be continued tOn1Orroy !