El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-08-12
Trick.
IS WORKED
AGAIN
Many Star Players Fall for
the Ridden Ball" Stunt
and Are Put Out.
SCHANG CAUGHT
OFF THE SACKS
D ERNEsT J. LANIGAN.

w den ball trick on Wallie Schang in
Boston on June Is Of this year. one
OF the experts who viewed the per-
formance-umpire Bill Evans-re-
marked that he thought this was the
first time the eoncealer sphere stunt
had been flashed to put an end to
game, but it wasn't. On July IS. 1913,
the Braves, rallying in the ninth
against the Cubs, saw the last gent
retired in the same manner as Austin
retired Schang-by concealing the ball
from the coacher and the runner and
then plastering II on the runner when
he stepped off the bag.
Collins was Good.
The Schang Of six years back was
Wilson Collins, graduate OF
couthern college, and he was doing
pinch running stunt Tor John TITUS
Collins Austin was Art Phelan, ike
James the Peppery third baseman.
After the hidden ball trick was
pulled on Schnng the rumor be-
came current that Bill Evans, who
never before had seen or heard OF
n game being ended in this way,
thought the play bad one for
baseball and the dumOr spread IN
til IL was announced in the public
prints Of BostOn that William G.
had written to b. B. Johnson
American league president, sug-
EestinE that the play be barred in
the younger organization
Evans made no such recommendation
to the man who employs him in the
summer time, and as to the merits OF
the play he rather is OF the opinion
that 10 legislate 1t out Of existence
would be TO put a premium on bone,
though not all the athletes who have
fallen a victim TO il are ivory headed
Watch the Ball.
II you watch the ball" says Evans;
they Il never pull the hidden Dali
trick on you"
Sox manager, who, according 10 re-
port, owns $4,000 worth Of stock IN
the club, what he thinks Of the hidden
ball trick as il is worked by Austin,
for Barrow did not see the play
pulled on Sehang. being busily en-
Eaced about that time in searching
around the bench for a pinch hitter.
Miller Higgins worked the hid
den ball trick on Tommy Leach
four years ago in st. Louis and
the Incident led TO soap between
the umpire in charEe-Charlie
Rfcler-and Tammyis manager
Charles HerzOg. Herzie was set
down Indefinitely by John Tener
for mixing things up with the ar-
bitter and the row all came from
the hidden ball trick This probab-
" WIS the only time It's operation
led TO any fatal consequence Tor
Herzogss managerial career In
RedIand certainly had n dark blot
put on II BY his run in with Rig
Ter.
There is no smarter athlete in cap
tivity than Edward TrowbrIdge Col
Inns Of the athletes, yet Edie, when
he was a Maclzman, was victim OF
the hidden ball trick. Bill Purtell, OF
the Tigers. on July H. 1914 tucEnB
the sphere under his arm, stepping
off third and then tagging F. T. c.
when he left the bag.
Too Bad For Strunk.
That same year Amos Strunk, OF
the AS, was buncoed by Clyde Wares,
OF the Browns, a chap who played
few games in the American League.
Branch hickey had Wares covering
short for the MissOurians on Nay 70
and Clyde got Amos as he stepped
off secand- The play enabled Earl
Hamilton, now with the Pirates, 10
win over Chief Bender, now in the
Virginia League
Horace 3Iflans younger brother
OF Jesse Clyde Of the Nationals,
was Impressed into service rs n
pinch runner by Clark Griffith on
August 20 1915, and he never got
beyond second base. for there Der
riII Bradford Pratt OF the Browns
manipulated the sphere SO that
the rookie lost sight Of il and
when he thought il Was time to
step off the bag Pratt taEged him
out. st. Louis won this game by
n score Of to 4, with GearEe
Harold Sisler operating against
walter Perry johnson. and wash
in-ton war correspondents OPined
then that the play should not be
permitted
The fact that Milan had the hidden
ball trick worked on him no more
ruined him as q major league player,
however. than it ruined Wilson Col
Inns. Neither man had the ability to
trot in fast Company
Martin Became Careless.
Another youngster like Milan and
Collins who was careless about fol-
lowing the course Of the ball was
Jack Martin. a Young shortstop tried