The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-09

away, but their opponents flied the
bases with two out in the ninth. The
next ball was hit to Shortstop Sugar Of
the Pirates, who threw right past Jake
Beckley. who was covering first. The
ball struck nearby weather beaten
fence and knocking loose a knot disap-
peared through the newly created knot
hole. \ kindly youngster tried to shove
the ball back through the hole. but II
couldn't quite get through. Jake's long
fingers nervously We're trying to aid the
youth in coaXing the ball back. while
four runs trotted over the plate and
Pittsburg lost the game.
Hit Into Clubhouse.
John McGraw tells of somewhat
similar play which happened in Balti-
more in 1895 during n game between
the Giants and the Orioles. Late In
close game Hughie Jennings hit a ball
to Ely. who then was playing shortstop
for New York. Ely's throw was wild
and got by Roger Connor, the Giant first
baseman. Tine clubhouse at Union Park,
the old Oriole grounds was right be-
hind first base, and Tom Murphy, the
groundkeeper, was standing In the
doorway Seeing the ball coming his
way he let it enter and then slammed
the door and locked II. Roger Conner,
yelping like wild man. tried to batter
down the door. while Jennings sped
around the bases. That was real Oriole
inside ball. commented McGraw.
Tommy Murphy now is groundkeepng
for the White SoX. where the clubhouse
door is a little further saway.
Jennings figured in two other freak
plays on the old Louisville National
League grounds. but those times Balti-
more got the worst Of it. In those days
the players had their benches right ON
the playing field. In two days in sue
cession Jennings lost games by hitting
the arm OF the Louisville bench in the
same place, the bah bounding into the
stands, with runners on base. Prior 70
that It never had been known 20 happen.
Many veterans insist the freakiest
play in all baseball was the famous race
around the bases in Baltimore in which
Tug Arundel. the fat catcher Of the
Washington club, lost Il decision to
piggy" Ward Of the orioles. The
bases were full when Piggy" came up
to bat, lie and Arundel had been ex-
changing compliments during which
both cast asperslons on each others
speed. After Ward had two strikes on
him Arundel said:
IF you miss che next one I'll drop It
and tag you before you get to first
base"
Sure enough Ward swung widely and
Arundel dropped the pitch. Then the
great race started Both were fat. wab-
bly, men. easily windcd. Ward got off to
! Ave yard lead and still held it at first
base ON he went to second, and the
villain stiil pursued him. Piggy" was
! looking backward az they reached Sec
ond, and Arundel, trying to lunge for
ward on every stride to tag his man,
kept muttcring I'm get you yet" The
| Washington basemen We're imploriug
! Arundel to throw II. but he would not
| quit the race.
Finally they passed third base and
came down the homestretch with "Pig-
| KY" still leading by few yards. In a
| final burst he Won the plate. three other
| baltimore runners having preceded him
| home.
No freak play ever beat the pocket
catch made by Cliff Carroll, the former
81 Louis Brown outf]elder. after Chris
Won der Ahes club came into the Ma
| Jional League. There was a high sun
md the ball fell into the pocket of his
! 'hirt. That of course did not consti-
! tute a legal catch. and the batter who
hit the ball ran all around the bases
while Cliff was attempting to extract the
| ball from his pocket