Evening star., 1920-03-28

One of Prize "B0ners.-
OF course there was slight excuse
for the colossal bone on the part of
everybody. With one out, and a
runner on first. said runner started
TO steal second on the next pitch.
There We're two strikes on the batter
at the time. He made sort of a half
swing at the ball. and then, believing
1t TO be bit wide, held back. The
runner was thrown out at second.
and in some way every one actively
in the game got the impression that
the pitch was the third strike on
the batter. The umpire, however,
made no such a ruling, yet he allowed
the teams to shift, no doubt being
confused on the number of outs him.
self. 1t sure was a ridiculous situa-
tion to see the two teams again
change position and finish the in
ming that they had once decided was
over. 1t required only one more
as the batter swung and missed.
There are some who will no doubt
insist that no major league player
who has any brains and an interest
In the game has any reason for get
Ting mixed up as to his place in the
lineup and bat out of order. Ger
tainly no act on the part of the play
er makes him look more folish than
to bat in his wrong position. 1t
causes all the more attention if the
batter who hits improperly comes
through with a hit. / well recall
game in which an improper batsman
doubled with the bases filed. appar-
entity scoring three runs.
Then the mistake was discovered.
the proper batsman called out and the
runners sent back to their bases. The
batting order as arranged called for
the second appearance at the plate of
the batsman who had been a hero for
a minute by hitting for two bases. He
had simply batted one man too soon.
and when the proper batsman was
called out for such a violation of the
rules he resumed his original position.
On his second try he struck out. so
that he was a double goat for the
day
That the so-caued wise fellows
can make such mistakes is proved by
an incident in an American League
game several years ago. where one of
the games greatest PLAYERS and man
ayers hit in a pinch. started a rally
and then batted out of order in the
same inning. which was an inning that
produced seven runs. On his second
appearance he hit safely. scoring two
runs. and. since the game was decided
oy one-run margin. that hit won the
ball game. 1t was not until an in
ming too late tnat the mistake was
afscovered, but, of course. too late.
Automatically Retired.
Can you imagine a base runner pass
ing a preceding base runner on the lines.
scoring what appeared to be a home run,
only to be informed when he reached the
bench that he had automatically retired
himself between first and second? No
doubt that sounds like a prize bit of
ivory sun. No doubt a lot of people
viii wonder how such a thing could hap
pen in well regulated ball game. Yet
II did happen. and in a ma jor league
oaIl game With one out and a runner
on first. the batsman hit long fly to
right field. The outfield was playing
deep. as the batter had a reputat tion for
hitting them hard. Incidentally he was
a mighty fast runner. The runner on
first got the impression the ball would
be caught. and he played it safe by
going half way down to second and
awaiting results. The batter who hit
sure to fan safe He cut loose at
top speed and rounded first in such
way that he passed the preceding
runner between first and second. Just
like a limited train passes a freight
that has been sidetracked. Possibly
you may blame the runner originally
on first as much or perhaps even
more than the batter. I am not try
ing to fix the blame; merely want
TO Show that such a thing is possi-
blame.
After reading over the list Of bone
plays" that have been cited, one is
probably up in the air as to who
pulled the worst. 1t is exceedingly
annoying to steal a base and then find
some one occupying that particular
bag. II Is very embarrassing to for
get how many are out and then give
a bit of thrilling base running, only
to find that your efforts have been
wasted 1t is mighty disconcerting
to confuse your place in the batting
order. If you aWay with tho
laugh. of course. is on the opposition
but If discovered you look and feel
very foolish. Likewise one feels
equally ridiculous to do bit of base
running in which he passes a preced-
ing base runner on the lines and
thereby automatically retires him.
self.
Yes. all those are mighty embar-
RAISING. yet / seriously doubt if there
is one single thing that can happen
on ball field which makes a player
feel worse than to fall the victim of
the hidden-ba1l stunt. Among ball
players it is known as the '1776
trick" No player ever forgets the