Evening star., 1920-01-01

Is there any set ruling in the two
major leagues as to how the balls
shall be be put in play play? Does each league
The major leagues use different sys-
| tens. In the American League the
game is started by putting into play
six new balls. When these have been
used the umpire goes to an UNDER
ply. In this box are any old balls
which the umpire might regard as fit
for play and dozen new ones. He
| then uses up any of the old ones
which may be practically new, and.
after using them up. takes nothing
but new ones from the box. In the
National League the umpire starts,
believe, with four new balls, and then
as he needs them they are supplied
from the press box. I believe the Of
Aud his stock consists of new ones en-
drely. The two systems tend to pre-
vent jockeying by the home team as
ito what balls shall be put into play.
Where did Chicago get Pitcher
Wilkinson? Is he a right or left hand
er? ] never knew he was with the
club until } saw his name in the
lineup of one OF the world series
games. Did he ever have major
league trial prior to joining the White
Sox?
Wilkinson was secured from the CO.
lumbus team of the American Associa-
! ton. He is a righthanded pitcher,
and apears to have lot of promise.
we're after him and that Joe Tinker
allowed him to make his own selec-
tion. He picked the Sox and landed
| share in the big series. Wilkinson
once had brief trial with the Cleve-
club five or six weeks before the close
OF the season and turned in several
creditabie pitching performances.
A bet has been made that in the
American League the home team
sometimes bats first and we are ask
| ing for your opinion. Can you re-
call an American League game where
this was done, and can you mention
. particular date this last summer
home team TO bat hrst. During my
fourteen years with the American
League I have never appeared in
TO bat first. Several years ago the
Washington club WAS in q losing
streak. In an effort to kill OFF the
jinx Manager Griflith sent his club
to bat first in a game at Washington.
but to no avail. That Is the only
incident of such a nature that ! can
recall.
A play was made at home and the
catcher threw the ball to third. to
which base a runner advanced on the
play at home rome h The shortstop ,rua;I was vas
base handed the ball to the third
baseman. but in a manner not de-
tected by any of the opposing team.
Prior to this play a ball had been
fouled out of the diamond. and was
| returned toward the pitcher perhaps
q half minute after the third base
man had received the ball in play
from the shortstop. The pitcher was
told by the shortstop to hand the
| ball to the umpire, but before this
was done the runner, on seeing
! hall in the pitchers hand. stepped
| off the base and was tagged by the
| third baseman. I, who was the UNI
pire, ruled the runner out.
The moment the ball which had
been fouled off was thrown back on
| the field the umpire should have called
] time. After having called time it
was necessary that the proper ball
be returned to the pitcher, and he
get in his position on n the rubber;
really the only fair way to handle
! the situation.
A dispute has arisen on the follow
| ing play and we wish it decided:
Runner A is on third, runner Il is
on second. Runner A starts to steal
home and is trapped between third
and home Runner b goes down and
occupies third Runner A. who has
been trapped. finally arrives back to
third without being tagged while off
the bag. Runners A and now both
occupy third and are both tagged
while on third. Which is out?
b is out, as third base belongs to
A, the original occupant. Although
both are standing on the bag. b is
out, as the original occupant is the
only one protected
Please inform me whether Phil
| ijps with Cleveland last season. ever
played with st. Louis Americans at
Yes. he had a brief trial with the
St. Louis AN noricans four or five sea-
sons back.
Who served the longest as pitch
| er in the majors. Cy Young or Chr,sty
Mathewson?
Young. by a wide margin. - came
! To the Cleveland club in 1$9" and
rounded out his major league career
| in 1912 as member OF the Boston
| Nationals. making his record embrace
| twenty-five consecutive years
What is the age of Larry I.ajoie?
The record book gives Larry's date
| of birth as September 5. 1878. which
would make him a trifle better than
| forty-one.
| In game of base ball when the
runner is occupying first base, a hit
| is made between hrst base and sec
| md base Is the runner forced to run,