Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-06-10
LITERARY.
AN UNASSISTED TRIPLE PLAY.

"What is the best play you ever
made ?" This question was fired at
me like shot out of clear sky.
We were seated in front of roar
ing fire in the living room of the little
cottage that sheltered my old friend
"Swede" Larsen and his little family
from the heat of summer and the cold
of winter; the same little cottage
which furnished their Florida man
sion and their seaside home. Mrs.
Larsen was sitting at my right; while
Swede, that big boned, big-hearted
baseball player of the old regime, was
sitting at my left. On my knee was
"Bud", the little ten year old Larsen,
who had asked the question.
This same question had been asked
me many times before, but | had al
ways evaded an answer. This time,
however, whether it was the night,
the surroundings, or, perhaps, the lit
tie baseball fan who had asked the
question, | do not know; but at any
rate, for the first time, / related my
story.
1t took place in the summer of 1910
/ was playing third base for the Bos-
ton Reds and we were just finishing an
important series with the New York
Giants. Each side had a victory to its
credit; and on this day we were to
play the deciding game.
The Giants had their outs. George
(Sandy) Grey was on the mound for
them. 1t was during that summer
that Grey pitched such wonderful ball,
and he was in his best condition that
afternoon.
The first man up played out on an
easy infield hit, while the next two
We're strike-outs.
We then trotted out on the field amid
a great racket, for we were favorites
that season, being runners-up for the
pennant. Mathewson was pitching for
us that day, and he was in splendid
form. The umpire called the batter
up to the plate, and Mathewson threw
the ball. 1t was a low out, and verit-
able lightning for speed, but the bat
ter swung at it, and do not believe
the bah has stopped going yet. 1t was
an easy home run. After that first
discouraging hit, Mathewson frightened
up and struck the next three men out.
We tried our luck at the bat again,
but with no more success than in the
/ first inning. There were no more runs
made until the first Of the ninth, when
Jackson, playing shortstop for the
Reds that year, sent the ball into right
field for two Dagger. The next man
up sacrificed, jackson getting to third.
With a man on third and one out,
Gleason nailed a liner over the short
stops head, bringing Jackson home.
Grey struck the next man out, but
Brief, the next man to bat, sent little
bingle to shortstop, who missed the
catch, and in his excitement threw
over the first basemau's head, letting
the man on third get home. Our side
was then retired, with the score to
2 in favor Ct the Reds.
1t was now up to us to hold the
| Giants to no run inning and win the
game and series. However, Mathew
son let the first man hit the ball for
a two-bagger. The next man sacri-
feed, putting the runner on third and
beating the ball to first himself. The
next man to bat hit to right field, thus
filing the bases.
With no outs and the bases full, the
Giants heaviest hitter came up to bat.
He swung at the first ball pitched, and,
with crack, it sailed up into the air
in the direction of third base. The
man on third, thinking / could not get
the ball, started for third; while the
man on third started for home. With
an effort / caught the ball, touched
third, and tagged the man coming
from second before he had chance to
turn Thus the series was won for
the Reds.
Jack" asked Swede, with we'll
feigned reproach, but with poorly con-
cealed notes of admiration that this
story of my unassisted triple play had
aroused in this old baseball player,
"How is it that you have never told
Ime that story before?"
ROBERT KOLB, 20.
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