Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-01
MERK[E MAY
JOIN THE PH|LL|ES
Veteran First Sacker to Return
to Majors From Roohes-
ter, Is Report
QUAKERS START NORTH
BY SPICK HALL

Darlington, s. c.. April When
the Phillies arrived here today there
were buzzings in the air. Although
Manager Bill Donovan made no state
| ment, II appears TINT there Is possi =
bility OF Fred Merkle joining the Phil
| lies.
Fred is playing first base for George
Stallings' Rochester club, and he Is in
fine shape. Stallings has a very good
ball club. and. while It isn't likely that
he would want to part with Merkle. he
probably would do SO II the Phils' offer
justified a change.
There Is no doubt that IL Stallings
is willing to consider letting Merkle 60,
the Phils will offer either TO purchase
him outright or to trade him for some
of the young pitchers now on Donovan 5
roster.
Getting Mcrkle would in no way in =
tertere with the proposed trade with
brooklyn, in which Stengel Is slated to
60 to the Dodgers for Al Mamnux and
Kay Schmandt. In case deals 90
through, Merkle would be used
at first basc Immediately, while
Schmandt was being groomcd for the
job. Schmandt. besides being tried at
first, probably would be used at second
base in some Of the games, because he
has played that position more than any
other.
Not Bonei,ead
Merkle, in spite Of his having pulled
one of the worst bonebead plays in base :
ball history. is not a bonehead On the
contrary, he is one of the smartest
players that ever performed in the
major leagues and he Is 80 considered
by McGraw and every other man who
really knows baseball.
Merklc, of course, is not exactly a
youngster, but, like Art Fletcher, he has
ia lot OF baseball left in him and he
would be just the man to help the Phils
out in their present trouble.
1t was in 1910 that Merkle pulled the
play that made him famous with reverse
English. Merkle was on first base in
the final inning and failed to 90 to Sec
ond base and touch the bag after base
hit by Mccormick had been made, send =
ing in Bridwell with what should have
been the winning run.
Johnny Evers, playing with Frank
Chance Chicago Cubs, was the man
who saw Merkle's mistake and who got
the ball from Artie Hoffman, touched
second base and prevented the Giants
from winning the game and pennant.
That game was tie and when it was
played off the Cubs won. annexing the
flag, only TO receive a severe drubbing
by Connie Mack's Athletics in the world
series.
While Merkle's play brought down
the calumny of newspapers and fans on
his head, the fact that Johnny Evers
was the only man on the field who noted
the mental error, proves conclusively
that any one under the same circum '
stances might have done the same thing.
Play Rochester
T he Phils were scheduled to play the
Rochester club here this afternoon AND
1t may be that Manager Donovan will
be able TO talk terms to George Stal-
lings right away, although it ism,
likely that he would make any move
without letting President Baker in OF
| the secret.
All of the Phils were tired out toda,
by the long ride from Jacksonville
which began last night at s o'clock
This morning they had breakfast AZ
Florence. Tonight both clubs will leav,
here and play tomorrow afternoon il
Cheraw, s. c., few hours journey
from here.
The Phillies finished their stay II
Florida yesterday after having not los
single days practice. It Is true tina
the. rain yesterday stopped the gam,
with Washington in jacksonville afte
the first inning. but the Phils had ,
long batting and fielding session befor,
| the conflict started