davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-01
BIG STARS CAN
GUM THINGS UP
in BALL GAMES
Bonehead Plays Not All Confined
to Minor Leagues and
Bushes.

Not all the unusual plays are con
fined to the minors or the amateurs
Stars of the major leagues can gun
things up as easily as anyone else, II
YOU have YOUR doubts, they will be dis
PEELED after perusing this tale.
The New York Yankees and the St
Louis Browns figured in the play con
sdered, the scene of which was the
Polo Grounds Sam Wick, right fielder
of the Yankees, and Aaron Ward, crack
third bascman of that team, enacted the
leading roles.
Ward had reached first base on a
clean hit. Sam Wick, next up, eVl-
IDENTITY had orders to sacrifice, because
the game was close and the ankeeS
were playing for run. The first bal!
pitched to Wick was waist high and
inside. Wick is a peculiar bunter, hay
ing the habit Of stepping into the ball
regardless Of the style of delivery,
The ball was so far inside Wick decided
it would hit him i'll the stomach If he
continued to step in, so he started to
pull away from the ball, and at the
same time desisted in his attempt to
bunt. -,
What hapucncd perhaps no one will
ever know AS Wick pulled away from
the ball a tick was plainly audible. II
seemed positive the ball had touched
Vick's bat, while Wick was certain It
had lust touched his shirt. DESTROYS of
getting the benefit of the uncertainty
Wick started to first base, haping his
actions would influence me III deciding
he had been hit by the ball:
Whether right or wrong | was posi-
tive the ball had touched the bat. |
regarded the pitch sd strike
After making a lot OF motions and
saying a few things | was able to teIc-
graph Wick the pitch was a strike. Nlck
returned to the plate to resume his
time at bat. Then the unusual thing
happened, although it passed unnotced.
Ward, no was on second and had a
right to the base, since the foul tip was
held bv the St. Louis catcher, logged
back to first base AS he started to re
turn felt like calling out that the
pitch was a strike. That would have
been unfair to the St. Louis club, as
under the conditions there could have
been no other decision.
Bv the time Wick had gotten his bat
and taken his place in the batsman S
box Ward had returned to first and was
standing on that base. | looked for a
Dlay on him any minute because first
base offered him no immunity from
being put out. He had touched second
base, which made him the occupant of
that bag. He could have been retired
on first or by merely holding it on sec
Ond.
However, no attention was paid to
Ward The game was resumed III the
regular manner, and he was sacrificed
to second on the next pitch. Not until
the close of the inning, when | in
formed Ward of what might have hap
pened. did it dawn on any one what had
taken place Such a play has never
before happened in the majors and prob
ably never will again.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-01
FORMER WATERBURY
OUTFIELDER KILLED

On the day he was to leave for the
South to start spring training, Ray Neu-
sci probably remembered by State base
ball fans as the young and promising
outfielder Jack Flynn had under his
wing when he managed the Waterbury
club three years ago, was killed III an
accident recently when he ran into a
trolley car in St. Louis, his home town.
According to a witness Neusel was
attempting to escape two unidentified
men who were pursuing him in an au-
tomobile. 1t is believed that the two
men threatened him and as he was dash
ing to escape his pursuers, he dashed
directly with his head down into the
front of the street car. Neuse1 died the
following day.
Neusel was a St Louis boy, the city
that has teurned out 50 many ball play
ers well known to local fans, the most
prominent probably being Lefty
High Kid Rehg, both former Hartford
players, and King Brady, last season
trying for second base with the Red
Sox. He was considered one of the
finest young players ever developed III
the Mound City. Neusel came to Wa
terbury from Mike kelley's St. Paul
club Though he appeared to have the
markings of coming ball players, he
was a bit shy Of batting ability and
FLYNN let the player 60 He then caught
on with the Chattanooga club in the
Southern league and with them found
lbs batting eye for .3O3. Chattanooga
traded Neusel to New Orleans last year
and last June he jumped the club to play
with Greenville. Miss. Again he had a
successful hitting season.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-01
College Mines Start
Baseball Campaign
This Week in South
Eight Teams to Pry Off 1921 Dia
mond Lid; Navy Appears
Strong Contender.

The college baseball season, which
got off to a spasmodic start last week,
will break forth in full glory with the
first days of April, when all of the
leading college mines Of the East are
scheduled to appear on the diamond.
New York University, Yale Holy Cross,
Princeton and Navy have already begun
their playing seasons, but the vast army
OF leading mines have delayed until the
passing of Easter.
No less than eight big college teams
will make their start this week, inClud-
ing Georgetown, Penn State, Penn, Ford
ham, Columbia, Dartmouth, c. {, N. Y,
and Army, All except Columbia, c. c.
n. y. and Army will play their opening
games in the Southland
The games played by n. y. u. Yale,
Holy Cross, Princeton, and Navy last
week were not sufficient to give a line
on the dlettrcnt teams. they did how
ever prove that Holy Cross, NAVY.
Princeton and the Els are again in the
field with ttans of more than ordinary
ability.
The Middies especially showed power
in crushing the Tiger at Annapolis
Saturday by score of 3 to in sen
sational contest. Princeton was touted
as having a very strong aggregation,
with an abundance OF 1nlcld material, so
the Nays victory deserves a world of
credit
Yale opened with two victories, but
n. y. L. is having rather disastrous
trip, with defeats at the hands Of Trim
ity College and North carolina State
College, Holy Cross, with practically
the same team as last season, crushed
William and Mary College by count
of to 2
Two pitching feats of more than
passing mention were accomplished dur
ing the week. Bill Dollard, star hurlcr
of the Catholic University nine, turned
in a no-hit game against the Naval
Training Station team at Norfolk, Va,
and Saturday afternoon Tim Mcnamara,
Fordllam's veteran hurler, allowed but
one hit in a practice game against the
Gederal Reserve Bank team.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-01
Sports of
All Kinds
i'm Brief
IS GOOD
FOR ANOTHER SIX
YEARS AT LEAST
Present Day Pitchers Can Con-
tinue to Use It, but New
Ones Are Barred,

xviii YOU explain why the ban was
placed on the spitball? Was it because
OF the danger to batters or because of
its effectiveness? Would you classify
the spitbalI as a trick deliyery?"
That was the substance of a query
received the other day. l will try to
answer 1t, says Billy Evans iii the Bos-
ton Post Perhaps there are any num-
Der of fans interested in the question.
/ he pitchers are responsible for the
ban on the spit ball. That particular
style OF delivery has been in use close
to 20 years. The origin of the spit ball
Is bit IN doubt, although George Hill
dcbrand, now an American league UNI
pre-, is generally regarded as the first
player TO realize that by moistening a
spot on the ball it was possible to get
deceptive break on it.
For perhaps a dozen years the spit
ball thr1vcd without particular objec-
ton Every now and then some agita-
ton would be started for its abolition
on the ground that it was insanitary and
that II was Curtailing batting, one of the
most interesting features OF the game
Such agitation never got far, usually
merely atfording some writer a chance
to turn out story.
considered proper, had not any number
OF pitchers resorted to methods that were
unfair. First, it was the emery bali,
made possible by roughening the bali
with emery paper Then came the load
ed seams, made possible by forcing a
base OF parattin or oil between the seams.
and then rubbing dirt into the base.
thereby weighing the ball at a certain
spot This enabled the pitcher to get an
unusual break, as was possible in bowling
when load of lead was used in the
bowling balls. Some pitchers went so
lar as to secretly cut the cover in such a
manner that 1t would escape detection
unless carefully examined, yet by rub
bng the ball opposite to cuts, it was
possible to get Wlngy surface.
Doctorlng the balls was carried to such
an extent that most pitchers were forget
ting there was such a thing as a curve
ball or a fast one. 1t was ALWAYS some
kind of trick delivery. AS a result,
batting suffered. Because the pitchers
didn't always have the best of control
or these trick deliveries, the batters were
IN constant danger of being hit The
falling off in batting was due perhaps
to intimidation, as much as effectiveness
OF trick deliveries. Likewise fielding
suffered, because of the difficulty in &C
curately throwing the ball.
The spitball has always been regard
ed as trick delivery. 1t is made pos
slble because OF application of a foreign
substance. The only solution to the
pitching abuse was the elimination of all
trick deliveries. That ultimatum carried
with it the spitball. Had the pitchers
not discovered it was possible to get de-
cept1Ve breaks through many new tangled
stunts the spitball would probably still
be in vogue. AS it was, it had to 90 with
the rest | am sure its final elimination
Will work for the good of not only pitch
ing but also hitting and fielding.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-01
The Maple A. G.
VIII Meet Atlas
For the City Title

The Maple Athletic Club, who are
the chief contcnders for the city basket
ball championship, will meet the Atlas
five, city champions, in the titular game
at Music Hall, tonight.
The contest has been considered as
one that would decide the standing Of the
Naples in their contention for local hon
ors, and with a fast team representing
the Fair Haven club, the Atlas will be
forCcd.to defend their honors in a game
that should be the banner attraction Of
the year, from a local standpoint.
Managers Quinn Of the Naples and
Sam Whittier of the Atlas reached
agreements over the eligibility of play
crs, and it was decided that Murphy
who appeared with the Naples in a
game here earlier in the season, would
not appear in the Fair Haven teams
lineup.
The list of eligible players agreed up
on by the managers follows: Atlas
Bailey, Kalm, Alderman, G.. Grcenbcrg,
Nitkin, BotWinik, Pite, L. Grccnbcrg.
Lasllcy; Alaplcs-Fairbanks, Taylor,
M"csncr, Shatzman. Perkins, Withing-
ton, Ncbbcr and David
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-01
u. S. GOLF PROS IN
BRITISH OPEN GAMES
Twelve of Americas Best Will
Go to Scotland.

New oYrk, April 1.-Twelve of Amer
lca's leading professional golfers will
compose the team which will 90 to Scot
land this summer in an attempt to lift
the British open title. The team prob
ably will sail May "a, and will spend
some time familiarizing themselves with
the St Andrews course, where the Brit
1sh open tournament will be held, be-
ginning June TO-
Among those likely to become men,
bers OF the team are Jock Hutchinson
and Leo Diegel of Chicago, Wilfred
Reid, Wilmington, Del; Walter Hagen
and NJ. J. Brady, Detroit; Alexander
Cunningham, Wheeling, w. Va; James
Barnes, Pelham Manor, n. Y; Clarence
Hackney, Atlantic City; Fred Mcleod,
Washington, D. C.; Eddie Loos, Home
wood, ILL.,; Willie Ogg, Atlanta, Ga. and
" 1ll1am Alelhorn, Tulsa, Okla.
Most of these players will participate
IN the 18th annual North and South open
championship tournament at Pinehurst,
n &: April l and 2, and it is reported
that final selections for the overseas
team will be made at the close of this
meeting.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-01
MAILS TANNED BAMBINO
THREE TIMES ON COAST

Dallas, April 1.-When Walter Mails
faced Babe Ruth last September and
struck him out with three pitched balls,
it was not the first time the Californian
had pitched against the greatest slugger
baseball has ever known.
A year ago Babe Ruth went to Cali
fornia to play after the regular season
was ended, transforming along the coast
for a month, In one of those games he
was opposed by Mails. Ruth went to
bat We times against the stalWart south
paw. went hitlcss and struck out three
times.
Chct Thomas. Indian catcher, caught
for Ruth's team that day. That night
he wired Speaker to get Mails for the
Indians, saving the Coast league left
handler was the best southpaW he had
seen in many day Speaker sought to
get Mails at once. but as he already had
put the deal through for Nieuhaus by
which CoombS was released. he had no
lcft-hand pitcher to send Sacramento.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-01
PILKINGTON- SHUCRUE
BOUT DECLARED A
DRAW BY, MAHER

Referee "Heck" Maher raised the
hands Of both principals at the finish Of
the Pilkington- Shugrue bout, Tuesday
night and thereby hangs a tale. Big
Dave" Fitzgerald declined the honors of
referee in this second bout between the
Meriden and Waterbury idols on account
of his decision of a draw in their first
bout being questioned. Humorous
Heck" was substituted at the last minute
t. officiate and he is now being "panned'
Tor a second decision of a draw. One
publication says:
L" i; x * the affair was married by de-
vcIOpments that caused much indignation
and difference Of opinion, when two de
ti,inns were unfavorably received by the
large audience.
After acquiring sufficient lead to
claim the honOrs in the main bout, Char
ley Pifhington OF Meridcn was given a
draw with Johnny Shugrue of Water
bury at the close Of the 18th round
According to the general feeling Pill
kingtOn earned the decision over his
Waterbury opponent, and storm of pro-
test arose at the cessation OF affairs when
Referee Maher raised the hands Of both
boxers, signifying a draw decision.
The bout was fast and although Shu
grue forced much fighting, his Meriden
rival OutbONed and out fought him in the
majority Of rounds
"PilkingtOn weighed 1871 pounds,
with Shugrue 1907.
In the scmi-final Dave Nedar found
one OF the toughest opponents that he
has ever met in the prize ring in the per-
son Of Mickey Dance of Waterbury.
Rugged from start to finish and willing
to mix it with his more experienced
rival, Dance took a drubbing from Me-
dar. but tie Waterbury lad is deserving
of much credit for his aggressivcncss
and willingness to fight, although out
fou%ht from the start.
"Thc weights Of the boxers announced
at the ring were: Ncdar al and Dance
1917.
The bout between George Proto and
Billy Prince was tame, the boxers show
ing little action, due perhaps to the style
Il the respective boxers, Prince adhcring
to the long range style, while ProtO was
attempting to score at close quarters.
After nine rounds of unintcrcsting box
n.s the boxers tried to enliven things
in the final and participated in a fast
session, but insufficient to discount the
slow work Of the previous rounds
"Proto weighed 123 pounds, while
Prince tipped the scales at 1928
willie Shugrue was awarded the de-
cision i'll his bout with Spike Merino. ,
but, like that of the main go, this decision
brought forth protest from a large |
crowd, who hurled mcomplimentary
remarks at Referee Mahcr after he |
awarded the decision to the Waterbury |
youth.
"Shugrue weighed 1lS. while Mcr4no
weighed u.s."
Nuf sed.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-01
HEJAZ GROTTO PLANS
FOR STATE LEAGUE

At a meeting Of the Hejaz Grotto.
which was held last Tuesday evening,
plans for the coming baseball season
were discussed and it was decided to have
state league of Grotto teams So far
four cities have signified their intentions
OF being represented in this league. New
Britain, Hartford South NorWalk and
New Haven. but it is expected that other
cities will seek admission before final
plans for the season have been COM
pletcd.
1t is planned to have the teams get
under way about the first of June, the
season to extend right through the sum-
mcr and clear into October. H. Thai
hel1ner and c. Gillespie, both of this
city, were elected as officers Of the ten
tatlve league. Gillespie as secretary and
lalhe1mer as temporary chairman.
Gillespie was also elected with Moore Of
South NorWalk to draw up a schedule
for the season.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-01
INDIANAPOLIS SPEEDWAY
STILL HOLDS SUPREMACY

indianapolis, April 1.-SpeedWays
have come and gone, but the indianapolis
race course, the most successful race
track ever built is still doing business
at the same old stand Its next offering
to the public is the ninth international
5O0-nilc race. to be held Monday, May
so.
Chicago's pride, Speedway Park, is
gone Shccpshcad Bay track has been dis
mantlcd and racing has been discontinued
over the boards of the Cincinnati track.
UniontoWn Pa, and Los Angeles courses
SURVIVE and neither Of them threatens
the prominence of the indianapolis
oval.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-01
JINX STILL ON TRAIL. OF
OLYMPIC SWIM STAR

The absence from competition of Fred
kahclc, the Hawaiian swimmer and
American Olympic star, was explained
when it was learned that kahe1e is con-
fined to the naval barracks hospital, Bay
Ridge. with the grip. He has been in
bed for more than month.
The stars illness, coming at the height
of the indoor season, seems to be an
other of the series of misfortunes that
have been his during the last season
First, business took him to the Middle
West, forcing him to give up a number
of big meets here. Upon his return his
lodging were robbed and he lost all of
his medals, among other valuables.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-01
VAN BOWEN is SELECTED
TO LEAD MICHIGAN NINE

Ann Arbor, Mich April Although
the resignation of Captain "SlCker'
Parks. who recently admitted playing
professional ball last summer at Port
land, Ore left a big hole in his pitch
ing staff, Coach Del" Pratt refuses to
worry about it and is working overtime
with his remaining pitchers to get them
into shape before the season opens.
He still has frst-class pitcher in
Eddie Ruzicka. He alsa has d pretty
good second string. Bauer Van BOren,
of Grand Rapids, who will probably play
shortstop, was elected captain to take
Parks place This is Van Boren's third
season.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-01
MICHIGAN CAPTAIN
DECLARED INELIGIBLE

Vernon Parks, captain of the Uinver-
sity Of Michigan baseball team, and con-
sidcrcd one of the best pitchers in the
big ten, admitted to Athletic Director
Phil Bartclme Monday that he had play
ed professional baseball in the Pacific
Coast league last summer and at the
same time resigned from the team. 1t is
said Parks plans to join the Detroit
Americans at the end OF the school year.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-01
Waterbury After Giant Rookie.

Waterbury, April 1.-The management
or the Waterbury baseball club received
wire from Manager McGraw of the
New York Giants in which he offered
Waterbury an outhelder which the local
team will obtain. A1cGraw did not give
the name OF the PLAYER, but it is be-
lleved to be either Bancroft, who halls
from Lawrence, Mass, or FLANAGAN.
who was picked up down South. His
identity will be made known shortly.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-01
STADIUM AT ILLINOIS
TO OUTCLASS YALE BOWL

Urbana ILL.,. April 1.-The proposed
new athletic stadium at the University
of Illinois will be bigger than the fam
GUS Male Bowl and will have a seating
capacity of $4,000 persons, according to
announcement by George Huff, director
Of athletics. 1t will cost $1,50O,OOO.
Funds to build the stadium will be
raised by popular subscription among stu
dents, alumni and friends of the institute
lion.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-01
BAKER ASKS lands
FOR REINSTATEMENT
AS MEMBER OF YANKS

Chicago April II. Franklin Home
Run" Baker has filed an application with
Judge kenesaw NJ Landis, baseball COM
missioner, to be rcinstated, it is an
nounccd. Judge Landis said he had taken
no action yet, but probably would rem
der a decision within few days,
Baker retired from organized base
ball some time ago while a member of
the New York American league club,
but has played independent ball in the
meantime.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-01
RUTT UNABLE TO RIDE.

Chicago, April 1.-Willie Lorenz. the
German rider, will start in the six day
bicycle race at the stockyards Pavilion
here April ?, it is announced. Lorenz's
partner has not yet been selected, as
Walter Rutt. with whom he was paired
in the New York six-day race. is con-
fined to his bed as the result of that race.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-01
Nunamaker on Hospital List.

Cleveland, April Lies Nunamaker,
catcher for the Cleveland Indians, is on
the hospital list, according to word re-
ccivcd from the spring training camp.
He was hit on the ankle by foul ball
several days ago and the pain was 50
great that he has been confined to his
room.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-01
Ethelbert O'Hara Saws.

Frank l.. Kramer entered his 22nd
year as a professional rider at the
\clodromc in Newark last Sunday The
veteran rider was given a great ovation
from the great crowd present at the
first meet of the cycle season. He was
entered in the five mile open event called
the Mayor Gillcn Stakes which he won
from a field of racers which included
such famous stars as Alfred Goulet,
Reggie Mcnamara, Pete MocskOps and
John Bedel.
Joe Lynch, the bantamweight cham
pion, won by shade from Young
Pinchot, Of Charlero, Pa, in 10 rounds
at Pittsburgh, Monday night, according
to a ajOrity Of the sport writer's at the
ringside. The bout was slow in the early
rounds, Pinchot being the aggressor,
landing often with his left Lynch took
six rounds. Pinchot three and one was
even.
That Jack McNu1ty, the fighting ma
clnist Of the "hill" section, is appear
ing in some fast bouts in the south is
evident by the reports coming from
Miami. One paper quotes as follows:
The many tight-loving fans Of Miami
will long remember the battle that took
place in the Strand thcater last night
when Jimmie (kid Quina of Mobile,
Ala, met his "Waterloo" when young
handsome Jack McNulty Of New Haven,
Conn, administered one Of the most Sc
we're beatings that Quinn has suffered"
Jack is due in the Elm City, shortly,
and is pining for another crack at
"ChiCadec' Brown.
,o1- II &c
reported are to appear again in this city
round battle. Curric seems to think he
was treated unjustly by "Heck' Maher
when the latter awarded the decision to
Travers, at the Moose show recently.
but the majority of those present think
Heck called the turn right.
Gene McaCm dropped Outfe1der
Hank Bracket and Pitcher Shanty
House from the Bridgeport roster.
Bracket asked for his release, saying
that he was through with the game.
House was let go because his services
would not be available until late in June.
"Heckamus' Mahcr is getting state
wide publicity, once more, as the Hart
ford Courant remarks as follows:
"Referee is escorted from ring by
police, after calling Pilkington-Sh ugrue
bout draw. Meriden boy should have
been given decision. etc, etc"
"Hecky" is getting more free adver-
tising than the automobile promoter.
Big Dave" used good judgment by
refusing to be the third man on this
card.
=. s. x
Once again the mysterious person.
has left our midst. Will he return with
another "P-S" bout?