The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-06-28
DOUBLE PLAY PULLED
WITHOUT A PLAYER
TOUCHING The BALL
ny FRANK G. MENKE
IRE umpires infallible?"

Billy Evans with a blush.
There's definite reason.
For once upon a time, Evans. re-
garded as one of the greatest umpires
that ever stepped onto a ball field,
executed a sort Of left-handed boner.
1t happened on Sept 3, 1915, in a
combat involving the Indians and the
White Sox. But it mustn't be as
sumed that Evans was alone in play
ing the role of Sleeping Beauty"
The entire Chicago club, from man.
ager down to the bat boy, ably sup
ported him.
Elmer Smith was on first for the
Indians with one out Jay Kirke, next
man up. swung at a third strike,
missed 1t and ran for first when he
saw the catcher had bobbled the ball.
Smith raced for second, and before
the ball was recovered both men had
reached their sacks in safety.
A moment later the Chicago twirler
uncorked a wild pitch, advancing both
runners. They scored later on an err
ror. and those two runs tied the game
at 2-2 All this happened in the fourth
inning
The Indians grabbed a pair of runs
later and won the game by the score
of to 2.
What was wrong about it?
Nothing except that rule 5, section
6, says quite emphatically that the
batter is automatically out on a third
strike, whether caught or not, If first
base is occupied and none or one is
out
Yet Evans permitted the Indians to
get away with violation of the best
known rule in baseball. So did the
other umpire So did Ray Schalk
ranked as the greatest catcher in base
ball. SO did Eddie Collins-so did
10000 spectators.
A newspaper man later called
Evans attention to it. Bill gulped
when the truth dawned upon him
and blushed. But that's all who could
do beyond reporting the incident to
Ban Johnson, who pondered over the
whole thing and decided the game
should stand as played.
O'NelIl Spins a Yarn
"The funniest incident | ever saw
on ball field" recounts Steve O'Neill
sof those Indians, featured Bill
eWambsganss, short time after Bill
ebroke out into the big leagues.
Bill was on first. l picked out an
Offering of one of the Athletic pitch
Eers and slammed it to the outfield.
No one was out at the time and it
looked like a sure double. But
s''Rube" Oldring made a one handed
catch, whirled around and proceeded
TO study what was going on in the in
field
'Wamby thinking the drive was a
sure hit, ran around to third. When
the catch was made he had but one
idea in mind and that was to get back
to first in the quickest way possible.
So he tore across the.diamond, almost
knocking over an umpire and the
pitcher on his mad dash to the bag.
bill. with a terrific headlong slide
beat Oldring's throw by foot or two
and was smiling a happy smile when
: he heard Billy Evans drone You're
out
'rWild eyed, Bill jumped to his feet
and began to wave arms and legs in
furious fashion at Evans. He called
upon the skies above to witness the
TACT that the American league had a
blind umpire in its employ.
81 beat that throw-I tell you
beat it, howled Bill.
Gust then it began to dawn upon
Evans that Wamby, in his feverish
haste to get back to first, was uncon-
.scious of the fact that he had cut
across the diamond instead of return
ling via second base. So Bill said to
sWamby:
You're right. Bill; you did beat the
throw But you're out because you
didn't touch second on your way
sback!"
"Oh-oh-oh. yes: that's true, isn't it?
grinned Wambsganss, only then com
~ s., 9 IxrI h
was out-although everyone else or
the ball field and everyone in the
stands knew it the minute he begar
shis precipitate flight across the dia
mond."
An Impossible Double Play
rs it possible for double play t.
he made without player touching thu
ball?
tAl Sphinx, in his book which detail!
thousands of sportive anecdotes, re
lates how it happened nearly 40 year
ago. With men on first and second th'
batter hit toward shortstop. The bal
hit the man running to third. caromet
off his leg and hit the leg of the mai
running from first TO second.
THE umpire ruled both men out be
cause they were hit by a balI-a rul
ing probably erroneous.
Under existing conditions such
thing couldn't occur officially today
and perhaps didn't occur legally then
For the rule specifically states tina
after ball hits a runner it become
q dead ball''-and dead ball can no
retire anybody.
John Heydler, prexy of the Nationa
league. was asked if it were possibl
for a double play to be made withou
a player touching the ball.
VI can't figure out any," he ar
severed AN untitled fly might dro
upon runner off his bag, but I don
ssee how he could be called out 70
an infeld fly, with the bases oecupie
automatically becomes dead ball an
therefore couldn't kill a base runner
copyright 1921 by King Features
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100000 FIRE LOSS