Evening star., 1923-02-13
tn American Newspaper Alliance.J

| the diamond Nobody seemed to
know what happened. Jack Hayden,
playing the outfield for the Cubs. had
run toward the clubhouse, thinking
the game over.
Finally Johnny Evers got the at
tention Of Umpire Emslie, who was
working on the bases that day.
Hank ODay was behind the bat.
shaking his head to indicate that ne
would not allow such play. Evers
followed him for a short distance and
then he ran to ODay, who had turned
away from the plate, walking toward
the stand and was taking the extra
balls out of his blouse.
Nobody ever knew what decision
had been made.
Hank O'Day's Explanation.
The next morning, the excitement
still being intense, several newspaper
men went down to the old Hotel Ash
land. where the umpires stopped in
those days. Isle hotel is not there
inow.
One of the reporters asked O'Day
to tell exactly what was his decision.
He said the runner tMerkle) was out,
because 1t was necessary for him to
touch second to prevent forced play.
But that would only leave the score
| tied" the newspaper man suggested.
why didn't you order play re-
sumed""
rWhy-why," said O'Day hesita ting
! ~. II called the game on account OF
darkness"
I am giving this conversation on
| the authority of sport writer. a good
friend of mine, who was present.
l have been told that ODay went
Ito see Harry Pulliam. president of
the league, and such an explanation
| was decided upon.
Decision Cost the Pennant.
Tn, hot ois;a Q
/, the pennant We had few more
games to play, but that sort of took
the heart out of the gang. 1t finally
came down to a tie, with even Pitts
between the Cubs and Giants was
ordered played over. In that game
we lost
Mathewson pitched for US in the
play-off and Jack Pfeister started for
the Cubs. We got to Jack very
enough to yank him out just in time.
He put in Mordecai Brown and the
! Cubs finally won out.
So. with all those exciting events
following that single of Bridweifs, 1
regard that as the greatest hit l ever
saw.
I have seen longer hits.
The longest hit ] ever saw-and
| feel pretty sure that il was the long
| est ever made-was a wallop by Babe
Tampa, Fla, of Columbia" George
Smith. who was pitching for the
/ Giants.
Ball Travelled 5S7 Feet.
/ didn't believe It possible for man
to hit a base ball as far as that. He
caught the ball squarely on the nose
and il started like an ordinary long
| fly. Instead of coming down, though,
| it kept rising.
My Cod exclaimed one of the
players. where is that ball going?'
/ The drive cleared the field, race
! track and then the fence. Interest
/ in its length was greater than in the
game itself. For the rest of the game
that was all we talked about
To be sure of its length. a party of
newspaper men and players went out
| and measured the distance accurately
That ball had travelled 5S7 feet
| Mind you. that is just thirteen feet
short of 200 yards. Can you imagine
such drive?
That hit by Ruth would have clear
fence in the Polo Grounds. 1t was
| ever expect to see.
Often / am asked il any OF the old
timers like Dan Brouthers or Ed
! Delehanty could hit a ball as hard as
Ruth. My answer is No" l don't
think a man ever lived who could put
such force behind ball.
Copyright. 1923. e. s. and Canada b,
Christy Walsh Syndicate,