Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-09
Collins and Barry Inventors
Of Cutoff Play" Designed
To Break Up Double Steals
TwENTY-oNE YEARS OF BASE BALL.
BY EDDIE COLLINS.
vI--Bloeking Double Steals

FTER our old irffeld. Barry,
~ Baker, McInnis and l, had
IA been working together about
u two seasons, necessity, mean
ing my none.too.strong throw
ing arm, compelled US to adopt an
original method for breaking up dou-
BILE steals. After considerable prac-
tice it worked very well, but not With
out several amusing results when the
scheme was new
1t required extraordinary effort for
me to get the ball to the plate in time
to head on a fast man when ] took
the throw at second, so / proposed to
Barry that with runners on first and
third. / should cut IN behind the
pitcher when the man on first started
for second, If the runner on third
remained there would open up my
hands and Jack could catch the ball
and get the runner going into second.
| We worked on this for some time
in morning practice and decided we
would try it out on Cobb and Bush,
Detroit being due in Phiily for Sc.
ries Just at that time. We wanted
especially to circumvent this pair for
they took great delight In making us
trouble.
Early Chance Is Afforded.
The chance came soon enough.
Early in the first game Bush got on
with one out and Ty sent him to third
with a hit. Jack and knew what to
expect and we we're not disappointed.
Cobb started on the first pitch. / cut
in behind the pitcher to intercept the
throw and nail Bush at the plate, but
foxy DOME never moved off the bag.
/ opened my hands as per agreement
and rehearsal, but Barry also was
watching Bush and did not have time
to put up his hands after the ball
went through and it hit him full lin
the stomach, knocking him over.
Cobb slid into second and then got up
and gave us the horse laugh.
After that experience Jack said he
would remember to keep his eye on
the ball and let me watch the man at
third. He did, and we pulled the play
successfully several times before we
left home.
Our first stop on the next trip was
New York. That was Quite awhile
ago, for the Yankees were playing on
the hilltop grounds. Jack Sheridan
umpired all alone.
During the game Chase reached
third, and Frank LaPorte, who was
not noted for speed. was on first. La.
Porte started for second ana I
FASTENED over to my new position.
Sheridan was standing behind the
pitcher and when the throw came /
made such a good bluff at catching
the ball that Chase dove head first
back to third, he having edged Oft d
few steps in anticipation of q break
for the plate.
OF course, I opened up my hands
and let the ball pass through. Barry
took 1t and tagged LaPorte out,
standing UP. 10 feet or more In front
of second. 1t was the third out, and
with the tag, Jack turned, threw his
glove out on the grass back of short
and started for the bench.
Now, / not only fooled Chase but
also Umpire Sheridan. When he saw
me, as he supposed, catch the ball, he
waved LaPorte safe without hardly
looking around and started for the
plate to take up his position There.
To put 1t mildly, / was surprised to
see the decision, and yelled: "You
blind blankety, blank, can't you see
anything"
Sheridan never stood for any rough
talk, and turned wrathfully to see who
had the temerity to talk like that TO
him. As he turned around he saw
Barry throwing away his glove, high
in the air.
Eyer out of the game. Hurry up!"
Sheridan called back.
Then explained to him what had
really happened, but did not stress the
fact that 1t was ! who had made the
protest. When the umpire realized
how the play had gone it was too late
to do anything. and poor Barry spent
the rest Of the game wondering why
he had been the goat for Sheridan's
mistake.
A year or two afterward, when we
were in New York again, we made a
play that caused A revision of a rule.
This had nothing to do with blocking
double steals. but I cite IL here to
show what two fellows can do who
work together conscientiously and
keep their heads up. =
The game was close-two out, a
runner on second and Babe Borton at
bat. Bill Dinneen was field umpire,
Horton hit sharply through the box
and thought he had q base hit. So
did l. for that matter, ~ ! started for
the ball, but / managed to reach and
knock 1t down. didn't have time to
strAigiftkn up to thorw or even to
look. just batted the ball toward