New Britain herald., 1928-01-07
|C0S1lIEST PLAY
 OF WORLD SERIES
Billy Evans Recounk Bon6eld
 Stunt in t9t7 Glms

l Nearly every world series has its goat as we'll as it's hero. The 1927 classic was no exception to the rule. In that event Heinie Zimmerman was initiated into the Royal Order of Goats. The famous Snodgrass nun of 1912 stands out as one of the fatal world series mistakes. Heinie Zim- merman's run in 1917 was even more ludjcrous and far more cost ly. The /muff by Snodgrass was a physical error. while the now hts- toric run of Zimmerman from third to the home plate was . mental as we'll as physical slip. ! It so happened that I was the umpire in the series that furnished the setting for the play that made Zimmerman the goat of the series. It will be recalled that Heinie chased Eddie Collins across the plate in an effort to retire him. | might add that I was just in the wake of the 90-foot dash, following , the steps of Zimmerman. It was dumb play if there ever ! was one.
 There have been few costlier mistakes in baseball. Zimmerman was subjected to all kinds of ridi- cule the following day. but have always felt that he was rather harshly treated in the matter. Not All His Fault
 There cAn be no doubt aA to the mistake that Zimmerman made in his belief that he could catch up with Eddie Collins. . much faster man. That was mistake number one.
 However. when Zimmerman re- alized he couldn't outfoot Collins, he was ready to throw the ball to someone and let them try to com plAte the play.
 Unfortunately, there was no one covering home plate. so Heinie had to keep on going with his grotesque race. even after it was evident that he was being distanced.
 With the series standing 5 games to in favor of Chicago, the sixth and what proved to be the deciding contest, was staged at the Polo Grounds in New York.
 Chicago won the game, 4-:. Three of the lns were made in the fourth inning of the game. This inning featured Zimmerman's now famous run. The three runs scored in that eventful session de- cided the ball game and series.
 How It Happened
 Going into the fourth inning, | neither team had scored, both Fla: Der and Benton pitching airtight ball. The break of the game came | in Chicago's half of the fourth.
 Zimmerman started the trouble with a bad throw to first on an infleld hit by Collins. who raced to second on the error. If Heinie had only retired Collins, he would have escaped the play that later made him the goat of the series.
 Joe Jackson hit short fly to right field which was dropped by Robertson, Collins racing to third on the play. Thus, two misplays paved the way for later events.
 Happy Felsch, the next batter, tapped weakly to Pitcher Benton. who trapped Collins between third and home. Feeling certain that he would eventually be retired. Collins lodged hither and thither in an ef- fort to enable the other two runners to advance to second and third before he was retired.
 Catcher Rarilen was drawn far down the line, when Zimmerman made up his mind that he could catch Collins. In such 8 play it was the duty of the fire baseman to rush in and cover the plate. He ]! didn't.
 He Looked Foolish
 When Zimmerman realized there was no one to throw the ball to, both he and Collins having rushed past Rariden on the base lines, there was nothing for Heinie to do but keep on going.
 As the players neared the plate and Collins gained slightly with each step. the thought occurred to me the only way Zimmerman could possibly touch him was by taking a chance on a flying tackle. The quick-think- ing Collins, however. pulled a stunt that made Heinie look all the more foolish.
 Evidently Collins feared Zimmer- man might dive after him. for as he got within sliding distance of the plate, he hit the dirt in the most styles
 This was entirely unexpected by who rushed by Collins, lying on the ground, much after the fashion in which an express passes B freight.
 With hand outstretched contain ing the baseball, Zimmerman re- minded you of Mercury doing his stuff.