New Britain herald., 1928-01-28
QD TIMERS GLORY
 IN DAYS BY.G0NE.
Recall Amusing and Thrilling
 Events in Athletic World

Thousands of incidents of hu- morous natuSc-funny enough 10 be rated in high class vaudeville-naNe occurred on the indoor courts and the outdoor fields of sport ln New Britain within the memory Of many sports followers who are still young as years go, albeit they find them selves out-paced day after day by the children of yesterday who are the young men and women oi today. Let a handful of sports lovers as semble anyw where. Let someone start to remember when,' and the rest is easy. The discussion may start about baseball, or football. or an! other game, but it is sure bet II will branch out and include every thing else that has any resemniance to athletic competition. and, m all probability, it will end in red-ho' argument and a wager winch some uswsnaper man will be called upon 10 decide. Let the newspaper man be careful or he will be given bet, 100. for there is nothing that "l'' satisfy the contentious Of dyeo -lh- the-wool sports fan in an argument except a quotation from an offlclai record book, "]'o the best of my recollection" means nothing to the boys who like to argue. because they believe one recollection Is as good as another, and. in the majority oi eases. their stand is correct.
 When the boys get around to the alscussions of funny things now ever, there is not apt to De much argument, unless someone tfles to aid & few tiourishes to an incident which happens to be still damp ana fresh within the memory Of one or his auditors. Make no mistake. the raconteur will be corrected without any delay, and if he persists Ill re- calling too many details in a man per that does not ring true. he VIII be removed from good standing "l'h the bunch without as much cere- mony as can be expected to pre- cede the final appearance of the Bos- ton Red Sox in St. Louis a few weeks before the end of the season.
 One of the funniest incidents re- called by New Britain baseball 1oi- lowers was the occasion of the near riot at Electric field, when Umplre Red" Rorty was escorted OH the field by the late Supernumerars Officer "Dennie' O'keefe. It was not 70 funny while it was happening at least Rorty did not think so' for the crowd was ill an uproar over his decisions and for time 1t looked as though there might be bloodsAeu. Swat" McCabe, now of Bristol, put then a star outtielder for the Ne" Britain team in the Connectlcu' leaxue and the leagues leading bat fer. made a punch at Rorty and the bleacherites swarmed onto the nelo' officer O'Keefe, who was one ol the hest rooters New Britain has ever had. left his place behind first pase and. making his way through the crowd, saved Rorty. oughl U take a swat at you myself "Dennle fold Red" on the way out.
 There was pitcher Ill the Coh- necticut league. known as Hach Schumann. He was with Hartforn for several seasons and later pitched for New Britain. He seldom pltched against New Britain because Kay Fisher, the Vermont schoolmastef' had the Indian sign on the local outfit and would have pitched against them every day had the schedule permitted. Schumann was not popular here. and one day. when d crowd of small boys bother ed him considerably at Electric field, he struck one. or attempted 10 strike one. Another near-riot en- sued and Schumann was licklea pink when the angry fans were dis persed.
 Hartford had q second bascmau named Gus Soffel, who was the target for the jibes of the bleach critics at Electric field. A nice field ing player and a fair sticker. Sotfei seemed to have ambitions to de- d base paths, but nature had decreed otherwise. having presented Gus with very prominent bay "ln- dow." Nevertheless, ill almost every game Hartford played at Electric field, if Soffel reached first base, ht would start his steal and just as sure as he started. the New Brit am catcher would have the ball al the midway sack waiting for tht big fellows arrival. A mad, diving slide, a cloud of dust, and the um' pire's hand would jerk upward as Soffel's foot came to light few toet from the base. with the bal resting against il. Nothing that tho stage has yet produced could strik. inc bleacherites any funnier thal Sot1el. dusting of his trousers, try ing 10 put up an alibi to Tom connery, his manager, as he made his way to the bench.
 Many are the tales tbat arc told ot incidents occurring in Andrews field on Allen street a decade ago when Sunday sports drew large crowds from all parts of the city but one which will never be obiter. ated from the memory of the pa. irons of the great old place has tt do with the puddle of water in the hollow part of the baseball diamond near the pitchers box The field was
 l, accumulated and stayed on the ground for many hours. Frequently football games were played soor after rains1 orms and it was the de light Of the spectators, especial! the "kids.' 10 see a visiting play-. thrown into the puddle. And j happened. too. not only 10 the visl tors but to the home team
 Danny Fitzpatrick, quarter bacl