Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-03
THROW TO WRONG
BASE IS HARMLESS
Strategy of AS Master Mind
Questioned as EarnshaW
Bats in Pinch.
BY ALAN GOULD.

Associated Press Sports Editor.
ut. LOUIS, october 3.-Not
since Fred Merkle failed to
~ touch second base nor since
Gene Tunney took the long
count" has the sports world found
more to argue about than the
strategy, or lack Of it, in the sec
ond game of the world series.
If the Athletics had come
through TO beat Hallahan and the
Cardinals, with the bases full in
the ninth, after Catcher Wilson
threw to the wrong base on Jimmy
Moore'S strikeout, the st. Louis
backstop would have been nonni-
mated for place with Merkle
among the goats" OF base ball
history.
But the Cards survived this brain
slip and the secondguessers today took
none less than the old master, Connie
Mack, to task for questionable tactics.
Mack made the same mistake twice,
many seasoned base ball men declared,
when he allowed George Earnshaw to
take his turn at bat, instead Of send
lIlR III u WIFI lilC Lyh'B
run on third base and others in the
ofing.
Had Faith in George.
Connie explained afterward he had
confidence in EarnShawS hitting abil-
ity, especially against a left-hander,
but the facts were, first, that Big
George hit into a double play in the
fifth inning with the bases full and, sec
4v, Mt wifi m
first and third. The Cards led only
by 10 both times. Even a long fly
would have tied the score in the nth,
and as late as the seventh, with Halla-
han in rare form, it looked to many
observers as though the better part OF
strategy was to nominate batting
replacement.
What was Mack worried about?"
asked a veteran manager. He didn't
have to save any of his pitchers. They
all get two days rest before the next
game, anyway, and the AS needed one
or two runs much more than they
needed the distinction OF having Earn
shaw finish out his assignment. With
out any runs, 1t didn't make any diff
ference how good Earnshaw was going.
He was already one run behind. But
that's the gamble. II Earnshaw had
come through, Mack would have had
the last laugh
Cards Run Wild.
The Athletics. all hands agreed, will
have to speed up their control Of the
Cardinal ase-runners, especially Pep
per Martin. if they are to stop the Ma
tional Jeaguers from galloping away
with the series. Right under the noses
of the finest defensive club in the
American League the Cards yesterday
ran wild Watkins as we'll as Martin
made an extra base on an ordinary
single. due to slipshod work in the
outfield by Has and Simmons On
top of that, Cochrane's aim was far
from its usual accuracy, whether or not
a perfect threw would have nailed
Martin on each occasion he stole a
base
The Cards gave one of the smartest
exhibitions l have seen a National
League team show in several years, >
remarked John Heydler, president of
the league, after the game. Il said
at the outset they would have to be on
their toes and get the jump on the
Athletics to have a chance to win this
series II they continue TO play the
same alert ball they did behind Halla-
hans superb pitching. I feel confident
they will give good account Of them
selves. Martin, I was told, was not In
the best Of condition to start the series
! but he seems in very good health and
acts like one of the greatest young out
! felders produced in a long time"