Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-13
AL ScHACHT'S
Ny Own PorticuIor ScrewboII

pitching career was just about
finished. I was able to pitch in
only few games the rest of the
year, and then mostly in relief.
Since I wasn't allowed to pitch
the next spring because of a
sore arm, ! was made a tenn
porary coach. And the ham
started pouring out of me. 1t
was during that trip, I believe.
that I got my real start as a
baseball comedian. Altrock and
I took to clowning together be-
fore the games.
We also roomed together on
the way north. Not that either
Of us asked for it: it was just a
club policy that coaches room
with coaches. But We rarely
spoke to each other, unless it
was to argue. Nick was surly
with me off the field, but even
then I realized that we might
team up as a comedy act. So l
kidded him along.
Considering that Altrock
hated my CUTS from the be-
ginning. it's amazing that we
were gradually able to develop
a pretty good act.
The Cobb Evans Fight
That season I witnessed a
great fight between Ty Cobb and
Umpire Billy Evans. Evans called
Cobb out on a play at the plate
and the two exchanged harsh
words. His next time up, Cobb
was called out on strikes. and he
blew up. He and Evans roared at
each other, nose to nose. Finally
Billy challenged Cobb to meet
him in the umpires' dressing
room after the game.
After the game, guys from
both teams piled under the
stands and waited. After about
five minutes of wrangling, it was
decided they'd fight in the area
way outside the dressing rooms.
Evans was everybody's favor
lite. Not just for sentimental rea-
sons, either. He was about g.
foot-1 and strong and had a
reputation of being somewhat of
an authority on boxing. Cobb
was about the same size, but no
boxer.
How do you want to fight?"
Evans said.
Il m no fighter" Cobb
snapped. You challenged me.
Everything goes"
"Okay," said Evans.
Billy took a stance like an old
time boxer, with his left fist
stuck straight out. Cobb, his
hands at his sides. kind of Gil
cled around him. You could tell
he was scheming, just like he
did on the ballfield. He maneu-
vered so Billy's back was to a
steel stanchion. Suddenly Cobb
dashed out and socked Evans
flush on the jaw. Billy's head
smacked back against the pillar
and he slumped to the concrete
floor.
Like an animal, Cobb .leaped
on him and grabbed him by. the
throat. He might have choked
Evans to death if Hank O'Day,
one of the groundskeepers,
hadn't pulled him off.
The next day Evans went into
the Detroit dressing room and
told Cobb: you licked me yes
terday, but it might be different
next time" They never did bury
the Ratchet as far as ! know.
Entertains at Series
At the end Of the year, Altrock
and were hired to entertain at
the World Series between the
Yankees and Giants.
Altrock and I started with
exactly three routines-a bur-
lesque prize fight. a pantomime
tight wire walk and a band
concert" We had to invent new
gags as we went along because
many bleacherites arrived as
early as 8 am. and the players
didn't start coming on the field
until about noon. so the fans
would get a little restless around
10, when we appeared. The
most popular thing we did in
the mornings. it developed, was
q community sing" in the
bleachers, with me leading the
band. I wore a battered top
hat and tall coat over my base
ball uniform. I'd only worn
the outfit once before. in 1914.