Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-24-2013

Pittsburgh Gazette Times, May 24, 1913:

Excessive use of the spitball has injured Ed Walsh’s digestion and has thus affected his condition, so that he has not yet reached his best form of this year, according to Dr. James H. Blair, club physician of the Chicago Americans, in a report made today on the pitcher’s condition.
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According to the doctor saliva needed for Walsh’s digestion has been used on the ball, but with care the pitcher may be in his old time form in a month.

Obviously the problem is misdirected saliva and not the 65 complete games and 761 innings Walsh threw in 1911-12. Walsh hung on until 1917, but was never fully healthy and was used extremely sparingly.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-23-2013

Milwaukee Journal, May 23, 1913:

Big Ed Walsh, twirling star of the White Sox, announced today that he has joined the faculty of a correspondence school and hereafter must be addressed as “Professor”. For a paper dollar Walsh will send out to aspirants for fame six lessons on the science of moistening the ball and putting it where the batter’s bat isn’t. Walsh starts his classes Monday.

This is not something that strikes me as a useful service. Nonetheless, I’d love to be able to read Walsh’s lessons.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-22-2013

Pittsburgh Press, May 22, 1913:

George Suggs, the Red pitcher, who is badly in the dumps on account of his illness, which prevents him from taking his regular turn in the box, came to Manager Tinker today and made a sportsmanlike proposition. The Kinston citizen declared that he is sick with sore throat and stomach trouble, and asked of his own accord to be laid off without pay until he is in shape to work. He told Joe that he was ashamed to be drawing salary without delivering the goods…

Manager Tinker told George that he did not want to take the money of a sick man and would not do so. He knows that Suggs is a first class pitcher, wise and game, and he appreciates his proposition, but declined to lay him off.

Your move, Jeremy Affeldt.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-21-2013

Toledo News-Bee, May 21, 1913:

With the score nothing to nothing in the sixth inning, an angry cow temporarily broke up a baseball game between factory employees recently at Altoona, Pa. The cow upset the players’ benches, charged the fielders and then disappeared.

Obviously this is the same cow that ate a baseball the week before in St. Louis. It’s got indigestion and it wants revenge.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-20-2013

New York Tribune, May 20, 1913:

[Heinie] Zimmerman is said to have been incensed by [Cubs owner Charles] Murphy’s statement…that Zimmerman would be able to play when he could get his hat on with a shoehorn, charging Heinie with having a swelled head.

This afternoon Zimmerman told [Johnny] Evers that he would not play, as he was ill. They then had a redhot argument, in which Zimmerman declared that he was tired of carrying the entire Chicago team on his shoulders…Evers informed Zimmerman that he would either play this afternoon or be suspended without pay.

“I’m angry that you think my ego is out of control! And I’m sick of carrying this team by myself!”

Zimmerman’s ‘illness’ miraculously vanished and he played that day, but he went out of his way to get ejected early in the game.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-17-2013

Toledo News-Bee, May 17, 1913:

One of the weirdest triple plays ever seen in the American league was staged in the seventh inning of the Nap-Athletic contest Friday at Cleveland. Johnson [sic] opened with a single and took third on Chapman’s double. Olson then drew a single off Barry’s chest. Johnson was sent home by his coacher, Steen, who saw Chapman racing for third. Johnson was run down. Chappie started back to second and found Olson there. Barry tagged Olson and Chapman. Olson was retired, but Chappie again dashed for third and was easily nailed. In this manner a single was developed into a triple play.

Cue Yakity Sax.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-16-2013

Pittsburgh Gazette Times, May 16, 1913:

[Clarence Irwin], who was signed by Manager Connie Mack of the Philadelphia American League club, and who was to report for duty on May 26, was instantly killed today by tripping and falling in front of a Philadelphia and Reading Railroad locomotive near Cresson, Pa. He was employed as a brakeman and was in the act of turning a switch.

Man. The guy was so close to fulfilling a lifelong dream.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-15-2013

Washington Times, May 15, 1913:

Walter Smokeball Johnson is today holder of a new world’s record for holding the foe scoreless in successive innings…When Derrill Pratt pounded a single to right, scoring Gus Williams, who had already doubled to left, the onward march of the fireball flinger was at an end. He had traveled down fifty-six complete innings without allowing the enemy a run, and it will be some time before this record is bettered.

Don Drysdale’s record-breaking streak started 55 years to the day after Johnson’s streak ended.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-14-2013

Toledo News-Bee, May 14, 1913:

ST. LOUIS, May 14.—(Special.)—During a ball game here a fly ball dropped within a few feet of a cow. Bossie beat the fielder to the sphere and gulped it down. The runner romped home.

I’ve (fairly hurriedly) scanned the current rulebook and don’t see any applicable rule that would make the ball dead if a cow eats it. Everything I’ve seen either refers to people or inanimate objects coming into contact with the ball. I think that makes this the right call.

Is there a rule I’m missing?

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-13-2013

Notes about two youngsters who eventually made their way to Cooperstown:

Pittsburgh Press, May 13, 1913:

Bostonians now are calling little Maranville “the Rabbit.” Also they are rising to proclaim that he is one of the very few men in the game who really can “place” a hit, which overcomes his inability to smash the ball quite as hard as some of his larger contemporaries.

Milwaukee Sentinel, May 13, 1913, Page 6:

In Pitcher George Sisler Ann Arbor college claims to have a Ty Cobb and a left-handed Ed Walsh. Sisler is the best pitcher on the college nine, and he is a great fielder and batter.

People often forget what a good pitcher Sisler was. He put up a 126 ERA+ in 111 career MLB innings.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-10-2013

Washington Times, May 10, 1913:

The United States League will have its formal opening at Union League Park today, when the Brooklyn team meets the Washington team. There will be no admissions charged, Manager Carsey throwing open the gates to the fans and offering the first engagement between the clubs gratis.

The 1913 US League season lasted two days. New York and Newark folded up shop after 100 people showed up to their season opener, and the other six teams gave up after the second game.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-9-2013

Milwaukee Sentinel, May 9, 1913:

While the [Milwaukee-Minneapolis American Association] game was bad enough in itself, the fight between [Brewers manager/third baseman Harry] Clark and [Millers shortstop Dave] Altizer was one of the most disgraceful ever witnessed on a Milwaukee ball field. Sliding into third base in the seventh inning, Altizer deliberately cut Clark down with his spikes, leaping high in the air and planting both feet on Harry’s anatomy. The Brewer leader…jumped onto the runner and rained blow after blow on him while he was on the ground.
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According to Clark, Altizer spiked him with one foot on his forehead, cutting a deep gash, and with the other dug a gash in his chest.

I don’t generally condone violence, but I can certainly see how you’d want to pummel someone after they intentionally spike you in the face.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-8-2013

Toledo News Bee, May 8, 1913:

Although several members of the Naps and Red Sox bore slightly bruised and chipped faces as a confirmation of the report that a free-for-all fight had taken place between both teams following Wednesday’s game, not a player could be found Thursday who would directly admit that a scrap had taken place.
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It waged for at least 10 minutes. Tris Speaker emerged with three spike marks on his head.
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Both Manager Birmingham and acting Manager Wagner professed to know nothing of the fight Thursday.

Hans Schultz also knows nothing.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-7-2013

Pittsburgh Gazette Times, May 7, 1913:

The Philadelphia National League team…protested [the May 5] game with St. Louis, claiming that Umpire Klem “took undue advantage of the rule which provides that the ball must be thrown by the pitcher within 20 seconds after it has been called for by the umpire.
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Pitcher Seaton had two strikes and one ball on Wingo in the seventh inning and was waiting to receive his signal from the catcher when Klem called the second ball, which later forced Seaton to put the ball in the groove when Wingo doubled, giving St. Louis two runs.

Welcome to Steve Trachsel’s nightmare.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-6-2013

Toledo News-Bee, May 6, 1913:

PATERSON, N.J., May 6 (Special.)—A home run batted out by a high school boy in a vacant lot won the game for his team in the ninth inning. The ball caromed off the head of Andrew Van Ninwegan, a baker, who was driving past the ball field, and landed on the back of the horse. The horse ran away and the baker, partly stunned by the blow on the head, tumbled off his wagon as it ran into a telegraph pole. The horse continued at a gallop until the wagon was wrecked.

The baker, a baseball fan, decided to make no complaint when he heard that the ball that hit him had brought in a home run and won the game.

Not to mention he was sure to win $10,000 from America’s Funniest Silent Movies.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-3-2013

Pittsburgh Press, May 3, 1913:

Irvin Cobb, the humorous writer, is responsible for the latest wheeze against the poor, brow-beaten Yankees. At the close of yesterday’s game Cobb approached Frank Chance and asked:

“Would you mind if I gave your players a little treat?”

“Not at all, it might cheer them up,” replied Chance, who until then had counted Cobb as one of his friends.

“Then call them all over here,” said Cobb, “and I’ll show them third base.”

ZING.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-2-2013

Toledo News-Bee, May 2, 1913:

Dartmouth lost a shutout victory over Maine because the fire whistle blew. Three infield errors allowed a run, and the errors were caused by the aforesaid whistle.

Bennett, Loudon, and Donahue, Green infielders, are members of the undergraduate fire department. When they heard the whistle announce that the “Fire Fiend” had invaded Hanover they wanted to rush away and help pull the hose cart.

Coach Woods refused to allow them to leave, but their attention was given to the fire and not the game. Hence the boots and the runs.

They all just wanted to win the Sporting News “Fireman of the Year” award.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-1-2013

El Paso Herald, May 1, 1913:

With a man on third and a man on first, it was the custom to start a double lead off the bases. The pitcher, as a rule, would peg to Jake [Beckley] and the runner on third would instantly break for home.
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This was [Beckley’s] idea: The first time the enemy tried that double steal, he, Jake, instead of lingering round first, would be far up towards second; he would take the ball, let the runner on third do as he liked, send the ball to [Roy] Brashear, who was playing second, and get the victim before the one coming home could score.
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Like a flash the pitcher threw, the man on third broke for home, and the man on first, supposing that Jake would peg at the plate, scampered for second. Beckley hooted hoarsely, wheeled, and drove the ball redhot to second base, hitting Brashear full upon the jaw and knocking him insensible!

When Jake planned out the glorious scheme, he had overlooked the formality of telling Brashear anything about it.

Terrific story, but probably not true. Beckley joined the Cardinals in 1904, two years after Brashear left St. Louis.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 4-30-2013

New York Tribune, April 30, 1913:

Chicago, April 29—The Cincinnati team of the National League, appearing on the field for the first time in baseball history without its red stockings, was defeated by Chicago here to-day, by a score of 7 to 2.
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Joe Tinker’s men wore the pale stockings of the Chicago White Sox, loaned by Charley Comiskey, with complete outfit of uniforms, gloves, bats and shoes, as the Cincinnati team’s uniforms were accidentally left at St. Louis.

And who forgot to bring the uniforms? Doc Semmens, the guy who resigned from the Cubs a few weeks earlier after he neglected to tell the team to show up for practice. Bad month for Doc Semmens.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 4-29-2013

Toledo News-Bee, April 29, 1913:

Coach Branch Rickey is trying to give the [University of] Michigan ball team some inside stuff. “With one out and a man on third, if you get a base on balls run down to first, turn the bag, and start for second. Draw the throw. If you’re out, you’ll score the man. These college catchers won’t get the man at the plate,” he tells them.

The more I read about Rickey, the more I like him. Maybe some of his ideas were unsuccessful, but you can’t say he was unwilling to try new things.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 4-26-2013

Pittsburgh Press, April 26, 1913:

History was written into the baseball books today, as a result of the situation developing in the Giant-Phillies game yesterday. A man singled with three on bases, winning the game, but didn’t single, and the game was not won. The crowd swarmed out on the field, thinking the game was over, but…settled down to witness the finish of the game.
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[Pete] Alexander wound up to shoot the ball over to the pinch hitter. Umpire [Bill] Klem had his back turned introducing [Moose] McCormick as the batter, taking [Al] Demaree‘s place. McCormick singled…but [Phillies player-coach] Pat Moran was on the job. Moran protested to Manager Dooin, who in turn took it up with Klem, who looked up the rules, and ruled out the hit.
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McCormick his into a double play on his second attempt, and the game ended in a tie in the eleventh inning.

Gutsy call against the home team in an era during which “Kill The Umpire!” was sometimes meant literally.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 4-25-2013

Pittsburgh Press, April 25, 1913:

Relatives of Harry Coveleskie [sic]...received a message that he had been badly injured at Chattanooga, Tenn. While warming up preliminary to a game a bat slipped from the hands of another player and struck him on the head, rendering him unconscious.

HEADS UP!

Coveleski was fine. He was back in the big leagues in 1914 and won 20 games each year from 1914-1916.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 4-24-2013

Toledo News-Bee, April 24, 1913:

Manager McGraw Thursday claimed a world’s record for Christy Mathewson. Big Six pitched but 67 balls in beating Philadelphia Wednesday.
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Using but 67 pitched balls, Mathewson threw an average of a fraction over two balls to each man.

That’s nothing. Rick Porcello had a 47-pitch start this past Saturday.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 4-23-2013

Pittsburgh Gazette Times, April 23, 1913:

Characterizing organized baseball as “the most audacious and autocratic trust in the country,” Representative Gallagher of Illinois today introduced a resolution for an exhaustive inquiry into the operations of the National Commission…and [which] would also direct the attorney general to investigate the baseball contract system with a view to instituting prosecutions for violation of the Sherman anti-trust law.

And then Representative Gallagher broke out the Sledge-O-Matic.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 4-22-2013

Pittsburgh Press, April 22, 1913:

Hal Chase played his last game at second base for the New Yorks on Friday. When Manager Frank Chance put Chase back on first base in Saturday’s game he had reached the conclusion that Hal could not remain at the keystone bag without further clogging the infield’s machinery. While it is true that Chase originated the idea of covering second base for Chance and that he did his level best to fill the bill, even though he is a left-handed thrower, it soon developed that he was compelled to make flashy and brilliant plays out of comparitively easy chances, which would have been readily and smoothly accepted by right handed throwers.

And thus ended the Great Left-Handed Second Baseman Experiment of 1913.