Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 1-14-2013

Joe Tinker quoted in the Tacoma Times, January 14, 1913:

[Tommy Leach] drew a pass and walked down to first base, where [Jake Beckley] was playing. It was noticed that Jake played quite a ways from the bag, but no one knew the reason until Tommy started to steal.

Then all the players of both teams were amazed to see Beckley rushing for second, a step or two in advance of Leach.

Jake arrived ahead, slid into the bag, got up, dusted his trousers, and proudly ejaculated: “O, I don’t know. These bushers may be fast, but they haven’t got all the speed on earth.”

Beckley had some wheels himself. He stole 20+ bases in nine seasons and finished with 315 career steals.