Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 174, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1915 — REVIVAL OF OLD PLAY [ARTICLE]

REVIVAL OF OLD PLAY

Years and years ago, “King” Kelly pulled a play where he followed Williamson right in to the plate on a play where it was apparent that the latter would be put out when the catcher would tag Williamson, who would slide In one direction. Kelly would slide the opposite way, and It was impossible for the catcher to get both men. It was a play worked time and again with one man out and a run needed to tie the score. Since that time the play did not come up until a few days ago, when two Lincoln runners came into the plate at the same time when a short fly fell at the feet of Outfielder Pownall of Wichita. Pownall threw the ball to .Catcher Griffith as both men slid in at the same time. They made the mistake of sliding in the same direction and Catcher Griffith’s shin guards proved mighty handy. He blocked the plate completely and both men were stopped a foot away from the plate. It was an easy matter to tag both and the umpire would not allow a claim of interference. In this manner an outfielder threw two men out at the plate on the same play. There is no record of this play ever having happened before. Of course, the play was not rehearsed as Williamson and Kelly worked it, or the catcher could not have tagged both men.