Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 218, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 September 1916 — DAVIS SWIPED FIRST [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DAVIS SWIPED FIRST

Peculiar Stunt, Puzzling to Many, Actually Pulled Off.

Players and Fans Amazed When Cap* tain Started From Second to FirstNothing to Stop Player Running Backward.

Harry Davis, the famous old star of the Athletics, and in his time one of the best first basement in the business, was born in Philadelphia forty-three years ago. The veteran has many claims to remembrance, one of which is that he is the only man who ever stole first. That peculiar incident has puzzled many fans, but it was actually pulled off. It was in the old days when Dave Fultz, now president of the Baseball Players’ fraternity, was playing bi the outer garden for the Mack bunch. In this particular contest Davis was perched on first and Fultz was on third. .Harry- stole second in the hope that the throw would give Fultz a chance to race home. The pellet was sent to- the catcher in time to head off Fultz, who barely managed to get back to third, but Davis made second. Captain Harry wanted,that run, and he was bound to have It, so when the next ball was pitched he chased back to first, stealing that bag to the amazement of players and fans. Of course a big howl went up, but the umpire could find nothing in the rules to prohibit a player from “ running backward if he wanted to. Having swiped the initial bag, Harry then took another opportunity to try to steal second, and while the throw was made in an endeavor to head him off Fultz chased home with the coveted run. Davis commenced his big-league career 20 years ago, in 1896, when he

was signed by the Giants, having previously played with Providence and Pawtucket. New York soon turned him over to Pittsburgh, where he remained until 1808. After a short experience with Louisville, Davis quit the game and went to work for a railway company. When Connie Mack invaded Philadelphia in 1901 he called Davis from his retirement and made him captain and first baseman of the Athletics. He remained with Connie until 1912, when he had a brief experience as pilot of the Cleveland club, but soon returned to the Athletics.

Harry Davis.