Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1917 — BILLY EVANS SOLVES BASEBALL PROBLEMS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BILLY EVANS SOLVES BASEBALL PROBLEMS

(Written Especially for This Paper (>y the Famous American League Umpire.) Winning a game after it looks like a cinch that the game is over is a trifle out of the ordinary, yet it happened in one of the minor

leagues several years ago. The play so deceived the crowd that goodly portion of them rushed on the field, and for te rf 6r fifteen ninutes there was considerable confusion, with, the umpire as the center most of the torm. , .... _ ... : The game was played between great rivals, the cities represented by the two teams being about 20 miles apart. It was a holiday, contest and the clubs, because of the closeness of the two cities, played the morning gam- In one town attd the afternoon contest ir the other city. Several hundred visiting fans attended the morning game, and_ when it seemed as though the game was over, they began to celebrate, but all too soon. In the last half of the ninth Inning, the home

team' filled the bases after two were out. The visitors held a ode run lead, so that a safe hit would at least tie, if not win, thie game. It was up to the batter. He took a healthy wallop at the second ball pitched and sent up a pop fly which the first baseman caught. While the ball was still in the air, it was evident that much argument was taking place at the plate. The batter and catcher were saying things to each' other, while the umpire was making a lot of frantic motions. As the ball was caught, all the visiting delegation, as well as many of the home rooters, surged on the field. After much trouble and confusion the police managed to clear the field. Instead of the game being over, the score had been tied, the bases were still filled, and another good hitter up. He singled, driving in the winning run after the game had apparently been decided.' Only one thing could have happened. What was it? Answer to Problem. , * Fearing, that the man on third might attempt to steal home, he —hfrimr noted for such stunts, the backstop of the visiting team was catching very close to the batter. The batter struck rather late at the ball, which he popped up to the first baseman for what appeared the third out. Unfortunately, the catcher tipped the bat of the batsman as he was about to swing, interfering with his efforts. The umpire could do only one thing, grant the batter first base and allow all the other runners to be advanced, as they were forced to do so to make room for the batter. This sent the run across the plate that tied the score, while the single by the next batter won the game that seemed lost It is needless to add that the umpire had a very strenuous afternoon of it, for he had to shift with the teams to the other city. (Copyright by the Wheeler Syndicate, Inc.) .