Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1917 — BILLY EVANS SOLVES BASEBALL PROBLEMS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BILLY EVANS SOLVES BASEBALL PROBLEMS

(Written Especially for Thia Paper by the Famous American „ League Umpire.) A play came up in the American league last year that is not at all ■uncommon; it happens often during the summer in amateur, minor

and big league games. Yet it confused for a moment an American league catcher who is rated as a star, and this confusion, resulting in an incorrect interpretation of the play, resulted in the loss of the game. With runners on second nnd third and one out, the batter hit to the short stop, who threw home, the man on third dashing for the plate. Seeing that he was a certain out, the runner stopped before reaching the plate, his object, of course, being to allow the other runners to advance as far as possible. A run-up between third and home then Vhsued, the runner who had been caught finally reaching third in safety. In the meantime, the runner on second had advanced to third, so that, as

the catcher approached the bag with ball in hand, two runners.were standing on the bag. He touched the runner who was originally on third when the batter hit the ball to the shortstop. Then he threw the ball to the pitcher, who was standing near by. Immediately, the runner who had come up to third from second made a dash for the second sack. The pitcher threw the ball to the second baseman, who was standing near the bag. He made a bad throw, the ball going into center field. The runner on third, whom the catcher believed he had retired, made a dash for the plate as the ball rolled to the outfield. The runner who had started to return to second retraced his steps and beat it for third. The batter, who was on second, having «reached there while the other plays were being made, also started for the third sack. The center fielder made a bad throw to third and before the ball was recovered all three runners had scored. If you had been an umpire in that game what would have been your decision on the play at third and how many.runs would you have allowed? Answer to Problem. With the two men standing on third base, the catcher tagged the wrong man, hence no one was out. The runner who had been caught between third and home and then managed to get back to third In safety, was entitled to that bag. It wag his by right of possession. The catcher in touching him erred. He should have touched the runner who had advanced from second and was standing on the bag. Touching him would have retired him and avoided the inix-up that followed. Since no one was retired, all three men on'the bases at the time scored through wild throws of the pitcher to second and the outfielder to third. A base always belongs to the man who originally held it. (Copyright by thp Wheeler Syndicate, Inc.)