Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 170, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 August 1917 — BENNY KAUFF’S BONER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BENNY KAUFF’S BONER

Falls for Time-Worn Trick Pulled by St. Louis Players. ■ ■» Caught Off Second Base on Two-Base Hit by Holke Who Had Followed Him at Bat—Believed In Honesty ,of Opponents. Benny Kauff entered the realm of the Ivory dome with a play that was easily the feature of a. 3 to 1 contest. In which the Giants went down to defeat. Leon Ames, the ex-New York hurler, outpitched Slim Sallee, former St. Louis boxman, Kauff’s bonehead play came about in the eighth inning. Benny was on first and Holke was at the bat. The hit-and-run game was ordered. Holke did his part by smashing a wicked grounder over third base for a hit that should have been good fol* a double. At the same time Kauff dug out for second. As he was about to slide for the bag Benny heard a warning shout from Miller, the Cardinals’ second baseman: “Grab that.foul fly, Smithy, old boy !” As Miller and Hornsby were both gazing apparently with the most intense Interest skyward, Benny in his Innocent little heart took for granted that Miller meant what he said and was doing. Benny, having the greatest faith in the honest intentions of professional baseball players, imme-

diately put on brakes and then, when he could get started on the back track, scurried like a scared jackrabbit on his return to first. As he neaped that base Holke suddenly loomed up in front of him in a horrible frenzy *>f agitation, waving his arms and yelling, “Go back; go back; you will spoil my two-bagger a’nd I need it.” Beiiny backtracked again, but too late, and he was nabbed, Cruise to Miller to Hornsby, who had also horned in on the base attempt to make Benny look foolish. It was a squelcher for Kauff.

Benny Kauff.