Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 128, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 June 1918 — TRICK CAUSES RIOT [ARTICLE]

TRICK CAUSES RIOT

Jack Crooks, one of the unique baseball characters In the earlier days, who died recently in St.' Louis, was a good infielder, a fair batter and born comedian of the Kelly-Latham school. One trlek prepetrated by Crooks caused a small riot. A quarter of a century ago he was playing third one day, and, with tho bases full, a perfect bunt whs laid down along the baseline —practically the modern squeeze play, but with no chance to throw out the batter. Crooks ran up, knelt beside thfc ball as It came to a stop just inside the line —and blew it outside the diamond. Nothing in the rules to punish the trick; the hit had to be declared a foul, the batter came back and fanned and the game was over. Imagine the upheaval that followed but the play went.