Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 57, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 March 1920 — ANSON MADE VICTIM OF ODD TRICK PLAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ANSON MADE VICTIM OF ODD TRICK PLAY

Gore Got Even With Old Boss for Transferring Him. Performance, Engineered by Centerfielder and Buck Ewing, Stood Out as One of Smartest Pieces of Strategy at Time. .There have been many freak and tricky plays in baseball, but there was one engineered years ago by the late Buck Ewing and George Gore, two popular Giants of the early eighties, in which Pop Anson, the famous old leader of the Chicago White Stockings, fell a victim. The play took place on the old Polo grounds, then located at One Hundred and Tenth street and Fifth avenue. The performance stood out as one of the smartest pieces of baseball strategy at that time. Gore had been let out by Anson, and, while he did not object to playing with the Giants, he looked upon his transfer as a reflection on his playing and so was determined to get even with his old boss. He never overlooked a chance when one presented Itself. In the game In which this freaky play was made the score was even at two all. Anson led off In the sixth inning with a two-base hit along-the third-base Une and then proceeded to take a long lead off second. Pfeffer was the next batter, and as he was a natural left-field hitter, the outfield was drawn way over In that direction, the right fieldef being almost at the center field position, while Gore in center was drawn well in almost back of the Infield, the left fielder, of course, playing his field very deep. That was the situation as Anse hopped about between second and third, anxious to get off with the crack of the bat And right here is where the cunning Gore and the brilliant Ewing worked the cruel trick on the Chicago boss. The coachers were bellowing instructions to Anson,

but for some reason or other never 'noticed that Gore was creeping closer and closer to the infield with' every move of the pitcher. Then, all of a sudden, with the signals working In absolute harmony. Gore was seen to race directly to the second base, and Ewing, having started his throw the moment Gore raced toward the base, the big Chicago captain was trapped. Ewing’s throw was a perfect one, and as the astonished Anse plunged toward the base, there was Gore waiting for bm. with the ball. The whole thing happened so fast th it many, at the spectators missed tbs play, but when it dawned upon them that Anson had been thrown out at second base and that the enter fielder had taken the throw, they gave Anse a great Jolly. Of course, Gore was the happiest man In the hall park, for he squared accounts with Ms old leader.

"Pop” Anson.