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Show 1 BILLY EVANS SOLVES BASEBALL PROBLEMS a f Written Especially fop This Paper by the Famous American League Umpire. r:J Several years ago a very interesting play, which created consid- rJ erable discussion, came up in the International league. Plays which J? 1 8feaafcgitf:e create argument and discussion are always un- natural plays, and this one was no exception to the rule. The contending clubs were two of the ti leaders in the race, and, since the result of the play determined the winner of the game, the con- test went to protest. In the ninth inning, with the home team a run J behind, things started to happen. With two out, the home club managed to get men on first and third. A hit would at least tie the score. The batter responded with a safe drive to left, on which the man on third jogged home. The runner on i first went to third on the hit, while the batter J managed to reach second on the throw-in. In going v from first to third, the runner originally on first had neglected to touch second. The umpire had noted the omission, and so had the shortstop of the team in the field. The latter called J for the ball and touched second, the umpire thereupon calling out the 2 man who appeared safe at third. This out retired the side. a Cj The umpire allowed the run to score, which tied up the game, and j9 the home team managed to win out in extra innings. If you had been & umpiring that contest, gentle render, would you have allowed that run 2 to score from third on the clean hit to left by the batter? Answer to Problem. The run does not count. Tho failure to touch second has made a d force play of the third out, pure and simple. In a way it is almost jj another Merkle play. Since the runner who went to third never 5 legally touched second, the throwing of the ball to that bag by the out- J fielder makes a force play out of the affair, the ball beating the runner t to the bag. Rule 59 says that no run can be scored on a force out, m which this play is, even though tha man forced out is standing on third in apparent safety. 2 Not only does the failure to touch second make void the run, but 2 U It also robs the batter of a clean hit, as the scoring rules say in no J3j " case shall a base hit be scored when a base runner is forced out on the play. This play is an unusual force out, but is force out nevertheless, as the ball beats the runner to second. Ct (Copyright by the "Wheeler Syndicate, Inc.) i |