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Show DAHLEN HARDEST MAN TO TAG ON BAGS, SAYS EVERS "In all my years of ball playing," play-ing," said Johnnlo Evers recently, speaking of persons with whom he had worked, "the man I have found it hardest to touch with the ball as he came down to second base from first was Bill Dahlen. until recently manager of the Brooklyn National. "Dahlen always came straight down the base line, directly at tho l'iise, but in the last ten feet of tho distance there, was no telling what he would do. Ho had a groat way of anticipating where the throw from the catcher was coming and he played his slide to a nicety. Coming straight along, he suddenly sudden-ly would fall down on his hips, to one side or the other; spread his legs, and then use the greatest cleverness clev-erness in pulling out of reach and twisting himself to hook the base with either foot. THERE TOE OTHERS. "Bill by no means was the only man who used this famous slide, but he did it to a nicety. Ho never was a particularly dangerous man to block, but blocking him off never seemed to do much good. Ho was almost sure to get the better of tho close plays around second baae, and nothing was sure to go right, even when throws apparently wero on tho mark. "There are other men whom I have found it difficult to 'get at second, and among them are Hans Lobert. Charlie Herzog. Campbell. Bescher, Byrne, Magee, Miller Huggins and Wagner. Wagner A I TOP, signaling from the bench. Center, Elberfeld blocking- a run. Below, running and raising a cloud of dust to conceal the outcome. was a til cr mark to try to fni. but often When it came to putting tho ball on him he was not there. "There were some fine base-fUn-neri on tho old Chicago club, and, of course. I never had any experience experi-ence playing defensively against them. But I do know that Frank Chance was one of the greatest base runners who ever played, nr.d this because ho so very often did the Unexpected and used his head ns well as hjs excellent speed. In-fielders In-fielders Have told me that Chanco was tho hardest man they found to tag. and some of these were men who had played against Frank for American League teams in world's and city series. I think the hook Slide Is the hardest for the mar. handling the throws to gauge." |