Clipping:A disguised balk move
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| Date | Wednesday, June 18, 1884 |
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| Text | What is it? McKeon, the clever pitcher of the Indianapolis Club, seems to have a specialty in catching a great many players between first and second base, and, as a natural sequence they are run out. This happens so frequently and is repeated so often with the same players that it invites investigation. The base-runner at first, after being cautioned by his captain, thinks he sees a motion to deliver the ball to the bat, and starts for second, only to be brought up half-way down the patch by observing that the pitcher has turned around in the box and is ready to cut him off. The captain calls the umpire's attention to the play and claims a balk, but the umpire, having been unable to discover a motion to deliver to the bat, disallows it. The inference is plain that the deceptive motion must be made in such a manner that it is observable by the base-runner near first, but not at the umpire's position near home. McKeon's usual preliminary motions are to place himself with his left side toward the umpire and batsman, and place both hands and the ball near his right hip out of sight of them. Whatever deceptive motion is made that misleads the base-runner is done in that position, and umpires should be on the alert to unearth it, and if it is a balk award the penalty. The investigation of it is respectfully referred to Mr. John Kelly, for if it is a balk the opposing club should have the benefit, and if it is not no harm would be done. Players do not usually object to a square put-out on the merits of the play by good fielding, but after making a good hit to be time after time ignominiously run out by a trick which merely baffles the umpire is like being allured to a shameful death by falling into a bear-trap. |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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