Clipping:The potato trick 2
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| Date | Wednesday, June 12, 1889 |
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| Text | [Yale vs. Staten Island Athletic Club 6/5/1889] Yale was at the bat, and taking advantage of the rattled condition of the Staten Island pitcher had put three men on bases. Third base was covered by L. Small, conceded to be one of the best basemen in the amateur field, but slightly given to a fondness for pranks and horse play. Bates had placed himself in position to pitch the ball when his attention was attracted by a loud “Hist” from Small, followed by “Quick! Give me the ball.” Believe that the third baseman had a chance to make a point Bates let drive at him. Small caught the ball, touched the man on the base, and then pretended to toss the ball to the pitcher, but instead of doing so he put it in the hollow of his right arm. The movement was executed so slowly and awkwardly that the spectators laughed and the man on the base smiled disdainfully. He was not to be caught by such a clumsy maneuvre. Suddenly Small reached under his left arm with his right hand and then threw swiftly to the pitcher; but he did not throw the ball. With a quick and almost imperceptible movement he took from the left breast pocket of his shirt a round potato and tossed that. Bates caught it, looked at it for a second, and then with a gesture of annoyance threw it down towards centre field. Of course the man on the base thought the ball had been thrown, and he started for the home plate. Instantly Small took the ball from under his arm, touched the runner, and called for judgment. The umpire could give only one decision and that was “Out.” The trick was not discovered for half a minute at least, but when it was then came the uproar. A chorus of hisses came from the ladies in the grand stand and the men groaned in unison. Manager Thomas J. Conroy was in the clubhouse at the time and was called up by the furious ringing of the telephone, followed by an angry inquiry as to whether he intended to permit Small to continue playing. Although perfectly innocent of any knowledge of what had been done, Mr. Conroy was treated to the same goosey disapproval as soon as he appeared. Mr. Small did not appear to consider that he had done anything calling for censure and felt rather proud of his achievement. He continued playing to the end of the game. Staten Island was beaten, being genuinely outplayed. Had the substitution of the potato resulted in defeating the Yale men there would have been serious trouble. At least this is the opinion of a majority of the members of the home team. quoting the New York World |
| Source | Chicago Tribune |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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