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<p><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Who doesn't love the hidden ball trick? Anson, apparently:<br /> <br /> [Chicago vs. Hartford 5/25/1876] "On Spalding's hit to Burdock, McVey was put out at second by Carey, and with one man out and two on bases, things looked badly. But Carey held the ball, walked slowly down to third base, apparently to speak to Ferguson but in reality to give him the ball, which he did, unobserved by the Chicagos. He then walked back to his position and Bond took his place between the pitcher's points. As soon as he did this Anson stepped from the base, and Ferguson very coolly touched him with the ball, putting him out. The play was the greatest surprise, probably, to Anson, who for an instant did not comprehend the play, but when Ferguson<br /> showed him the ball, as the boys say, "he tumbled." The play received round after round of applause and probably earned the game." <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Hartford Daily Courant</span> May 26, 1876.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">(Posted to the 19CBB List-serve by Richard Hershberger, April 3, 2014.)<br /></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Anson's gripe wasn't the only one. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Sporting Life</span><em>,</em> <em> </em>in 1905 quoting <span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Boston Journal,</span> noted that: "It was the late Harry Wright who insisted that the trick was unprofessional and he would not allow his players to attempt it on opponents. Mr. Wright argued that the spectators were entitled to see how each man went out, and could not be expected to follow the ball when it was juggled by the players." Reference: <span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Dickson Baseball Dictionary</span>, 2009, page 403<em>.</em><br /></span></p>
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