Characters from the Diamond: Wild Events, Crazy Antics, and Unique Tales from Early Baseball - Ronald T. Waldo -Rowman & Littlefield, Mar 17, 2016 - 278 pages
Hurst was always willing to do anything so that he could come out on top or get his way. In addition to his duties as a major league umpire. he also refereed prizefights. bicycle races, and marathons. One year. while he was laboring for Ban Johnson and the American League, Tim's many requests to work these other functions started irritating the league president. Although Hurst had already committed his services to officiate a Saturday marathon in New York, Johnson banned him from doing so. claiming that Tim would have to choose between umpiring and his moonlighting jobs.
On Friday afternoon, Tim had his train ticket for New York purchased and wired race promoters that he would be there to oversee the event. The game Hurst was umpiring that day was a close affair involving the New York Highlanders. The home team was leading by one run heading into the top of the ninth inning. New York shortstop Norman "Kid" Elberfeld reached second base with two out. The next batter hit a blistering single. Elberfeld tore off for home plate and easily beat the relay throw from the outfield. Sensing a tie score. extra innings, a missed train, and a blown opportunity to earn big money in New York, Hurst acted quickly and called Elberfeld out at home plate. A heated argument ensued before Kid pushed Tim. Seeing the catcher's mask laying on the ground, Hurst picked it up and clubbed Elberfeld over the head with the piece of equipment. The force of the blow opened up Kid's scalp and knocked him unconscious.
Hurst never uttered a word as he tossed the mask aside, calmly walked off the field, and caught his train to New York. Ban Johnson suspended him for a week and fined him $100. Hurst was not bothered by this sequence of events since he earned $500 for refereeing the marathon and treated the suspension as a week's vacation." Hurst could not have pulled off this coupe without some help from an unsuspecting accomplice like Kid Elberfeld, who made life rough for umpires throughout his major league career. Elberfeld was Hurst's perfect dupe since the shortstop usually needed little provoking when it came to engaging an umpire in a confrontation. Nicknamed the "Tabasco Kid" because of his contentious attitude toward umpires, teammates, and opponents, Elberfeld loved to express hostility toward those in Hurst's profession who refused to see matters his way.
Elberfeld was a thorn in the side of every American League arbiter until 1909. when he made a New Year's resolution to never again quarrel with an umpire. The Tabasco Kid reasoned that no good came from umpire baiting since arbiters tended to harass players who engaged in these tactics and give them the worst of every close decision. Elberfeld felt a more Christian approach would yield better results. The New York shortstop's pious nature lasted a few months, until he enraged one of Ban Johnson's umpires. Throughout his long baseball career, Elberfeld was involved in many tiffs and squabbles with umpire Francis H. "Silk" O'Loughlin. Silk served the American League as an arbiter for seventeen years, from 1902 to 1918. Shortly after O'Loughlin retired from baseball and took a position for the Department of Justice in the Boston district, he passed away on December 20, 1918. at the age of forty-six, following a brief illness."
O'Loughlin was an excellent adjudicator who possessed honorable character. Throughout his umpiring career, he was noted for making calls in a vociferous manner. During the 1909 World Series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers, traveling Smoky City fans fell in love with the way that O'Loughlin yelled "strike" in a loud, drawn out fashion when working behind home plate at Bennett Park"
While many Pirates rooters appreciated Silk's umpiring style, American League players who were exposed to him did not always share that sentiment. Temperamental Kid Elberfeld clashed with O'Loughlin on numerous occasions for different reasons. In one instance when Silk banished Elberfeld from the field for breaching baseball's code of etiquette, Kid actually thanked the umpire for throwing him out of the game. Once Elberfeld had been expelled from this game, he headed for the clubhouse located behind center field. Kid hurriedly dressed, left the clubhouse, strolled back onto the field, and interrupted the game. He walked toward the infield. stopped at second base for a few seconds, sauntered through the slab, and marched up to O'Loughlin, who was standing at home plate. Kkl was holding a large pane of glass under each arm that he had carried from the clubhouse.
"What do you mean by stopping the ballgame?" snapped O'Loughlin, as he walked up to Kid.
"Mr. O'Loughlin, I forgot to thank you," explained Elberfeld. "I had to put these panes of glass in the kitchen window. You have done me a great favor, and I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I didn't know an umpire could be so kind. I actually believe you're half human after all."
"Get out!" roared O'Loughlin as he pointed his thumb toward the gate. "You're carrying two panes and you've given me one.""
The baseball game continued as Kid Elberfekt bearing a wide smile on his face, strode out of the ballpark still carrying the two panes of glass." Elberfeld had taken sarcasm to a new level to say his piece after receiving the hook from umpire Silk O'Loughlin.
On Friday afternoon, Tim had his train ticket for New York purchased and wired race promoters that he would be there to oversee the event. The game Hurst was umpiring that day was a close affair involving the New York Highlanders. The home team was leading by one run heading into the top of the ninth inning. New York shortstop Norman "Kid" Elberfeld reached second base with two out. The next batter hit a blistering single. Elberfeld tore off for home plate and easily beat the relay throw from the outfield. Sensing a tie score. extra innings, a missed train, and a blown opportunity to earn big money in New York, Hurst acted quickly and called Elberfeld out at home plate. A heated argument ensued before Kid pushed Tim. Seeing the catcher's mask laying on the ground, Hurst picked it up and clubbed Elberfeld over the head with the piece of equipment. The force of the blow opened up Kid's scalp and knocked him unconscious.
Hurst never uttered a word as he tossed the mask aside, calmly walked off the field, and caught his train to New York. Ban Johnson suspended him for a week and fined him $100. Hurst was not bothered by this sequence of events since he earned $500 for refereeing the marathon and treated the suspension as a week's vacation." Hurst could not have pulled off this coupe without some help from an unsuspecting accomplice like Kid Elberfeld, who made life rough for umpires throughout his major league career. Elberfeld was Hurst's perfect dupe since the shortstop usually needed little provoking when it came to engaging an umpire in a confrontation. Nicknamed the "Tabasco Kid" because of his contentious attitude toward umpires, teammates, and opponents, Elberfeld loved to express hostility toward those in Hurst's profession who refused to see matters his way.
Elberfeld was a thorn in the side of every American League arbiter until 1909. when he made a New Year's resolution to never again quarrel with an umpire. The Tabasco Kid reasoned that no good came from umpire baiting since arbiters tended to harass players who engaged in these tactics and give them the worst of every close decision. Elberfeld felt a more Christian approach would yield better results. The New York shortstop's pious nature lasted a few months, until he enraged one of Ban Johnson's umpires. Throughout his long baseball career, Elberfeld was involved in many tiffs and squabbles with umpire Francis H. "Silk" O'Loughlin. Silk served the American League as an arbiter for seventeen years, from 1902 to 1918. Shortly after O'Loughlin retired from baseball and took a position for the Department of Justice in the Boston district, he passed away on December 20, 1918. at the age of forty-six, following a brief illness."
O'Loughlin was an excellent adjudicator who possessed honorable character. Throughout his umpiring career, he was noted for making calls in a vociferous manner. During the 1909 World Series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers, traveling Smoky City fans fell in love with the way that O'Loughlin yelled "strike" in a loud, drawn out fashion when working behind home plate at Bennett Park"
While many Pirates rooters appreciated Silk's umpiring style, American League players who were exposed to him did not always share that sentiment. Temperamental Kid Elberfeld clashed with O'Loughlin on numerous occasions for different reasons. In one instance when Silk banished Elberfeld from the field for breaching baseball's code of etiquette, Kid actually thanked the umpire for throwing him out of the game. Once Elberfeld had been expelled from this game, he headed for the clubhouse located behind center field. Kid hurriedly dressed, left the clubhouse, strolled back onto the field, and interrupted the game. He walked toward the infield. stopped at second base for a few seconds, sauntered through the slab, and marched up to O'Loughlin, who was standing at home plate. Kkl was holding a large pane of glass under each arm that he had carried from the clubhouse.
"What do you mean by stopping the ballgame?" snapped O'Loughlin, as he walked up to Kid.
"Mr. O'Loughlin, I forgot to thank you," explained Elberfeld. "I had to put these panes of glass in the kitchen window. You have done me a great favor, and I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I didn't know an umpire could be so kind. I actually believe you're half human after all."
"Get out!" roared O'Loughlin as he pointed his thumb toward the gate. "You're carrying two panes and you've given me one.""
The baseball game continued as Kid Elberfekt bearing a wide smile on his face, strode out of the ballpark still carrying the two panes of glass." Elberfeld had taken sarcasm to a new level to say his piece after receiving the hook from umpire Silk O'Loughlin.
Characters from the Diamond: Wild Events, Crazy Antics, and Unique Tales from Early Baseball
Ronald T. Waldo - Rowman & Littlefield, Mar 17, 2016 - 278 pages
Baseball during the late 1800s and the Deadball Era was filled with aggressive, hard-nosed players who had no qualms about exhibiting belligerent behavior while tenaciously achieving victory on the diamond. These unique and eccentric individuals helped the game grow in popularity through their brilliance on the field and their legendary exploits off it. From manager Miller Huggins fighting with a pitcher over thick, juicy steaks to Rube Waddell getting arrested for tossing doughnuts at the coiffure of a waitress, their stories kept baseball fans entertained throughout the season—and still entertain us today.
In Characters from the Diamond: Wild Events, Crazy Antics, and Unique Tales from Early Baseball, Ronald T. Waldo chronicles the adventures of an unparalleled group of players, managers, and umpires whose tales continue to define that era of baseball. From the days of Chris Von der Ahe when his St. Louis Browns dominated the American Association to the Great War, this book presents an array of unique stories, peculiar accounts, and humorous anecdotes involving the men who were the very fabric of the game during that time period. Baseball icons such as John McGraw, Willie Keeler, Ty Cobb, Frank Chance, Rube Waddell, and Mike Donlin are profiled in this book, while numerous lesser-known players—including Arthur Evans, Jack Rowan, Bill Kellogg, Bill Bailey, Ping Bodie, and William Dugan—are also given their moment in the sun alongside their more famous baseball brethren.
Characters from the Diamond breathes life back into baseball from the late nineteenth century and Deadball Era. Illuminating, entertaining, and noteworthy, these stories surrounding some of the game’s most unique individuals paint a humorous, off-beat picture of an often-forgotten era for baseball lovers everywhere.
Ronald T. Waldo - Rowman & Littlefield, Mar 17, 2016 - 278 pages
Baseball during the late 1800s and the Deadball Era was filled with aggressive, hard-nosed players who had no qualms about exhibiting belligerent behavior while tenaciously achieving victory on the diamond. These unique and eccentric individuals helped the game grow in popularity through their brilliance on the field and their legendary exploits off it. From manager Miller Huggins fighting with a pitcher over thick, juicy steaks to Rube Waddell getting arrested for tossing doughnuts at the coiffure of a waitress, their stories kept baseball fans entertained throughout the season—and still entertain us today.
In Characters from the Diamond: Wild Events, Crazy Antics, and Unique Tales from Early Baseball, Ronald T. Waldo chronicles the adventures of an unparalleled group of players, managers, and umpires whose tales continue to define that era of baseball. From the days of Chris Von der Ahe when his St. Louis Browns dominated the American Association to the Great War, this book presents an array of unique stories, peculiar accounts, and humorous anecdotes involving the men who were the very fabric of the game during that time period. Baseball icons such as John McGraw, Willie Keeler, Ty Cobb, Frank Chance, Rube Waddell, and Mike Donlin are profiled in this book, while numerous lesser-known players—including Arthur Evans, Jack Rowan, Bill Kellogg, Bill Bailey, Ping Bodie, and William Dugan—are also given their moment in the sun alongside their more famous baseball brethren.
Characters from the Diamond breathes life back into baseball from the late nineteenth century and Deadball Era. Illuminating, entertaining, and noteworthy, these stories surrounding some of the game’s most unique individuals paint a humorous, off-beat picture of an often-forgotten era for baseball lovers everywhere.
