February 16, 1914 - Lima Daily News, OH - When Kid Elberfeld won game by his own methods
The fans in most of the big league cities have seen Norman (Kid) Elberfeld play ball under restrictions have seen the fiery "kid" perform when fettered by the iron clad rules which govern the national game, enforced to the letter by the
dictator, the arbitrator. However, but very few have had the pleasure or otherwise of seeing the "tobasco kid" perform entlrely unfettered and all restrictions removed In a town and on a field where baseball rules and laws of the lands were east to the four winds.
'Twas in 1900 when the batting kid was star shortstop of the American league and working like a beaver to win games for the Detroit management that he and "Eddie" Sievers drew a suspension—perhaps it was for 30 days, anyway it should have been for 30 years.--This pair amused themselves by hooking up with different teams out in the state.
WAS ON OWN GROUNDS.
The management of the Tecumsek club hired this pair of villains to come out and help to clean up on Adrian, said Adrian team was made up of a crew which had seen service in about every bush league in the United States and Canada, and were just as tough as they were ancient. In this contest "Kid" Elberfeld was in his glory, here he was
with a team on their on grounds. their own umpire and a crowd of raving fans ready to fight for the kid and back him up in every move he made.
In this case and as it is in about all country towns, the spectators stand where they please, and in this game they hugged the base lines, and flocked about the plate, so Elberfeld has his supporters right with him, and all willing to follow his commands. Up to the third inning there was no call for any extra effort, as the Tecumseh team assumed a commanding lead, the score, being 6 to 0. "Ed " Sievers walked up to the scorer, and offering him the ball with the remark, that the game was so easy, in fact too easy for him to pitch, and requested the official to go out and finish the game.
THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED.
In the fourth something happened which was the direct cause of turning rather a slow contest into a howling battle. The first six batters of the Adrian wrecking crew smashed the ball, and to add lustre to the work "Big Mike" Jacobs sent the ball over the center field fence for a homer which tied the score. Sievers didn't come near the grand
stand after that round.
But. Elberfeld did Every ounce of fighting blood in the "kid" was aroused. He began a series of rough house tactics that only an Elberfeld could conceive. With a couple of hundred "rough necks" at his back the "kid" cut loose. Tying
the score gave the Adrian bunch considerable courage, and they fought hard. but of course they could play straight baseball only, and to deviate a hairs breadth from that meant trouble.
When the Adrian hurler was about ready to wind up he lost sight of the plate for there stood Elberfeld throwing dust by the handful and as fast as he could pick it up. In fact he got so bold he wouId run over to the pitcher's box and toss a
handful right in the big hurler's face The more dust the "kid" threw the better the pitcher worked, and the wiider his curve grew, and he didn't even murmur, in fact he didn't dare The big youth was the famous "Rube" Vickers right out
from the meadows and hay mow. "Rube" has seen many games since, and played in many, but he never forget his first trial.
The game was a fierce struggle the remaining innings. in the eighth with the score 9 and 9, and Tecumseh at the bat, by foul means instigated by the terrible "kid" the Chiefs managed to get three men on base. with two men down. Elberfeld failed in his turn to drive in the runners, and this peeved him, but he was determined to win that game With a weak and timid batter up for Tecumseh and two strikes on him it looked bad for a score. But here Mr. Elberfeld came to the fore wIth a stunt the like of which was never pulled off in baseball before or since. The awful "kid" got right up to the plate, or as near to it without stepping on the batsman's toes, and when Vickers let go a fast curve Elberfeld gave the timid batter a vicious push that sent him into the pitched ball.
Of course with the bases full this forced in a run, and the home umpire allowed it. The Adrian players quit and began packing their goods and fairly had to battle their way out of the grounds.
dictator, the arbitrator. However, but very few have had the pleasure or otherwise of seeing the "tobasco kid" perform entlrely unfettered and all restrictions removed In a town and on a field where baseball rules and laws of the lands were east to the four winds.
'Twas in 1900 when the batting kid was star shortstop of the American league and working like a beaver to win games for the Detroit management that he and "Eddie" Sievers drew a suspension—perhaps it was for 30 days, anyway it should have been for 30 years.--This pair amused themselves by hooking up with different teams out in the state.
WAS ON OWN GROUNDS.
The management of the Tecumsek club hired this pair of villains to come out and help to clean up on Adrian, said Adrian team was made up of a crew which had seen service in about every bush league in the United States and Canada, and were just as tough as they were ancient. In this contest "Kid" Elberfeld was in his glory, here he was
with a team on their on grounds. their own umpire and a crowd of raving fans ready to fight for the kid and back him up in every move he made.
In this case and as it is in about all country towns, the spectators stand where they please, and in this game they hugged the base lines, and flocked about the plate, so Elberfeld has his supporters right with him, and all willing to follow his commands. Up to the third inning there was no call for any extra effort, as the Tecumseh team assumed a commanding lead, the score, being 6 to 0. "Ed " Sievers walked up to the scorer, and offering him the ball with the remark, that the game was so easy, in fact too easy for him to pitch, and requested the official to go out and finish the game.
THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED.
In the fourth something happened which was the direct cause of turning rather a slow contest into a howling battle. The first six batters of the Adrian wrecking crew smashed the ball, and to add lustre to the work "Big Mike" Jacobs sent the ball over the center field fence for a homer which tied the score. Sievers didn't come near the grand
stand after that round.
But. Elberfeld did Every ounce of fighting blood in the "kid" was aroused. He began a series of rough house tactics that only an Elberfeld could conceive. With a couple of hundred "rough necks" at his back the "kid" cut loose. Tying
the score gave the Adrian bunch considerable courage, and they fought hard. but of course they could play straight baseball only, and to deviate a hairs breadth from that meant trouble.
When the Adrian hurler was about ready to wind up he lost sight of the plate for there stood Elberfeld throwing dust by the handful and as fast as he could pick it up. In fact he got so bold he wouId run over to the pitcher's box and toss a
handful right in the big hurler's face The more dust the "kid" threw the better the pitcher worked, and the wiider his curve grew, and he didn't even murmur, in fact he didn't dare The big youth was the famous "Rube" Vickers right out
from the meadows and hay mow. "Rube" has seen many games since, and played in many, but he never forget his first trial.
The game was a fierce struggle the remaining innings. in the eighth with the score 9 and 9, and Tecumseh at the bat, by foul means instigated by the terrible "kid" the Chiefs managed to get three men on base. with two men down. Elberfeld failed in his turn to drive in the runners, and this peeved him, but he was determined to win that game With a weak and timid batter up for Tecumseh and two strikes on him it looked bad for a score. But here Mr. Elberfeld came to the fore wIth a stunt the like of which was never pulled off in baseball before or since. The awful "kid" got right up to the plate, or as near to it without stepping on the batsman's toes, and when Vickers let go a fast curve Elberfeld gave the timid batter a vicious push that sent him into the pitched ball.
Of course with the bases full this forced in a run, and the home umpire allowed it. The Adrian players quit and began packing their goods and fairly had to battle their way out of the grounds.
