June 13, 1906 - Daily Press (Sheboygan, WI) - Sporting Facts and Fancies
Sporting Facts and Fancies
Eddie Hahn, one of the Chicago American outfielders, owes much of his success in baseball to a dumb play in which he and Kid Elberfeld played the leading role. It was a big factor In calming him to be released by New York and signed by Chicago. In the fall of 1905 Griffith secured Hahn from New Orleans of the Southern league, and he showed up in such fine form during the fag end of the big league season that Griffith expected much of him. He failed to shine early in the 1906 race, and wasn't regarded as competent as Frank Delehanty. Things have changed, however, for Hahn is now a major league star, while Delehanty is hack in the bushes. Boston was playing New York in the Spring of 1906 and Chesbro and Young were the opposing pitchers. With two down and three on the bases the first half of the ninth, and the score 3 to 2 in favor of New York, one of the Boston batters hit a short fly to left field. It looked to be such an easy out that the New York fans started to leave the ground. The ball would hare been easy either for Elberfeld at short or Hahn, who was playing left field. The two players did the you-first act on the ball, however, and to the consternation of everybody, particularly Clark Griffith, the ball dropped safe, and two men scored, putting the visitors in the lead. The play appeared to unnerve the entlre New York team, and before the third man was retired Boston had recorded nine runs and clinched the game. Griffith left the grounds in a rage, and a few days later Hahn was wearing a Chicago uniform. It certainly was an excellent change for Hanhn, as it gave him a boost and salary and a chance to share in the world's series.
Eddie Hahn, one of the Chicago American outfielders, owes much of his success in baseball to a dumb play in which he and Kid Elberfeld played the leading role. It was a big factor In calming him to be released by New York and signed by Chicago. In the fall of 1905 Griffith secured Hahn from New Orleans of the Southern league, and he showed up in such fine form during the fag end of the big league season that Griffith expected much of him. He failed to shine early in the 1906 race, and wasn't regarded as competent as Frank Delehanty. Things have changed, however, for Hahn is now a major league star, while Delehanty is hack in the bushes. Boston was playing New York in the Spring of 1906 and Chesbro and Young were the opposing pitchers. With two down and three on the bases the first half of the ninth, and the score 3 to 2 in favor of New York, one of the Boston batters hit a short fly to left field. It looked to be such an easy out that the New York fans started to leave the ground. The ball would hare been easy either for Elberfeld at short or Hahn, who was playing left field. The two players did the you-first act on the ball, however, and to the consternation of everybody, particularly Clark Griffith, the ball dropped safe, and two men scored, putting the visitors in the lead. The play appeared to unnerve the entlre New York team, and before the third man was retired Boston had recorded nine runs and clinched the game. Griffith left the grounds in a rage, and a few days later Hahn was wearing a Chicago uniform. It certainly was an excellent change for Hanhn, as it gave him a boost and salary and a chance to share in the world's series.
