Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 09:10:26 EST From: Bapopik Subject: Titanic; Yannigan; Double Squeeze; Barnstormer; Hit-and-Run; et al. TITANIC SPORTING LIFE, 9 September 1905, pg. 3, col. 1, has the headline: THE TITANIC FIGHT ----------------------------- WILL BE BETWEEN THE GIANTS AND ATHLETICS. While New York had its baseball Giants, it did not have baseball Titans. The New York Titans was a football franchise from 1960 to 1963 that later was renamed the New York Jets. In fact, according to Peter Filichia's PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL FRANCHISES (From the Abbeville Athletics to the Zanesville Indians), baseball didn't have "Titans" anywhere! By contrast, 95 teams were called "Giants." It is the most popular team name, if you don't add "Red" to its variants (Reds, Red Stockings, Red Sox, Redlegs, Red Birds, Red Barons, Red Wings, Red Devils, et al.). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- YANNIGAN I came across the same 10 February 1906 SPORTING LIFE "Yannigan" that's in Dickson's BASEBALL DICTIONARY for the first citation. On page 7, col. 2, Ren Mulford, Jr. states that "A Red memory of training days at New Orleans would not be complete without recalling the last series there between the Regulars and Yanigans." Dickson also cites a December 1925 AMERICAN SPEECH article on "Logger Talk," which may indicate that "Yannigan" was a term from the logging camps in the Pacific Northwest. However, Filichia's PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL FRANCHISES, on page 159, has this (minus one "n") for New Castle, PA: _New Castle Quakers (aka Yanigans, 1899)_ Inter-State League, 1896-1900; charter franchise. Disbanded with league after 1900 season. _New Castle Yanigans_ Alternate name for NEW CASTLE QUAKERS, 1896-1900. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- "CHARLEY HORSE" AND "TEXAS LEAGUE" CITATIONS The NEW YORK WORLD 9 September 1906 article on "Charley Horse" found by Gerald Cohen (COMMENTS ON ETYMOLOGY, May 1993 and February 1994) was reprinted in full in SPORTING LIFE, 20 October 1906, pg. 13, col. 3. The "Texas Leaguers" article that Dickson describes as "an unidentified news clipping of April 2, 1906 (on file at the Hall of Fame)" is from SPORTING LIFE, 21 April 1906, pg. 2, col. 4. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- DOUBLE SQUEEZE Dickson has "squeeze play" from 1907's DICK MERRIWELL'S MAGNETISM. This is from SPORTING LIFE, 11 May 1907, pg. 1, cols. 2-3: THE "DOUBLE-SQUEEZE" Is the Latest Alleged Play in Ball Which Elberfeld and CHase, of the Yankees, Are Said to Have Invented. From New York comes a tale of a new play invented by Elberfeld and Chase, of the New York Americans. It is called the "double squeeze," and is thus described: The "double-squeeze" play invented by Chase and Elberfeld, is even more spectacular than its sensational precedessor (sic). They tried the new play in the game of April 20, and but for the fact that Elberfeld stumbled and fell on the base line both men would have scored on the out. Imagine what ball players 20 years ago would have said if such a play had been even suggested! For one runner to score on an infield out is hard enough, but for two to do so seems physically impossible. They are going to do it this summer, just the same. When the play was introduced Elberfeld was on second and Chase was pacing up and down at third. Williams, who was at bat, got a signal for the "squeeze" play, and he very accurately bunted toward third. Elberfeld had the signal to start from second with the pitcher's swing. By the time the ball was pitched Chase was within 10 feet of the plate and Elberfeld had shot past third like a deer. Of course, Chase scored. Elberfeld stumbled when he was half way and fell, or he would certainly have crossed the plate, while Collins threw out Williams. Even at that he got to his feet quickly enough to get back to third and be safe. It was a daring attempt, and it is a play which requires daring men to execute. It is very rare that the "squeeze" play is tried when there are runners on both third and second. It is usually attempted when one man is on the bases and only one run is needed. When two mean are on bases it is usual to wait for a hit or long fly. The "double squeeze," but for the accident to Elberfeld, would have done practically the same work as a single--scored two runs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- "DOCTORED" BASEBALLS Dickson doesn't have a date for this. "Doctor" is an old term. This is probably not the first baseball use, but SPORTING LIFE, 20 October 1906, pg. 16, col. 3, has the headline "'DOCTORED' BALLS." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- BARNSTORMER Perhaps, as A. G. Spalding once wrote, baseball's first barnstormers were the Brooklyn Excelsiors of 1860, who played in central and western New York State. This is from SPORTING LIFE, 6 October 1906, pg. 9, col. 4: THE PIONEER BARNSTORMER. Alleged New Scheme of Much- Traveled Veteran Manager, Frank Bancroft. By Charles Dryden. The pioneer base ball barnstormer of the United States is said to be Frank Bancroft, the polite and efficient person who counts the money the Reds take in on the road. As far back as 1879 Bancroft invaded Cuba at the head of a performing herd of athletes. Since then Frank has barnstormed in many and various directions. He has a new scheme for this Fall, and it listens like a winner. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- HIT-AND-RUN This is from the SPORTING LIFE, 29 April 1905, pg. 2, col. 2: Old Browning an Originator. Lave Cross gives a new version to the origin of the hit-and-run game. He says: "Pete Browning was the originator of the hit-and-run game. He was hard of hearing, and one day he couldn't hear the coaches after getting to first on a hit, and started for second on the first ball pitched. He ran like a wilcat (sic) and got to third on a single. Pete would not have got past second had he not misunderstood the signals, or if he could have heard the coacher. As it was, when he started off on his mad run he got to third safely, and would have been on the way home if he hadn't been held by the man coaching on third. That play of Browning's suggested the hit-and-run game. Hugh Jennings heard of it, and the system was introduced in Baltimore and worked with great success." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- LAMPS This is from SPORTING LIFE, 16 September 1905, pg. 3, cols. 3-4: "PETE" BROWNING DEAD. A One-Time Nationally Famous Player, Noted For His Hitting, Passes Away--Record of His Long Career. Louis Roger Browning, a star in base ball from 1882 to 1893, and known in his day to every base ball lover as "Line 'em out Pete," also as "The Old Gladiator," died at the City Hospital in Louisville, Ky. (Long description follows, but no hit-and-run--ed.) Browning, more than any other man, probably, was responsible for the expression of "lamps" as a substitute for eyes. Pete was always talking about his "lamps" and about their condition as indicated by his batting. Going to the grounds he invariably smoked a cigarette, inhaling the fumes and blowing them out through his nostrils. "It's good for the lamps," he declared to his fellow players. The RHHDAS has earlier "lamps," but its use for a baseball hitter could be noted.