On ,September 1 1920 — 9/12/1920: In the top of the fourth inning of a game in Chicago, Washington’s Frank Ellerbe was on first base with two outs. Patsy Gharrity hit the ball into the left field bleachers for an apparent two-run homer. When Ellerbe heard the fans in those seats cheering he thought Joe Jackson had caught the ball which would have ended the inning. After rounding third base, Ellerbe turned and went to his shortstop position. Meanwhile Gharrity trotted around the bases. When he rounded third base, he was called out for passing Ellerbe. Both umpires, Bill Dinneen and Ollie Chill, made the call. Washington argued that since the ball was out of play it did not make any difference that Gharrity passed Ellerbe. The headline in the next days’ New York Times read: “Gharrity’s Homer Retires His Side.” This event had no effect on the game as the Senators beat the White Sox, 5-0.
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