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5/30/1922: It was the bottom of the tenth in the first game of a Memorial Day doubleheader in Philadelphia. Butch Henline of the Phils batted with the score tied and runners on 1b and 3b. He hit the ball into the lf bleachers for a game-ending homer. However, after Tilly Walker scored from 3b, Henline stopped at 2b. Thus he gave up a homer for a double. Considering he only hit 40 home runs in his career it should have been a bigger deal. Maybe winning the game was enough (what a concept!)

ByTom

5/30/1922: It was the bottom of the tenth in the first game of a Memorial Day doubleheader in Philadelphia. Butch Henline of the Phils batted with the score tied and runners on 1b and 3b. He hit the ball into the lf bleachers for a game-ending homer. However, after Tilly Walker scored from 3b, Henline stopped at 2b. Thus he gave up a homer for a double. Considering he only hit 40 home runs in his career it should have been a bigger deal. Maybe winning the game was enough (what a concept!)

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7/5/1921: Babe Ruth hit a homer into the right fields stands at the Polo Grounds in the sixth inning and should have had another. In the fourth inning, the Babe hit another long fly to right which would have cleared the fence. However, a fan reached out over the fence to catch the ball. Home plate umpire Tommy Connolly consulted with base umpire Ollie Chill and they ruled the ball a double. Ruth was already at third and returned to second only after a long argument.

ByTom

7/5/1921: Babe Ruth hit a homer into the right fields stands at the Polo Grounds in the sixth inning and should have had another. In the fourth inning, the Babe hit another long fly to right which would have cleared the fence. However, a fan reached out over the fence to catch the ball. Home plate umpire Tommy Connolly consulted with base umpire Ollie Chill and they ruled the ball a double. Ruth was already at third and returned to second only after a long argument.

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6/10/1921: The Tigers were in Washington for a strange game. In the top of the first inning, Harry Heilmann homered into the left field bleachers. It came off Harry Courtney with one runner on base. However, Heilmann was called out for batting out of turn by umpire Billy Evans. Detroit manager Ty Cobb had changed the lineup before the game but did not tell the players. Bobby Veach was skipped in the batting order in the initial frame. Veach batted in the fourth inning for the first time and homered to right field. In the fifth inning, Washington’s Bucky Harris was called out on the base paths because of interference by Clyde Milan who was coaching third base at the time. There was a lot of confusion on the field during that play and eventually Harris and Sam Rice ended up standing at third base. When Rice stepped off the bag he was tagged out.

ByThis Day in Baseball

6/10/1921: The Tigers were in Washington for a strange game. In the top of the first inning, Harry Heilmann homered into the left field bleachers. It came off Harry Courtney with one runner on base. However, Heilmann was called out for batting out of turn by umpire Billy Evans. Detroit manager Ty Cobb had changed the lineup before the game but did not tell the players. Bobby Veach was skipped in the batting order in the initial frame. Veach batted in the fourth inning for the first time and homered to right field. In the fifth inning, Washington’s Bucky Harris was called out on the base paths because of interference by Clyde Milan who was coaching third base at the time. There was a lot of confusion on the field during that play and eventually Harris and Sam Rice ended up standing at third base. When Rice stepped off the bag he was tagged out.

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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.

ByTom

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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5/29/1920: Catcher Ernie Krueger of the Dodgers lost an inside the park homer when the ball rolled under the temporary stands in center field at Ebbets Field. He was awarded a ground-rule triple on the play. The hit came off Hugh McQuillan of the Braves in the third inning of game 2 with one out.

ByTom

5/29/1920: Catcher Ernie Krueger of the Dodgers lost an inside the park homer when the ball rolled under the temporary stands in center field at Ebbets Field. He was awarded a ground-rule triple on the play. The hit came off Hugh McQuillan of the Braves in the third inning of game 2 with one out.

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7/12/1917: In the second game of a doubleheader, Reds left fielder Greasy Neale hit an inside-the-park homer with Hal Chase on base. However, base umpire Pete Harrison had called time before the pitch because of a ball loose on the field. Thus, the four-bagger was nullified.

ByTom

7/12/1917: In the second game of a doubleheader, Reds left fielder Greasy Neale hit an inside-the-park homer with Hal Chase on base. However, base umpire Pete Harrison had called time before the pitch because of a ball loose on the field. Thus, the four-bagger was nullified.

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6/26/1917: In the first game of a doubleheader with the Cubs in St. Louis, Walton Cruise of the Cardinals lost a home run in the fifth inning when he neglected to touch second base and was called out. The Redbirds won the game, 6-5, without that run.

ByTom

6/26/1917: In the first game of a doubleheader with the Cubs in St. Louis, Walton Cruise of the Cardinals lost a home run in the fifth inning when he neglected to touch second base and was called out. The Redbirds won the game, 6-5, without that run.

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7/13/1915: In a game at the Polo Grounds, Cy Williams of the Cubs hit what appeared to be a two-run inside-the-park home run to right center in the top of the fourth inning. However, Williams missed third base and was called out by umpire Mal Eason. Cubs skipper Roger Bresnahan was ejected by umpire Lord Byron for arguing the call on Williams. The Cubs lost to the Giants, 4-3.

ByTom

7/13/1915: In a game at the Polo Grounds, Cy Williams of the Cubs hit what appeared to be a two-run inside-the-park home run to right center in the top of the fourth inning. However, Williams missed third base and was called out by umpire Mal Eason. Cubs skipper Roger Bresnahan was ejected by umpire Lord Byron for arguing the call on Williams. The Cubs lost to the Giants, 4-3.

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4/17/1914: Luther Bonin of the Buffalo Blues in the Federal League hit a home run into the bleachers during a game in Baltimore against the Terrapins. However, as he rounded third base, manager Larry Schlafly, who was coaching third, patted Bonin on the back. Bonin was declared out by the umpires. This would have been Bonin’s only home run in his 21-game major league career. He was credited with a triple, the only one of his career!

ByTom

4/17/1914: Luther Bonin of the Buffalo Blues in the Federal League hit a home run into the bleachers during a game in Baltimore against the Terrapins. However, as he rounded third base, manager Larry Schlafly, who was coaching third, patted Bonin on the back. Bonin was declared out by the umpires. This would have been Bonin’s only home run in his 21-game major league career. He was credited with a triple, the only one of his career!

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8/14/1913: Cardinal Ed Konetchy blasted the ball into the left-field stands in the third inning of the first game off Rube Marquard. The ball caromed off the seats back onto the field and umpire Ernie Quigley called it a double.

ByTom

8/14/1913: Cardinal Ed Konetchy blasted the ball into the left-field stands in the third inning of the first game off Rube Marquard. The ball caromed off the seats back onto the field and umpire Ernie Quigley called it a double.