Judge — July 14, 1923 — page 18: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Sergeant Flaherty makes a put out. COPS vs. FIREMEN by Edward Anthony E sTarT out with the intention of seeing a big league game but change our mind when our eye lights on the head: FIRE “LADDIES” AND THE “FINEST” MEET IN TEST OF STRENGTH Ball Game This Afternoon should Furnish Many Thrills In the first place, here is another opportunity to see the mayor throw out “the first ball.” It’s always in- teresting to see how much closer to the pitcher he'll throw it than he did the last time. His best effort was in the game between the Street Cleaning Department and the City Hall Clerks. On that occasion he threw it over the first baseman’s head, improving on his usual performance of tossing it into short left field. Then, again. 3 a pleasure to listen to the Firemen’s Glee Club. And the Police Quartet. So we purchase one of the “coveted pasteboards” and amble down the run- way. As we sit down the band begins to play. Strange how quickly the band leader, who is at least a hundred yards away, recognizes us! We doff our hat in acknowledgment. But, gosh! There must be a mistake. Here comes the mayor. Perhaps the music is for him. You never can tell. The mayor makes a speech. Some- thing about “you men who have served the city with such unceasing devotion.” Then an earful about how much “we citizens are indebted to you courageous fellows who, at the risk of your lives, protect us from the lawbreaker and from the perils of burning buildings,” ete. And a few concluding remarks— briefly uttered in half an hour—about how nice it is to see “you men renewing your youth and playing the national pastime like so many boys. I like to see men forget their age and act like frisky young colts.” This evokes a laugh from Fireman Dolan and Patrol- man Muehlenheimer. The mayor thinks he has said something funny and nods approvingly. Dolan, who is twenty- five and Muehlenheimer, who is twenty- three, also think he has said something funny. “Hello, you frisky young colt!” burlesques Dolan, ina whisper, as he playfully pokes Muehlenheimer in the ribs. “Glad to see you forget your age,” mocks Muehlenheimer in a chuckling undertone. . . . A’ now the main show begins. The mayor _ throws out “the first ball’? and breaks his re- cord for _ac- curacy. The Hook and Ladder No. 6 saves the day. 16 Sketches by Weed “leathery spheroid” catapults past the mound only nine feet to the left of the pitcher. Those who have seen him toss it into short left in previous years stand up and applaud. He's improving. The game is on. Patrolman Malone is the first man up. He takes a down- ward swipe at the first one and misses it. The man_ is absent-minded. He thinks he is swinging a nightstick. ‘The second ball is pitched. He closes his eyes and takes a real swing. He meets the ball squarely and it goes zipping toward short. He stands there at the plate, a half-grin on his face, too sur- prised to realize fully what has hap- pened. “Run, you poor simp!” yells the team captain. Malone, who has been following the flight of the ball with complete fascination, turns around. Seeing the captain wave frantically to him, he grasps the situation and starts lumbering toward first, losing one of his four chins the process. The ball is too hot to handle—even for a fireman —and Malone is safe. “Attaboy, old i yells the coach on. first, “nice running!” Malone is puffing too hard to acknowledge the compliment. The pitcher winds up again. The coach gives Malone the signal to steal second. The runner, who is still puffing, looks around appealingly. The coach is relentless. “Go!” he yells. Malone doesn’t like the idea. Perhaps he doesn’t think it is right for a policeman to steal. But orders are orders. And he heads for second. The catcher’s throw is five feet over the second baseman’s head. The mayor's throwing has plainly left its influence on him. Malone, pant- ing like the tail ender in a fat _ man’s race, pulls up at second as the ball rolls cops me kn toy sack, comicbooks.com