On this date back in 1918 :-)
 

Posted By: <b>Neal</b><p>On this Date back in 1918, Casey Stengel after being traded by Brooklyn in the offseason, made his return to Ebbets Field a memorable one. In his first at-bat, Stengel called time,stepped out of the batter's box and doffed his cap. A bird flew out and the fans broke into laughter!

On this date back in 1918 :-)
 

Posted By: <b>Steve f</b><p> Truth or fable?.. What a riot if that happened nowadays, it would have to be Manny. Thanks for the history Neal.

On this date back in 1918 :-)
 

Posted By: <b>Bob Pomilla</b><p>Stengel claimed that, while in the outfield, he found the bird staggering around, figured it had been stunned by flying into something and he would take it into the dugout and "give it some water or something" Said that he had then totally forgotten about the bird under his cap and when he doffed his cap in response to the crowd, the critter took to wing. Believe it or not! <img src="/images/wink.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />Here you guys were good enough to teach me the various smiley faces and I forget to use one in a post that cries out for it. Situation remedied.

On this date back in 1918 :-)
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>given how hats were designed back then, I find it hard to believe that he could have kept a bird under his hat that was capable of flying away. It would have been struggle the whole time to try and get out, most likely scratching his head as it did.<br /><br />Jay<br><br>I love pinatas. You get to beat the crap of something and get rewarded with candy.

On this date back in 1918 :-)
 

Posted By: <b>DMcD</b><p>Google "Stengel sparrow" and you will get different accounts, different dates, the crowd booed him, the crowd cheered him, he did it once, he did it again. Best I could find to confirm that it happened at all is this article from the NYT Archives, dated May 26, 1919:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/June07/STENGEL_Sparrow1.JPG"><br />(Ya gotta love old time sportswriting: "... the big left-hander had the horsehide acquiescent to his slightest whim.." ; another way of saying, I guess, that he was throwing strikes).

On this date back in 1918 :-)
 

Posted By: <b>RC</b><p>David,<br /><br />Thanks for posting the article. Great reading.<br />Yes, the writers were of a different breed back in the day.<br /><br />RC