The four umpires working the game conferred and after much to-do, it was decided that (Rice's) catch would stand, probably because they had seen the catch and nothing else. Manager McKechnie took the matter to the commissioner's office, and did so in a manner we would not see today. He just walked over to the box where Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis was sitting, and politely inquired whether he could appeal the matter. The autocratic Landis just as immediately retorted with a flat-out "no". The case was closed, and the Nats were out of the inning with their 4-3 lead intact.
Questioned by reporters later, Sam Rice said simply that the delay behind the fence had been caused by his Adam's apple coming into contact with the hard skull of a paying customer. Commissioner Landis wanted to talk to Sam and had him summoned following the game. Sam told the judge one thing -- that the umpire had called Earl Smith out. That, Landis said, was precisely the answer he wanted the player to keep giving whenever that question was put to him in the future. The controversial play incited the first major rule change in the majors in five years -- in the future, if a player left his feet and followed the ball into the stands, it would be a home run. This does not detract from Rice's effort, since "the Catch" was the most miraculous many players professed to have seen in their lifetimes.
More confusion ensued in the bottom of the eighth . . . the Senators batted out of order! When they'd taken the field in the top of the inning, McNeely had gone out to center. He had of course pinch run for Leibold, who had batted in the pitcher's spot. Since McNeely had inherited the ninth spot, it was his turn to bat following Muddy Ruel's single with one out. Instead the pitcher, Firpo Marberry, not only batted in the ninth spot, but executed a perfect sacrifice to move Ruel ahead. Fortunately for Washington, the Pirates were also somnolent on this play. The opposition did not clue in quickly enough -- by the time the play was appealed, it was too late. Sam Rice was already in the batter's box, and under the rules, what had taken place could not be negated. When Rice grounded to short, however, the whole sordid episode was rendered moot, as the Nats did not score.
There were more fireworks in the top of the ninth when, with one out, Firpo Marberry gave up successive singles and then hit Kiki Cuyler with a pitch. After inducing Clyde Barnhart to pop up in fair territory near the plate, the great Pie Traynor worked Marberry to a 3-2 count before flying out to McNeely in center. The Nats had restored their lead in the Series with a 4-3 final. An exciting game indeed, and all of its excitement was contained within two hours and ten minutes -- a quick game by today's standards, but the longest of the 1925 Series to that point.
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