Double Boneheads

[dlfallen]

On a lighter note, I found this description of a double bonehead in the April 6, 1912 issue of Tip Top Weekly #834:



Although humorous, this account doesn't pass the "straight-face" test, so I tried to google other descriptions of this incident. I found this account in the San Bernardino Sun, Volume 36, Number 81, 7 July 1912 (Page 6). It is (OCR'd as the actual newspaper image was not available to me)):

"BONEHEAD BASEBALL This Was About the Richest Double Play Ever Perpetrated. Double boneheads are rare in baseballscarcer than hens' teeth, and naturally so,' for the' completion of a bonehead requires vigilance and quick thinking by the opposition. Still, double concretes happen ever and auon; the moBt famous one possibly being that pull'rd by Cozy Doian aud Uarry Gessler tt Chicago several years ago.' On this occasion Dolan had reached second lu the ninth, and one was down, the score at the time being In favor of the Cubs by a one run margin. The next batter hoisted a long fly over center field. Gessler grabbed the' ball and, deciding that It was tbe third out tucked the ball In his pocket and flew for the clubhouse. ' ' Dolan, Instead of taking advantage of tbe break to score the tying run; also figured that It was the third out and followed Gessler across the field, while a raving mob of players from both teams, surrounding them, tried to Impress the horror of the situation upon them. ' ' " " ' ' ' ' ' 1 Artie Ilofman finally took the ball away from Gessler, chased Dolan to the clubhouse and made tho putout at tbe edge of the bathtub. That was tho richest doable break ' on record', but there have been a feit others almost as funny."

This doesn't qualify as a second opinion - either there is plagiarism going on or the author sold the same story to two publications. Further queries produced (-Chicago Tribune “by exclusive content" July 10, 2006):

"Invents New Double Play.

Manager Chance took himself out of the game just to spite O'Day in the seventh inning, and called Hofman in from center to cover first, putting Gessler in "Solly's" place. Thereby he laid the plot for the original and comic finish. Hits by Howard and Brown put runners on third and second with one out, in Boston's ninth. Strobel lifted a long fly to center and Gessler captured it after a long run back. Immediately he stuck the ball in his pocket and started for the clubhouse, thinking it the third out. Howard scored from third on the fly, but Strobel stuck to first, of course, until he awoke to Gessler's mistake, and started for second. Meanwhile the Spuds were splitting their lungs trying to wake up Gessler. He grasped the situation just in time to make a long distance throw to Evers, who touched Strobel before he reached second and ended the game with the most original double play on record. It was a huge joke to every one, but might have proved disastrous in a closer game."

Not sure where the Trib got its information, but it seems a much more likely account. Finally, I found this (-Major League Careers Cut Short: Leading Players Gone by 30, By Charles F. Faber, 2010):



Similar to the Tribune account, but different is some details. Both have Brown on second, Strobel batting, and Gessler in the outfield. But Faber doesn't mention anyone on third, anyone scoring, and has Brown being thrown out at home instead of Strobel being thrown out at second. And although both sources have Brown on second, the older accounts have Dolan on second.

Whatever the real story is, I like the first one the best (although it is unlikely). Does anyone have an example of a real double bonehead?