Friday, March 14, 2008

Tinker to Evers to Chance

Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance has been uttered in the clubhouses of baseball since the early 20th century.

These three baseball infielders were the mainstay standout playing trio of the Chicago Cubs during the 1906 and 1910 years.

The Chicago Cubs won four pennants and two World Series during this span.

Joe Tinker was shortstop and the slick fielder who initiated the starting action of double-play combination.

Johnny Evers was the 5'9" and 140 lb. quick as a mosquito and as fiery as a sword swallower turning on a dime there at second base and throwing rifle shots to first.

Frank Chance was a converted catcher playing first base who anchored the conclusion of so many double-plays generated by these legends.

The heroics of these baseball playing infielders and their ability to turn double-play opportunities with ease were immortalized by Franklin P. Adams with his Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance lyrical lament.

This trio of players were inducted into The Baseball Hall Of Fame in 1946 and enshrined into this august body as a unit. To my knowledge no other time in history have players been so honored as to be inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame as a playing unit of individuals.

In the annals of sports history the only group of individuals honored comparably as a unit would be the "Four Horsemen Of Notre Dame".

The quickest way to kill a rally by opposing teams is to execute that finely tuned double-play or twin killing. Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance were proven masters at this art and skill.

Batter Up ! Let's Play Ball...

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