Thompson, the manager of the Brooklyns, who had been having a little run-in with the umpire, and was standing in a disgruntled mood near the batter’s box, overheard the dialogue and stared in wonderment at Jim.
“What’s that three-men-to-a-game stunt you’re talking about?” he asked.
“Haven’t you ever heard of it?” asked Jim.
“I never have,” replied Thompson. “And I was in the game before you were born.”
“Then you’ve got a treat in store for you,” Jim assured him. “Just you watch this inning, and you’ll see that only three men will be needed to turn your men back without a run, or even the smell of a hit. They’ll be the pitcher, the catcher and the first baseman. The rest of the Giants will have nothing to do and might as well be off the field. In fact, if it wasn’t against the regulations of the game, we would call them into the bench just now.”
Thompson looked at Jim as though he were crazy.
“Trying to kid me?” the Brooklyn manager asked, with a savage inflection in his voice.
“Not at all,” replied Jim, grinning cheerfully. “Just keep your eye on that pitcher of ours.”