Then to Joe’s surprise McRae beckoned him from the dugout.
“What’s the big idea?” Joe asked, as he came up to his manager.
“I’m going to put you in as a pinch hitter,” answered McRae. “I’d rather take a chance on you than Denton. Get in there now and knock the cover off the ball.”
There was a gasp of surprise from the stands. In their experience it was usually a pitcher who was taken out to make room for a pinch hitter. It was almost unheard of that the procedure should be reversed. To them it seemed a sign that McRae was at the end of his rope, and there were catcalls and shouts of derision as Joe came to the plate. And these redoubled in volume as he missed the first ball that Dawley sent over.
“What did I tell you, boys?”
“Nit, on that!”
“Matson is all right as a pitcher, but as a batter, nothing doing.”
“Give him two more like that, Dawley!”
“Take your time, Joe!”