STL All Sports

Casey Stengel was managing the Boston Braves and Tommy Holmes, a young rookie at the time, took his place at the plate for batting practice. After a minute or two, Casey stepped forward.

"Look, kid," he said, "you don't seem able to pull the ball down that first-base line. Now you watch me do it. I used to be an expert at pulling the ball."

Casey grabbed Holmes's bat and called for a pitch. The hurler reared back and let fly a high sailer that conked poor Casey right on top of the head. The Boston manager bit the dust, his legs kicking. Then he slowly dragged himself to his feet and turned to Holmes.

"I guess we better demonstrate what I was telling you tomorrow," groaned Casey. "That big lug in the box just put me on base."