“It appeared that there was not a possible chance for the ball to be caught, and Stahl started to pound around the bases with his run. But Snodgrass gave it the old college try and got away with it.” Buffalo Commercial, October 16, 1912, p5 [Barry Popik]
- NOTE: Ironically, the headline and subhead on the article is “Snodgrass Has Redeemed Himself. His Wonderful Catch in Monday’s Game Just About Saved the Giants.” His famous muff came in the next game, Game 8, of the World Series. (Ken Liss)
Previous earliest use (Dickson Baseball Dictionary, 3rd edition, 2009):
1ST USE. 1919. “[Frankie] Frisch was taking a long hold on his club and the old college try at the ball” (Christy Mathewson, The New York Times, Oct. 19, p.S5; Barry Popik).
