The Armistice renewed the conflict between Stengel and Dreyfuss, and the outfielder held out again to begin the 1919 season. Both wanted to see Stengel traded, but no deal was immediately made. By then, Stengel's position as regular right fielder had been taken by Billy Southworth, and he had difficulty breaking back into the lineup. Stengel played better than he had before he enlisted, and by the time Dreyfuss traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies for Possum Whitted on August 9, he was batting .293 with four home runs. But before being traded, Stengel pulled one of his most famous stunts, on May 25 at Ebbets Field, as a member of the visiting Pirates. It was not unusual at Ebbets Field for right fielders of either team, rather than go to the dugout after three were out, to go to the Dodgers' bullpen, in foul territory down the right field line, if they were not likely to bat in the upcoming inning. Stengel did so to visit old friends, and discovered that pitcher Leon Cadore had captured a sparrow. Stengel took it, and quietly placed it under his cap when called to bat in the sixth inning. He received mixed boos and cheers from the Brooklyn crowd as a former Dodger, took a deep bow at the plate, and doffed his cap, whereupon the bird flew away to great laughter from the crowd.
the armistice renewed the conflict between stengel and dreyfuss and the outfielder held out again to begin the 1919 season both wanted to see stengel traded but no deal was immediately made by then stengel's position as regular right fielder had been taken by billy southworth and he had difficulty breaking back into the lineup stengel played better than he had before he enlisted and by the time dreyfuss traded him to the philadelphia phillies for possum whitted on august 9 he was batting 293 with four home runs but before being traded stengel pulled one of his most famous stunts on may 25 at ebbets field as a member of the visiting pirates it was not unusual at ebbets field for right fielders of either team rather than go to the dugout after three were out to go to the dodgers' bullpen in foul territory down the right field line if they were not likely to bat in the upcoming inning stengel did so to visit old friends and discovered that pitcher leon cadore had captured a sparrow stengel took it and quietly placed it under his cap when called to bat in the sixth inning he received mixed boos and cheers from the brooklyn crowd as a former dodger took a deep bow at the plate and doffed his cap whereupon the bird flew away to great laughter from the crowd