Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-10-21
BASE BALL.
Match Between the PenfieId Club of
OberIin and the Forest City Club of
Cleveland.

The national game of base ball, which,
since the close of the war, has renewed and
more than renewed its old-time popularity,
has not been indigenous in Cleveland. In
deed, the first base ball club ever organized
in this city was established in September
last, and the first match game ever played
here occurred yesterday, in which our
Cleveland boys were handsomely beaten by
a nine made u of Oberlin c~ollegians. That
match, the result of which we are about to
chronicle, will, we hope, have a good effect
in stimulating our young men to the prac-
tice of this heslthful and invigorating game.
There is no reason why Cleveland should
not, as well as Buffalo, Erie, Rochester,
Pittsburgh, Detroit, and almost every other
city of the size in the country, have her
three or four permanent base ball Organiza-
tons. If they existed, drinking saloons
and b~illiard-rooms would have fewer Gus
toners, and our youth, instead Of seeking
recreation in dissipation, would find it in a
manly, spirited, invigorating and truly ma
tional game.
The match to which we nave referred
came off yesterday between the Penield
Club of Oberlin, and the Forest City Club
of Cleveland, on the grounds of the latter,
at the corner of Case Avenue mo Kinsman
street. The challenge had been made and
accepted some two or three weeks previous,
the Forest City Club, the Junior of the two,
being the challenging party. The oberlin
nine arrived ON the morning Toledo train,
and the match commenced promptly at one
P. N. The bright sun and clear sky of yes
terday was a pleasing disappointment to the
players, and the ground was in capital con-
dition, but the keen west wind, chilly and
cutting, seriously interfered at once with the
play,snd with the pleasure of the spectators.
Notwithstanding this, a large and interested
crowd of onlookers, varying in number from
one to two hundred. were present during
the game.
The Cleveland boys, winning the choice
of innings, took the field, the O~berlinians
going to the bat. At the opening of the
game the nervousness and want of practice
of the Forest City Club was apparent, while
the Penfeld Climb, wholare, comparatively
speaking, veterans at the game, played
coolly and with skill. At the end of the
third innings the Penfeld, by almost fault
less batting, had secured the splendid score
of 43, while the Clsyelarders had an insig-
nificant total of %tallies. 1t this point,
however, the latter rallied, and, during the
remaining four innings, very nearly held
their own with the other club. On the
fifth innings a score of 10 added handsome
ly to their sum total, but they were unable
to regain lost ground, and at the end of the
seventh innings, which was concluded at
half-past five, the gathering darkness C m
PEELED the close of the game. The score
stood, Pentield, 81; Forest City, %.
The Forest City Club were somewhat I'M
fortunate in having men disabled during
the game. In the first innings their left
field, Mr.. Leffingwell, injuredh his arm while
throwing in, SO that he was unable to play,
and Mr.. Graham was substituted in his
stead. Subsequently, their catcher, Mr..
Smith, had two teeth knocked out by a col
with another player, while fielding a
fly ball, and was temporarily compelled to
abandon his position for one in the field, |
returning, however, at the next innings
and playing the game through. Mr.. Ryder,
of the Penfield Club, also received a severe
blow in the face from a swiftly-struck ball.
The Penfield Club displayed skill and
throughout, their throwing, catch
and batting being alike excellent.
Where all did so well it is invidious to
make special note of any. The C~levelanders
own up to a decided defeat and hope for
better luck next time. 1t must be remem-
bered that the Forest City Club has been
organized barely six weeks, and has met for
play only about a dozen times. Continued
will bring them great and needed
The umpire, Mr.. Hamilton, won universal
praise for the impartial fairness of his deci-
In the evening the members Of the Pen
field Club were the guests of the Cleveland
boys, at a supper gotten up by Garrett in his
excellent style. The gathering was a
congenial one and the foundation of a
and it is hoped apermanent friend
ship between the two clubs was laid.
The following is the score and analysis of
the game: