The New York herald., 1868-08-11
THE NATIONAL GAME.
Active vs.. Mutual.


AT the Captoline grounds yesterday very res rect
able assembage was convened for the purpose CT
witnessing the first game Of the series between the
above named clubs To speak Of the game without
alluding to the beautiful appearance and splendid
condition OF the grounds would be to omit one OF the
most pleasing features of the sport, for If such q
thing were possible the field would have been suf
ncient to give inspiration to the players ana to i'm
part TO them a pleasing elasticity in their move
ments But the inspiration seemed to be decidedly
one-sided, and the Active men were active
indeed and with few exceptions played 6rst class
game The Mutuals, whether undertaking their OppO-
nens or giving way to an unworthy apathy, did not
appear IN ul strength, and those that did had not
all club uniforms so that the appearance Of the Mu
aged or properly sprised organization. club boast
ing OF such large number OF members as the Mutual
having so many good players at command. should
never contract mach game unless the club can be
properly represented and without players being put
10 the Illuminating necessity OF borrowing parts OF
ball suit from one place and other parts from another
place ana presenting on the field the appearance OF
amscrao ;a nine" In direct and therefore pleasing
contrast were the members Of the Active
nine: Every member OF the nine was on
hand and each one clad in the full neat uniform OF
the club. This may seem to be small matter; but
1t gives an appearance OF unity and solidity that
ragged nine" cannot possibly possess ana which
the latter cannot compensate for matter how fine
their playing Fanley, Pike, Mcmahon and Devyr
generally appear IN uniform, and, OF course to them
the above remarks need not be attributed
Ihe game yesterday, as the score will show, pro-
missed, up TO the seventh innings to be much worse
Tor the Mutuals than 1t finally proved to be In the
innings alluded to several bad misplays and couple
OF missed flies gave the Mutuals some five or six
runs more than they would have scored by the good
batting, although in this and the following innings
some very good hits were made by Pike Fanley,
Mcmahon. Wolters and Devyr. The batting OF the
Mutuas ,I throughout was generally very light and
no less than five hands being felded out from
second base Ct. Kelley. to first. four at second,
when forced from first by the fielding OF aines to
q. Kelley one from pitcher to first and two from
short to first. The fielding, with few exceptions,
was done inside the lines and the Mutuals found
difficult to get more than one base on hit. The
Actves. on the other hand, batted handsomely and
safely and apparently found but little difficulty In
hitting Wolters. The latter gentleman however
did not deliver the ball with as much vim usual,
and seemed to feel little or no confidence In Jewets
catching and with good reason for the latter's
vices behind the bat were poor in the extreme:
Flanley did all he had to do In good style; ana
Shreyes in the fielding covered great deal Of ground
Tor little man. or big man. and after the sixth in-
nings Pike played catcher neatly and safely. On the
Active side the KelIeys as usual. carried off the
honors, and between the three brothers the Mutuas
were disposed OF twenty-five times. The game was
played in good, friendly spirit and plainly showed
that the Actves play much better than they did
against the Atantics and EckfOrds.
Of ha Uon, Ia oo fol