The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-06-21
A Chnmnion Rnsc. .Rall Club.

lowing on the "Forest City Nine" of
that village:
The pitcher for the summer of 1872
has been practising for several weeks
outside of the city limits and though
not feeling well can throw regulation
ball with such swiftness that 1t cannot
be seen unless covered with phosphor-
us; and often the friction occasioned
by its passing through the air causes
heat so great as TO burn the ball to ashes
es before it reaches the catcher, who on
ly finds mass of cinder in his hands.
The assistant or reserve pitcher has been
practising but few weeks, but he can
throw ball through eighteen inches Of
oak plank now; and if he keeps on, the
man on deck will be compelled to encase
his stomach in a monitor turret and
other armor, or suffer the consequences.
The catcher has been for three weeks
past engaged in breaking up pig-iron
at the Newburg rolling mills, and to
still further toughen his hands, he al
lows the big twenty ton trip hammer TO
drop on them two hours each day; and
they are now about the size of wind
mill, and ifa ball gets by him it will be
by traversing the atmosphere ofan adj
joining county. The reader can gamble
on this.
The first baseman is trying the diet
system to steady his nerves and can lot
a Government mule kick him all day in
the abdomen without winking. He will
never move his foot from a sand bag un-
less on the line of his duty, and a run
ner for the first base may light on him
like nighthawk on Junebug without
making him swerve hair.
The second baseman mas developed
himself more especially for miscellane-
Gus and active service. He can stand
on his head, catch ball with his feet,
reverse his position, and knock grass
hopper off from mullen stalk at dis
tance of eighty rods, nine times out of
ten. There will be no use in a runner
trying TO dodge him, for he has globe
sights on his nose, and can plump man
in the hull or rigging just as he chooses.
The short stop is probably the best
man for his position that can be found
this side of the Suez canal. He is short
himself, and has lived on pie. crust all
winter, can turn thirteen somersaults
without splitting on his hands, and catch
ball with equal facility in either hand
or his teeth.
The third baseman has been making
sour krout and riding velocipede all
winter, to develop the muscles of his
lower limbs, which are immense, and
gave him the appearance of being
troubled with elephantiasis But don't
fool yourself; he can run down q giraffe
in three minutes, and can bat balls so
far that his opponents never think of
chasing them the same day they are hit,
but proceed with new ball.
The three fielders have been frisking
about in the country all winter, and
drinking angleworm oil to give supple
ness to their limbs. They go on all fours
faster than many professionals can run,
and are so timber that circus men die off
like sheep after seeing them perform
once.
In fact, we may well be proud of our
club for the present year, and if there is
any organization in this country that
thinks it can compete with them, let
them draw on lis tsix months sight
through the United States Treasury De-
partment Tor sooner if they get sight
of us), stating how many dollars worth
of confidence they feel in their favorlte
club.
We do not forget our club manager,
who is all that father could be to the
boys, and who does much more than his
name would indicate to make the season
and its matches successful. Tho scorer
for tho present year has been selected as
the champion whittier Of tho State. He
has purchased bran newiackllnifa, two
thousand shingles, and will keep his
notchcs on the double entry pIan, !. g.,
one entry for the other side, ard two
cuts for his own.