The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-02
THE NATIONAL GAME.
Three First Glass Contests-Defeat of the Athletics
by the Mutuals, the Baltimores by the Forest
Citys and the Resolutes by the Mans
felds-The Mutual-Athletic Game
One of the Finest on Rec
ord-Pitching Wins.


on the Union Grounds, Williamsburg, yesterday af
ternoon, to witness the first game of the season.
between the Athletics of Philadelphia, and the
Mutuals, of this city. Judging from the extraord
nary manner in which the former club has defeated
,every nine they have played this season,
as we'll as the high reputation each and every one
of their players bears for both batting and fielding
ability, seventenths of those who thronged to the
beautiful grounds over the river yesterday of
the opinion that the home club would be beaten
But opinions in relation to base ball in these days.
when all the regular professional clubs are COM
posed of such strong materials, not worth the
utterng.
The betting men-and their name is leglon-who
follow and back the Athletics, were of course on
hand with plethoric pocketbooks and winning
smiles. Betting opened pretty lively at odds of 100
to 80 on Philadelphia, of course but soon changed
: to 100 to 40, ut which point 1t stood when the
4 game opened At these figures not less than
fifteen thousand dollars changed hands. One gen
tleman who does business within stones throw of
the HERALD establishment invested $500 on the Mu
tuals at the odds last mentioned, while well
known uptown betting man went to the grounds
with So, 500 and returned with
TRIFLE OVER $4,soO
At precisely thrty-1ve minutes past three O'Clock
''play'' was called, the Athletics going first to the
bat Cuthbert and Mcbride, the two first strikers,
retired on foul balls, well taken by Hicks Meyere
sent up very high ball. and, as it went In the di-
recton of centre field the New Workers felt per-
iectly easy, being assured that Egglcr would at
\ tend to it In his usual style; but imagine
their surprise and disgust when that player dropped
II outright. Malone came next to bat, but was I'M
able to hit Cummings at all, so he took back seat
on three strikes" Eggler lead or for the Mu-
tuals, and got to first on a nice lair-foul
hit past third base. Hatfield hit to Fisler
at second and was felded out at first Egger having
3prevously stolen to second, however. start hit to
McGeary and persisted at first but Bechtel was
more successful, as he sent very hot ball in the
same direction, which McGeary muned. Eggler
crossed the home plate this hit Hicks furnished
the third hand out on three strikes.
This was good beginning for the .Mutes,' who
returned to their positions in the field for the sec
ond inning with smiling faces and light hearts The
gentlemanly little Fisler was
THE FIRST STRIKER,
it beautifully to first base. Treacy ouled to Hicks
side Boyd and McMalen each ioulea 70 Malone, and
Mack opened the third inning S by driving ter
rife liner to third base which Boyd Jumped for and
took with one hand. This brilliant piece OF fielding
was enthusiastically and deseryedy applauded.
Cuthbert and Mcbride again foued to Hicks, the
former on bound and the latter on the fly, nicely
taken. About this time there was q perceptible
decline in Athethc stock, as it clearly evident
the boys could not bat Cummings, who sending
the ball In like rifle shot The Mutuals closed the
inning by going out in the order OF their striking.
THE FOURTH INNING.
Meyerle and Malone the first two strikers in this
fully attended to-. FISHER, after knocking up some
half dozen fouls, finally got to first on called balls
o ioS Gsy the bat tia and b made as t
lively grounder to left field, on which Fiser got to
third. The prospect for the Philadelphians now
Arson, the next striker, gave Hicks another foul.
and the side M was out start made a clean base hit
= Fisher.
\ nelded the ball to first base in time for double
play by catching Joe before he could return. Hicks
gave Malone foul bound, and the fourth inning was
! over and passed. Each side was retired in one
three order in the fifth inning Hicks and Boyd
the visitors broke the spell which seemed to have
settled over them and managed TO hit Cummings for
Fisler did the hitting, while Meyerle Treacey and
Arson furnished the outs. Cummings struck out
e onl gas r q s
made two bases with ease. He got no further,
ss ans start sss next TWO ysmzsa
Meyerle and Cuthbert respectively.
THE ATHLETICS
now had the lead, which seemed to depress the
spirits of the greater portion Of the assemblage not
a little But this sort of thing was destined to be
zshortlived for at the close OF the next inning the
figures were not changed. McGeary, the Athlet-
les first striker in this inning, was captured by
however, furnishing the second out on
a fly to McMucn. The bases were now filed and
Malone faced Cummings to do or die. ball was
ter which another bali was called, and dnalIy
another strike. Things were just now frighmlly
ana two strikes called. a good nit would play
blage were not slow to appreciate.
THE STIFFNESS OF DEATH
seemed suddenly to settle over the field and every
the spell was quickly over, for Malone proved him.
self unequal to the OCCASION Striking out vciously
i en td na bail up to great height
first base. The Athletics were chagrlncd and so
were some OF the betting men. For the ''Mutesr
Bechtcl got 10 first on three balls and sent to
second on Hicks grounder to Arson, which was
mufed, Hicks making his first. Boyd now
came up, and as his reputation as a .sbattistr
Is none the best, but little was expected
: of him. He disappointed even his best friends
however, and perhaps none more than himself by
sending magnificent liner between right and
centre field, on which he got to second base and
sent Hicks and Bechtel home. McMulen gave
Fiser warm grounder and was fielded out at
. first and Mack sent the ball flying over to third
+ in time to catch Boyd, who was running to third
Pearce got to first on nice grounder to right ned
but was forced out at second by Cummings.
IN THE EIGHTH INNING,
after two hands were out, the Athletics again got
three men on bases and Cuthbert at the bat. TWO
balls were called and one strike before he made an
attempt to hit the ball Then he sent up two fouls
after which he hit and missed the ball-the second
strike. Two balls were pitched without the UNI
pires saying anything; but when Cummings sent a
strike at It, Ferguson called the third strike
for doing which he was heartily appauded
The ninth and last chance now came for the
Philadelphians. Mcbride fouled to Boyd, Meyerle
sent McMullen a high fly, and Malone Knocked up a
bail which fell about ten feet foul OF the line to first
base, near the home plate, and which was captured
. by Cummings on the bound.
The excitement which now followed beggars de
scrption. Boys and men, both young and old
shouted, screamed, shook hands, Jumped in the
air, threw up their hats and gave vent to their
feelings in every conceivable manner. The
Athletics, OF course, felt blue, but, never
theless, bore their defeat in manly man.
ner. The game as whole one OF the best ever
played and was won by the Mutuals through the
superiority Of Cummings pitching, which was
almost perfection.
The following Is the score, the column headed
''E' indicating errors made:-
MUTuALs