National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-07-10
THE GIRLS Ar THE BAT.
Novel and Interesting Game Of Ball
at Eagle Park.
Contest for the Female Championship-The
, Female Red stockings Win Victory
from the Females in Ceruleau
Hose-Large Attendance of
Spectators-Inc idents of
tho Game, Notes, &c.
Female Ball-Tossers.

Female Ball-Tossers.
Hundreds of people found their way 10
Eagle Park yesterday afternoon to witness o
game of baseball by eighteen women Tho
mines were the Blue Stockings, of Philadelphia,
and the Red Stockings, of New York, who arc
announced by the managers as struggling for
the female championship. When the crowd
began to pour into the park n score of young
women were scattered about the grounds,
throwing ball about and warming up" for
THO approaching game.
Their dress was picturesque costume, con.
sisting of tunic or blouse, blue or rod, accord.
ing to the nine 10 which the wearer belonged,
with skirts extending TO the knee and belted
at the waist q jaunty baseball hat, with a
rosotte on tho side, and baseball shoes. The
hardest thing for O woman to master is the art
of throwing ball. Not even the female cham
pions are exceptions to the rule. Woman has
q way of doing it peculiar TO her sex, which
amuses men, but gives her eminent satisfac
ton, no matter whether the ball goes in the
direction she aimed 1t or not. 1t consists in
bringing the ball TO the shoulder, then making
a desperate push with her hand, giving little
jump at the same time aud, after expanding
energy enough to shoulder Saratoga trunk,
propelling the ball on curved limo about fiji
teen yards.
The female ball-players amused the spocta-
tors for nearly half an hour by their struggles
with the ball. Some of them caught very
well, but most of them seemed to have the
idea that the proper scientific mode of captur-
ing the ball was to wave their hands about
wildly, and when the ball came to n stop on
the ground pick it up.
Mr. Littlubocker was the umpire, and game
was called shortly after four o'clock. By this
time between three and four thousand people
were collected in the park. Tho interest in
the players WAS so great that the men througed
about tho home plate so seriously incommod-
ing tho young women that the police had 10
drive back the crowd
The mines were as follows Blue Stockings
Lottie Drake, G.; Jennie Meyerberg, h.; josie
Howard, 2b.; Alice Lngsrd, p; May Carter,
s. s.; Laura Shepherd, 3D.; Title Weeks, ]. f.;
Ada Franklin, Il f., and Ida Howard, C. f.
Red Stockings--Laura Gray, c.; Mllio Neville,
ID; Retta Howard, $. S.; Eva Clifford, p.; Title
| Sheldon, Oh; George Lostbaum, 3D.; George
Bell, r. f.; Josie Arnold, !. f., and Minnie Stacy
CT
The "Reds" having taken their places in
| the field, Miss Lottie Drake took hor position
at the bat. Miss Eva Clifford, tho pitcher Of
| tho Reds" had the ball. With her feet
planted firmly, she looked around at the
throng, adjusted pin in her hair, raised the
ball in her hand to the level of her eyes, and
sighting it in a line with Miss brakes head
brought her arm back and let the ball 20. II
moved gracefully and slowly, describing high
curve. When it came near the batter Mis-
| Drake swung the club out in the air turning
| herself completely around, but missing tho
ball. The operation was repeated, only Mis-;
| Drake hit the ball much to the CONSERVATION
of the ielders all of whom scrambled after it
| coming together in n confused heap of red legs
| red arms, red skirts, and some red heads aud
| rod rl,ah hall
for some time, while Miss Drake trottei
around the bases and came homo, scoring th,
first run, for which she was loudly applauded
Miss Jennie Mcycrbcrg, the second batter
and Miss Josie Howard, the third, were boil
put out at first. Alice Lingard and May Carte
followed in quick succession, each making
a score. Laura Shepherd made a bad hit, AM
the ball was stopped and carried to tho frs
base before she could reach it.
Thus ended the first inning of the "Blues
Miss Laura Gray, of tho Reds was first !,
the bat. Alice Lingard, pitcher of the "B!ucs,
affected stylish delivery. She poised herscl
gracefully, with the toe of the left foot behin
the heel of her right, and, twirlng tho bal
first in her hands, leaned forward and let he
right arm and left leg go at the same time
She pitched drop" ball.
Miss Gray, after ono or two wild attempts
struck tho ball and mado third base durn
great excitement. Miss Millie Neville, the sec
ond batter, made a good hit, which brought i
Miss Gray and gave the batter second bast
Miss Neville was particularly conspicuous 70
her fleet running, bounding over the groun
like an antelope. While she was running til
discovery was made that there were two ball
in the field, one of the players having, fgurs
lively speaking, run in u cold deck ;" and al
tempted to put Miss Neville out with anotbc
ball than that with which the mines were play
ing The umpire having captured the oxtr
ball, the game proceeded.
The " Reds" got seven runs in their first II
ming. Tho other innings were similar to tn
first. There were no serious accidents. Til
{ back hair of one of the girls came down at a
exciting moment, and the playing had to /
suspended for some time. Miss Lottie Drak
catcher OF the " Blues" and a very pucky III
tie player, was struck with q ball in the fourt
. inning. She was carried to the bench, lively
fans were prod ucod, and she was thorough
! famed. A glass of water was poured dow
: her throat, aud in trice she was at her POI
again. In the sixth inning she was struc
! again and retired, Miss May Carter play in
[ behind the ba. in the seventh inning.
4 threatening RAIN storm terminated III
D game with the seventh inning. The game +
suited in victory for the reds by the follow
1 ing score:
Red Red s STICK ms. i 3
NATIONALS VS.. HoLYoKEs
The Nationals and Holyokes will play aga
to-day, on the National grounds, at half-pa
four p, IN.
c OTHER GAMES.
l SPRINGFIELD MASS, July 9.-Champio
. ship Springfolds, 3 Uticas, 9.
WORCESTER, MASS, July 9.-Champion
. Worcesters, Ia New Bcdfords, 4.
= BALTIMORE, July 9.-Holyokes, 8; Bal