Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-05

was not without mlsglvlngs, Tor there
was nothing but my former skill to count
upon, and that was an exceedingly slen-
er thread.
In throwing the ball, before the game,
1 tried my best to mold it, but muffed
every one, with single exception, and
that held by accident. But it made
my hands tingle and smart, though I
didn't let shy one see it.
My great relief, however, was, in OBJ
serving that ali the others were about as
deep in the muffin business as was !;
and there's nothing like company when
you're scared or miserable.
I tried little with the bat, and did a
little better, forgetting that in this case
the balls were pitched precisely as I
wished them, while in the game it would
be exactly the opposite; that Is, if the
pitcher knew anything about his bust
ness.
I was the last striker Of the nine, and
as our players were put out in one-two-
three order, it was not until the close of
the third inning that stepped up to
the home-plate, and took up the ash in
my old-time style.
A good many remarks from the crowd
were audible: "Knock the stuffing out of
it'll" He's George Wright IN disguise! ~
Hes Dickey Pearce grown stouter!n
"Try Anti Fat!" and similar express
sions reached my ears.
Ball players must be accustomed to
such annoYances, for they are often utter
ed for the very purpose Of influencing the
game. But l was angered, and seeing
the ball coming fairly over the home
plate, banged away at it with all my
might.
I came within about fourteen inches
of it, the momentum of my own blow
carrying me completely around on my
feet, causing ray hat to fall of and my.
self almost to stagger over on my head
with sudden dizziness.
A general laugh followed this failure
and my cheeks burned with chagrin, fol
7 was sure that the hasty glance which ]
cast down toward the grove, showed my
particular friend of the gentle sex smil
ing at the figure I cut.
Before I could get in storm" as the,
say, the second bali was pitched. The
umpire yelled ''Strike!" Just as the cube
struck me In front and nearly took nv
breath away.
There was another laugh, and the
pitcher called out, "Beg paahrdon!" ut
tered just as you will hear it about s
hundred times when couple of college
clubs are playing for the championship
told him it was all right, but if i
was repeated it would be his last per.
Torrance, and I scowled terribly, and
griped nay bat in a suggestive way.
| I drove away at the third ball, anc
caught it fairly on the end of my bat.
There was sharp crack like pistol
shot, and roar Of applause went UP
from the crowd, as I started like buf
falo for the first base.
[ didn't see the ball, and when our
captain shouted, "Come home! como
home!" I made a desperate effort to com.
plete the circuit of the bases.
At the first my hat went Off. But what
of 1t? No professional would mind such
a thing. Before I reached second, one
of my shoes shot up in the ali behind me
and dropped down On nay head, and
heard laughter mingling with applause.
By the time reached second, I began
to feel tired, and wanted to sit down and
rest, but about all our nine were chasing
after me, clapping their hands, dancing
and screeching like lunatics.
"Run it outl A home run! The bes
hit you ever made! This Ii win the game
Run hard; all the ladies are watching
you!'
I couldn't think of stopping with such
Indictment in my ears, though 1 was al
most out of breath, and a sudden kink
in my left ankle caused me to limp and
nearly fall.
went painting by second with bulg-
ing eyes, and my other shoe went up
like rocket over my head.
Forging by third with the whole pack
at my heels, while all the other nine were
shouting to the center-felder to throw
1t IN, l struck tor home.
Get out OF the roadr' called the
crowd. "That chap can't stop! He'll
have to go around three Or tour times be-
fore he can put On the brakesl Let the
band plays etc.
Well, I reached home-plate second
ahead of the ball, which, being thrown
in from long distance, struck me and
helped me forward somewhat.
Seeing how close the contest was, the
captain shouted to me to slide in, and I
did SO. I thought if I could slide a few
inches it would serve to rest me. I sue
ceeded, though 1t played havoc with nv
trousers, though the damage was not ir-
reparable.
When it was seen that had made a
home run, the applause was terrific and
long continued.
Recovering my wind as best I could, I
carelessly sauntered off toward the trees
as though I had done a very small thing
in the world.
I heard the young scamp of a bow
shouting out that l was an old profess
sional, and he told them would do lots
of great things during the game, adding
that would show more astonishing per-
formances before it was through.
He was quite correct
Up to this time I had had nothing to
do in the field, the balls being knocked
nearer the other players. Every time
one was struck by our opponents made
a dash for it, but held up when saw it
was going out of my jurisdiction. This
tended to show that was on the lookout
for all the chances.
In the sixth inning ''daisy-cutter'
came skipping toward me. I lodged