The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-07-28

the captain shouted to me to slide
in, and | did so. | thought if |
could slide a few inches it would
serve to rest me. | succeeded, but
it played havoc with my trowsers,
though the damage was not irrepar-
able.
! When it was seen that | had made
q home-run, the applause was terrific
and long-continued.
Recovering nay wind as best |
could, ! carelessly sauntered off to-
ward the trees, as though | had done
a very small thing in the world.
heard the young scamp of a boy
shouting out that | was an old pro-
fessional, and he had told them I
would do great things during the
game, adding that / would show
astonishing performances before it
was through.
He was correct.
/ Up to this time | had nothing to
do in the field the balls being knock
ed nearer the other players. Every
time one was struck by our oppo-
nents | made dash for it, but held
Iup when ! saw it was going out of
J my jurisdiction. This tended to
show that | was on the lookout for
all the chances.
In the sixth inning "daisy-cut-
ter" came skipping towards me. /
lodged about, danced here and
there, and prevented it going by,
and being ordered to send it in,
made a desperate throw to home, to
head off player running in from
third.
/ put too much steam on, for the
bali went some twenty feet over the
catcher's head, who, nevertheless,
! jumped in the air and threw up his
hands as if he expected to reach it.
The best thing about the business
was that the ball struck the little
boy who had been yelling my praises,
and he was so occupied in weeping for
the rest Of the game that he let me
alone.
Ny wild throw gave me a fearful
wrench in the side, and | struck out
every time after that; but as that
was what the majority did, ! didn't
feel so lonely as | anticipated.
| should have stated that having
had a weeks notice of the game, the
most Of Us prepared a sort of bur
lesque uniform, with a view of help
ing along the fun
My cap fitted very much, but the
frontispiece extended nearly foot
directly outward. The trousers were
gorgeously illuminated with stars,
but were very tight, and were con-
tinually coming unfastened at the
knee and working up my legs The
stockings were a brilliant crimson,
and the shoes of the ordinary kind
The shirts had an immense letter
IS" worked in front, to distinguish
our members from the others.
In ali such games the blunders are
innumerable.
One Of our nine insisted, after
reaching second base, that he had
the right to run back to home-plate,
instead of going forward. as the dis
tance was the same. Another, find
ing the ball ahead of him, hastily
Withdrew to home. where he con-
tended that he had a right to stay
until he saw a favorable opening.
That's the way we used to dot
! he said savagely, 'and it was a great
deal better than this new-fangled
fashion.
In the ninth inning the situation
assumed an interesting phase.
/ Our opponents-the Invincibles-
were at the bat, we having played
out our nine innings.
We had made thirty-fve runs, and
they thirty-three. If we could blank
them and each club had been
white-washed several tines we
would win. If they should get in
two runs, the game would be tied,
and another inning would be neces-
sary. If they should get three they
would win.
The excitement was intense, as
the expression goes. The shouting
stopped, and the countrymen be
gan trenching upon the field in
their anxiety to see the close.
/ Our captain admOnished us all
to keep cool and to watch every
chance.
I Don't get rattled!" was the eau
ton he repeated half hundred
times.
We all promised we wouldn't al
( low ourselves to be ratified, though
/ there was only one or two who knew
he was warning us against becoming
demoralized, or, fguratively, losing
our heads.
/ The first ball struck went straight
to the pitcher, who took it on the
bound and threw it furiously to first
TO head off the striker.
The baseman startled to see it
coming like Il cannon-ball, turned
his back toward it and shrugged his
shoulders. 1t struck him and fell at
his feet. he turning frantically aorund
to hunt for it.
The runner would have been there
in time, if he had not stumbled and
torn half his uniform off. This SO
bewildered him that before he recov-
cred the baseman found the ball.
One man out. and no run.
The second batter drove a SKY
scraper over centre field, and made
+ his second before the ball was field
ed in.
/ This looked bad, but we were
much checred and revived by the
captain begging us again not to get
ratified. We drew in a deep breath,
and resolved to die before becoming
ratified" ="
The pitcher took his position and
made ready to deliver the bali to the
batsman.
At this juncture the runner, who
was on second base, stepped off a
pace or two to watch his chance.
The instant he did so the baseman
near him took the ball from under
his arm, and, tapping him him on
the shoulder, shrieked for 'judg-
mentl"
m 4 Il I