The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-07-15
A Wonderful Game of Ball.

Those persons who had the honor oI
my acquaintance ten years ago, will re.
call that l was quite an adept in the
national game of base ball. | pitched
for the Stromboli Cuba fair under
hand pilch-for several games; but
about that time the fashion of curving
and underhand throwing came in
fashion.
never believed it possible for any
human being to send regular BODY
such rs II tasehall-from his band i
such p fashion as to make it turn it to
the right or left. When the boys be gan
to tell their wonderful stories about it.
said loitily that it was contrary to the
law OF mechanics, and, with a view ofsi-
lencing these pl lesumptuous youngsters
l wrote to the Scien tfc Anlericnn, and
submitted the question to that authori.
tative journal. 1t answered, in effect.
. that it wa- II ridiculous absurdity for
any person to make sucn claim.
This, however, did not silence my
friends. They said they had seen il
done: Cummings, the professional.
could do it with ease, though that was
about the extent of his capacity on the
field.
Then l was told that Mann, of tlle
Princeton college nine, had acquired
tho art; but only laughed, until one
day | whites sed game between the
College nine and the New Haven pro-
fessonals. placed myself behind the
board fence back of the catcher, and
watched.
That settled it. Mann did it continu-
ally. saw the ball, as it left his hand,
make such decided turn to one side
that 1t actually went around the end of
the bat, AID the player, who was con-
tident OF making a home run, didn't
come within six inches of the cube,
Even the veteran Gould, once OF the
famous old Red Stockings, after in.
structing his men how the thing was
done, stepped up to the plate. and
banged away eight times during the
game, without coming anywhere near
the ball.
I Immediately reversed my opinions.
as did the Scientific american, and also
Profess or Swift, OF Rochester, who went
out on the ball field and saw the ball
pitched squarely around the end of a
board.
think it was good time for us all to
patch up our theories.
l asked Mann how he did the trick,
and he said that he curved the bail acci,
dentally one day, while practicing in
the gymnasium, and showed me how lie |
held the ball.
But could never acquire the knack. |
and resigned my position as pitcher for |
the Strombolis, and was succeeded by |
an ambitious young gentleman, who |
nearly snapped his head off every time |
he pitched the ball.
Shortly after, | became sensible of an !
increasing tendency to corpulency on nv
part, doubtless inherited from nv ia
ther, who weighed an eighth of ton.
My weight steadily increased, until |
now tip the scales at 22O, and am still
rising.
l was always fond of witnessing the
game, and used to 60 out to the Athletic
grounds, to see that club clean out the
old Atlantlcs, and then get cleaned out
in turn.by the.Red Stockings, of Cincin-
natl, who in turn would be completely
used up by the Atlantics, in their shabby
Uniforms, while fortune varied as con-
serned the other clubs.
Last Fourth of July, a social party
Pas gotten together, and arrangements
made for spending the glorious anniver-
|ary over in New Jersey.
A delightful grove was selected, and,
4mong the amusements, it was settled |
that game of baseball was to be played |
IN the afternoon, and [ was selected as
4 member OF one of the conteSting mines. |
L shivered when told it, and protested. |
Ths fact was, that among the numerous
spectators was to be young lady for
whom l entertain very high respect,
ind who, was beginning to hope, was
lot altogether impartial toward me. l
declined at once.
4" 1t can't be thought Of" said, en-
ohatically. II haven't played ball for
,en years. I'm too fat to run. can't
,atch ball, and couldn't hit one, un-
ess they will allow me to use ten-inch
,oard."
"That's the fix we're all in," said nv
riend. There's really only one fair
,layer--Macpherson; and we will han
licap him, so the difference won't be