The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-07-28
A WONDERFUL GAME OF BALI.

Those persons VINO had the honor
of my acquaintance ten years ago,
will recall that was quite an adept
in the national game of base ball.
| pitched for the Stromboli club-a
fair under-hand pitch-for several
games but about that time the fash
ion of curving and under-hand thow-
ing came in fashion.
| never believed it possible for
any human being to send a regular
body-such as a base ball-from his
hand in such fashion as to make il
turn to the right or left. When the
boys began to tell their wonderful
stories about it, | loftily said
that it was contrary TO the law OF
mechanics, and, with a view of 81
lencing these presumptuous young
sters. | wrote to the Scientific Ameri-
can, and submitted the question to
that authoritive journal. Itanswer-
cd, in effect, that it was a ridiculous
absTdity for any person to make
such claim
This, however, did not silence my
friends. They said they had seen
it done. Cummings, the profession
al. could do it with ease, though that
was about the extent of his capacity
on the field
Then | was told that Mann, of the
Princeton college nine, had acquired
the art; but | only laughed, until
one day witnessed game between
the College nine and the New Haven
professionals. placed myself be
hind the board-fence back of the
catcher, and watched
That settled it. Mann did it con-
tinually. l saw the ball, as it left
his hand, make such 4 decided turn
to one side that it actually went
around the end of the bat, and the
player,who was confident of making
a home run, didn't come within six
inches of the cube
Even the veteran Gould, once OF
the famous Red Stockings, after in
structing his men how it was done,
stepped mp to the plate, and banged
away eight times during the game,
without coming anywhere near the
ball.
Immediately reversed my opin-
ions, as did the Scientific 4mG-icaR,
and also Professor Swift, of Roches-
ter. who went out on the ball-field
and saw the ball pitched squarely
around the end of the board.
I think it was a good time for us
all to patch up our theories.
| asked Nan how he did the trick,
and he said that he curved the ball
accidentally one day, while practic-
ing in the gymnasium, and showed
me how he held the ball.
But | never could acquire the
knack, and resigned my position as
pitcher for the Strombolis, and was
succeeded by the 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
my father, who weighed an eighth
of ton.
Nv weight steadily increased
until | now tip the scales at 220, and
am still rising.
| was always fond of witnessing
the game, and used TO 90 out to the
Athletic grounds, to see that club
clean out the old Atlantics, and then
get cleaned in turn by the Red Stock
ings. of Cincinnati, who in turn
would be completely used up by the
Atlanties, in their shabby uniforms
while fortune varied as concerned
other clubs.
Last Fourth of July, q social party
was gotten together, and arrange
ments made for spending the glori-
Gus anniversary over in New Jersey
\ delightful grove was selected
and among the amusements. it was
settled that game OF base ball was
! to be played in the afternoon, and ]
was selected as a member of one Of
the contesting mines.
I ! shivered when told it, and pro
tested. The fact was, that among
the spectators was to be young
lady Tor whom | entertained very
high respect, and who, | am begin.
ming TO hope, was not altogether Inn
partial toward me. | declined al
once.
1t can't be thought of" | said
emphatically. "Ihavn't played bal
for ten years. I'm too fat to run.
can't catch ball, and couldn't hi
one, unless they viii allow me to Use
ten-inch board" !"
That's the fix we're all in, said
my friend. There's really only onc
fair player-Maepherson; and We
viii handicap him, so the difference
won't be noticed. Ifyou can't run