Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-02
sLUGGER SULLIVAN AS PITCHER.


Nice Little Sum Playink BASE nan
From the New York Sun.
John L. Sullivan, champion pu2ilist Of the
world, pitched for the Metropolitan base ball
team yesterday at the Polo grounds. By three
o'clock crowds began to rush through the gates
By four they had inundated the grand stand and
all of the neighboring pyramids of seats, and
were standing ten deep along the rail. On the
field half dozen players were standing in
various ungraceful but sturdy positions, and
throwing ball at one another with great force
standing quite alone, was heavily-built man,
dressed in the uniform Of the Metropolitan
Club. His cap was pulled we'll over his eyes,
and his sleeves were cut short, showing pair
of muscular arms. He did not look particularly
athletic. The breadth of his shoulders was very
great and his chest was deep, The calves of his
legs. as they bulged out from his short breeches
looked twice the size of the legs of any other
man on the field, but his costume fitted him
loosely, and he appeared. for the most part,
merely big and burly. Opposite the spot where
he stood several hundred men and boys crowded
frantically, and gazed at him with open mouths
and round eyes. Every once in a while they
cheered Justify for the champion. He would
glance at them and smile complacently and then
sock it at him with all his might, and Sullivan
would put up his hands and clasp the ball easily
as it came home. No matter how hard
the ball was thrown, it seemed to drop
into his hands and remain there without
any emotion or effort on his part. He
simply raised his enormous fists, opened them,
and the ball became absorbed Then he would
indOlently draw back his arm and send the ball
whizzing toward another player. At o'clock
the game was called, with the Metropoltans to
thn hot Awc% NnIe
and then three Others were put out in rapid
succession. The Metropotans went out into the
field, and the picked nine went to the bat
After all the men were placed, and as they
stood with their hands on their knees and their
eyes fixed on the home base, the big champion,
with his cap on the back Of his head and grin
on his face. started with slow. solemn and dig
nified strut toward the pitchers place. Before
he had got half way there the people
were bowling like mad. There were four or
five thousand persons on the ground by this
time, and everybody knew Sullivan. His lordly
strut created a profound impression. and when
he reached his place and turned around to-
ward the crowd there was respectful but feeble
cheer.
The champion fondled the ball affectionately,
and gazed at the crowds. The men among the
spectators criticized the points of the Dig pugi-
list, and talked of his proves in the ring; the
women looked at him dOubtingly, and seemed
surprised that he was not sixteen feet high, and
the small boys gloated over him rapturously.
He planted his gigantic feet great distance
apart, and turned his left side to the man at the
bat. The man at the bat looked at the champion
somewhat uneasily, and the catcher retired to a
distance OF about twenty feet behind the bat
while he, too, kept his eyes upon Sullivan.
The umpire placed his Derby hat rakishly over
his left eye, buttoned his coat stood on his toes
and looked at the champion a moment, and then
yelled.
BALL"
Sullivan doubled his body over until his back
was almost horizontal. swung his right arm
back. and moment later the ball flew from his
hand like bullet from gun. 1t went wide Of
the base and came up against the fence with a
terrific clack. The catcher tried to stop it, and
the man on the base swung his bat somewhat
uneasily and winked expressively at the umpire,
who INDUCED in a quiet grin, and placed his hat
down on the bridge of his nose.
The ball was tossed back to Sullivan. Once
more he gathered himself together. and sent it
whizzlng toward home. A second and third
time it was allowed to pass and almost imbed
the bat caught the ball, and thenceforth worked
In thorough harmony with the puyilist.
Hobart, of the picked nine, who was at the
bat, watched the balls closely, and got in good
left-feld hit. He caught the first. but was SUBJ
sequently put out, and retired. Then two men
were rapidly put out through their inability to
stand up against Sullivan's pitching. The crowd
cheered. They did not cheer at the excellence
OF the champions pitching. They cheered his
lordly strut. He pulled his cap down over his
eyes, SO that nothing but the tip Of his nose and
bis black mustache could be seen, and then
strutted. Reaching the chair lie sank into it,
took drink OF water, removed his cap, and
smiled. Shortly it came to be his turn at the
bat, and he once more strutted. AS he went the
boys chanted Dum-de-dum- de-dum- dum-de' -
and pounded upon the floor with their heels
in time to Sullivans strut. The big champion
took the bat, grasIed it firmly in both hands,
and began to swing it wickedly to and fro. The
bat looked about half-siZe in his hands, AS he
stood waiting for the ball, a man in the grand
stand yelled, "Send it to the Hudson river.
Johnny" Cries of "Oh, amt he daisy ?" and
HE will break the ball." and advice to the
fielders to get up on the Elevated Railroad, some
halt mile distant, were frequent. The catcher
put on the mask and got close up behind the
bat, and the pitcher sent in q hot ball, with
willy twist. Sullivan hit at it with all his
gigantic strength. He missed and wheeled
around twice like top, while the umpire ana
catcher shot back to escape from the crcling
bat. once more he got in position, and the
pitcher sent a ball. Sullivan hit it q terrific
blow, but the stroke was not square. and the
ball was almost driven into the earth only two
feet beyond the base. Then it rolled unevenly
toward the third base. This unexpected result
caused the people to stand up. They had ex-
pected to see the ball go from one to two miles,
but they never expected it to 60 something less
than two feet. Sullivan himself seemed some
what surprised, for he stood still and looked at
the ball for some time. Then he started on q
run for first base. The people yelled like mad,
but Sullivan ran with numbering, uneven mo-
tlon, and scarcely made any Roadway. Mean
while the third base man had recovered from his
surprise and grabbed for the ball. He got it at
last, and threw it wildly Overthe first base mans
head, and Sullivan ambled heavily onward and
reached the first base. He watched the first
base man running after the ball. and started
spasm0dically for second base. The first base
man threw the ball to second base a moment
afterward. but he was too late. Sullivan was
there. The champion did not succeed in max
ing run, however.
When Sullivan came up to pitch in the second
inning he was winded. His pitching was light,
and several twO-base hits were made.
When Sullivan next took the bat he waited
until good ball came, and then, throwing all
his strength into the effort, hit it terrific clip
The ball flew from his bat, struck second base
plump, and scHdded across the field Sullivan
watched 1t with great interest for some time.
and then, becoming aware of the shouting Of
the people drew his hands up to his breast,
ducked his head, and deliberately got to first
base.
When Sullivan came to the bat again he
looked determined and surlv Ha swnnr tho