Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-08-13

That Game of Ball.
To the Editor Of EVENING JOURNAL.
have read the two letters from Milford
which spoke alone Of basc bali and the
writer. in your paper of last Friday
For many years | have been closely iden-
titled with base ball and this Is the
first time during my life that | have
been censured for doing my duty or nc
cused Of unfairness in anything pertain
ing To base ball have umpired for
most Of the clubs ia the state, and
although ! am not manager of the Mil
ford Club, do not hold any Office at ALL
nor am I even player did make the
game with Dov1r, SO | did with the
Glover Club the Camden Club. the Cape
May Club. etc. | also promised to return
the game at Dover on Friday,
Wednesday. our leading base BAH men
said we should not a. ! tclegraphed:
!" VIII not come tomorrow After yes
terday our association prohibits it'll Our
arrangements were all made and the
above telegram was not answered BY the
Dover management Had they replied
that other arrangements could not be
made for a game and the people would be
my influence to have our boys 20, and
believe they would have done so
As far as Sproglls 'up. shoot was
conceived your correspondent does not
know the philosophy Of the sport, or he
would have spoken differently in regard
To them OF course an ''up-shootn is higher
when It reaches the catcher than when it
passes the plate. Every pitcher in the
country win tell you that the "up-shoot'
goes nearer the plate before taking the
curve than does any other balls thrown and
in this instance SprogilIs "up-shoot, +"
the one he usually pitches, is an Sin short"
as well as m "up-short. and in every
instance when called strikes on Dover
was sure the ball was strike | gave
them the advantage Of both balls and
strikes and they knew IL, and those who
say differently do it from prejudice pure
and simple / called foul tip / did not
hear. the third strike, on II Milford
player and although Dovers catcher
failed to catch the ball | called
the man out, as there was a runner on
first and hit one man out previously. AT
one time | was back Of the pitcher,
when a ball was hit to left field BY a
Dover player. with q man ON first, who
went to second and the runner went To
first. The ball was foul by four to six
feet. but the ball was gathered
and thrown in SO quickly Tint
failed to call ii foul.
Sprogill then did the finest work Of his
\ life, and was perfectly supported BY
! Demerest his catcher He struck the
next three men out iii rapid succession
and did not allow either Of the men run.
ming to steal single base on him during
the time. So yon see these two decision,
were in favor ~ Dover. AS to the fair
bah that Dover claims was foul" IN the
ninth inning, | desire to put myself
on record rs positively as possible
"a declaring it fair | was Just
back Of the catcher. and as soon as tn,
bah was hit, nn to the plate and tn,
bah came there in the hands o
Dover's first baseman. who mad'
clean clear muif Of It. The ba
was then thrown to first and cut the RICH
folders head, who had run to the base
as he should have done, and Williamson
went to second. when the ball was again
to head him OIL, and again badly thrown
Not till this moment did the Dover min
walk off the field and ], as the rules o
the game define decided the game il
Milf0rd's favor by the score Of nine t
nothing The truth Of the matter Is tina
Dover thought they had a walk over wit
IIodson and Magee and be
heavily on winning the game
When they found Sprogill an
Demerest to be superior to their own bat
terry. and found the Milford boys playin
almost perfect game, they "squeelc
like pigs with knife in their throats.
thinking, no doubt, that I would Civ
Milford the game but al the same tim
would declare an bets Off As I was nc
supposed TO know Of any bets in II
game I refused to do So and Dover wer
: home with fewer dollars than she cam
, with. It was evident from the start til;
, Dover would not play the game ont.
she could not win, and what was vcI
evident from the beginning proved itse
! toward the end Milford played Il
game with two errors and one pass,
: ball. Demorcsts run was ma,
i on a two base hit to left field. q pref
i steal with slide to third, and home on
: passed ball, your reporter to the contra
notwithstanding Mr. Tuthill one Of Il
directors Of the Milford Club. deni
point blank that he said the ball in Il
ninth inning was foul On the contra
r. be declares It fair by at lesat four Zee
Z Why should Milford have gone to Dow
Z, on Friday There would not have be
4 possible chance OF their winning Dow
Il win please remember that in the differe
o occasions when Milford played them