Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-03
PETTITS CATCH.
An Incident of One of the Recent Chicago
and Detroit Games.

An Incident of One of the Recent Chicago
and Detroit Games.
Saturday, May 70, a great game of ball
was played at Chicago between the Chica-
COS and Detroits, the latter winning after q
most stubborn contest by one point. Much
dissatisfaction was expressed at one Of
Decker's decisions in declaring that he did
not catch the ball, when he and others
VINO saw his wonderful feat claimed that
he did. The incident in the game is thus
described by the Chicago HcrdId's sporting
man. He says:
Detroit's giants were at bat in the seventh
inning, bat one man was out. The score
stood to 4 in favor of Chicago. Big Ben
net was on second base and little Gruber
was lazily circiing his bat over his shoulder.
Eight Thousand spectators sat with Decks
crancd in anticipation of a great play
Darling stood behind the batsman ready to
receive the ball from Van Haltren, who was
paving a foothold in the box. Umpire
Decker was crouched behind Darling and
the famous lnfeld Of the Chcagos stood
Ike statues near the base paths. The Cali
fornian's left arm swung toward the plate.
Gubert's bat came down from his shoulder
like a fash and the next instant the ball
rose swiftly in the air and circGd toward
the Harrison street wall. Petit, who was
standing well out in right field, saw the
danger. The spectators were also filled
with alarm.
The heads of the thousands in the south
stand rose like a big, black billow, while,
from the thousands on the opposite side of
the grounds, there came a roar of cheers.
Bennett, who had watched the fight OF the
ball, considered it beyond the reach of any
60 -
the tying run. But Petit was racing like
the wind. If he caught the bail, which
seemed almost impossible he would surely
check the tremendous squirt the giants
were making. The crowd massed on the
benches close TO the Harrison street wall
parted TO give the fielder chance to catch
the fast-falling ball, and into this narrow
avenue and amid the tiers of benches the
plucky right-feldcr dashed with out
stretched arms. just as Pcttit's hands
cIasped the bali he fell headiong among
the spectators, but he did not drop his
prize. a cheer burst from the men who
stood nearest the fielder when he made
his grand eaten, and q score of hands
were raised appealingly TO the umpire.
Then little Petit came limping out of the
crowd which surrounded him. Meantime
Gruber had reached second base and
Bennett had scored the tying run. Umpire
Decker walked out into the diamond and
shook his head. he SAID that Petit had not
caught the ball. The right-fiedcr declared
that he had, tho spectators who had seen
the play said that he had. and Pfeffer, who
had run into deep right-ficid TO receive the
ball in case 1t should be missed, confirmed
the statements. Decker, however, was OBJ
iUrate. He declared that Fy;ut had
scoopCd the ball off the ground and refused
10 give the batter out. How Petit could
scoop the bah OFF the ground IL ii headiong
plunge over seats and amid spectators
needs a diagram showing the shot, But
Decker makes very many funny decisions,
and tins was one of them. 1t proved fatal
to Chicago, however, Indsmuch IS it WAS
The bass for two runs.