Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-05


ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DrsrATcH.i
WASHINGTON, August 4-People Will pa
tronize good ball playing, and this fact has
been demonstrated within the past two weeks
at Capitol Park in the contests between the
Senators and New Yorks and Bostons. Dis
piriting gaps on the bleaching boards and
huge vacuum in the grand stand confronted
managers of visiting organizations. and some
one thought there must be hoodoo on the
Washington team. Suddenly, however. the
Cleveland team began to lose games, and SIM
ultaneously the Washingtonians began to pick
up Probably 1t was the infusion of new blood
in the persons of John Irwin and Beecher of
the Wilkesbarres. but certainly new life seems
to have been impaired to hitherto sluggish ball
tossers, until it Is now a pleasure to see the
Senators at work.
1T makes no difference If our boys do lose, !"
said an enthusiastic and steady grand stand
patron. "No one with the slightest grain of
sense can complain that he does not get his
moneys worth now at Capitol Park. The tail
enders are playing ball in every sense of the
word, and if they continue their present gait it
will not be difficult for them to shake of the
epithet so freely applied to them"
Even chronic grumblers failed to dissent from
the decision of the management Wednesday.
when the rain broke up the game with the
Giants from New York just after the third inn
ing. No rain checks are issued or money re-
funded after the third inning. but it would
have been a pretty nice point If the patrons of
the game had insisted that the fourth inning
had not progressed far enough to justify their
being refused either money or checks. But so
pleased were the spectators with the showing
made by the home team against Mutrie's men
that they forbore to raise the slightest kick,
but thought the exposition of scientific slug
ging against O'Day more than made amends for
any deficit in their pocketbooks.
With the advent of the Bostons came alarger
attendance than has marked the games for
many moons, and it was exhilarating to the
players on both sides to see such good-natured
and impartial crowd of baseball experts pres
ent. Every good play, no matter by whom 1t
was made. was enthusiastically appreciated,
and in the distribution of favors in this respect
the spectators seemed to take especial pride in
encouraging Nash and Johnston, both of whom
are very popular here. This is no doubt owing
to their former connection with the crack
Richmond, Va. team. from which they gradu-
ated to become Beaneaters.
Since Secretary Blaine went to Bar Harbor
to spend his vacation the State Department has
been under the jurisdiction of Assistant Sec
retary Wharton, an old Harvard man. He was
bewailing his luck the other day In being tied
down to his desk so that he could not 60 to
Capitol Park and see game of baseball. "In
fact" continued the Secretary, 81 have not
seen game of baseball this season"
But you are not an enthusiast on the ma.
tional game" queried his visitor, 'sfor I haze
never heard you even express an opinion on the
subjectf'
at is hardly necessary for me to express my
opinion when look at the little finger of my
left hand" was the good natured response. u
carry the scars of battle in the shape of a
broken joint. When was a Harvard man. IN
1867 to 1859, had an ambition to be pitcher
and my wishes were finally granted, and was
attached to one of the amateur mines of Alma
Mater. Without being egotistical on the sub.
ject must say that became quite an expert
undernand pitcher, and was pretty well thought
of by my associates. One day, however, line
ball came at me SO sharply and quickly that
could not get out of the way, and there was a
sudden collision between my little finger joint
and the ball. A broken finger was the result,
coupled with determination to eschew active
participation in the national game for the re-
mainder of my earthly career. But 1 enjoy
looking at good game of ball as much as ever
although have discarded the bat for the split
bamboo pole to enable me 20 play with luckless
salmon, which may encounter IN New Bruins
wick waters" r. NJ. LAKNER.