The morning call., 1890-12-22
SKILLFULLY
CONTESTED.
The National Game on a
Nearly Perfect Basis.
Neat Contest Between Celebrities
and Locals.
Van Haltren and Coughlin Give an Exhibition
Of Scientific Pitching-The Al-Cal:-
fornias Won.

The game between the ALL CALIFORNIA;
and the picked nine of league-players yes
terday deserved better attendance There
were probably about 1900 persons at the
grounds, and they witnessed one of the best
contests of the year. There was not the
usual scattering departures of spectators
during the closing innings, and with few
exceptions every one remained seated until
the double play between young Van Hal
tren and Carroll wound up the play.
Tie game was the liveliest that has been
seen on the grounds for many months, and
SO far as actual playing time went the con-
test was the shortest of the year, being de-
cided in one hour and twelve minutes.
The teams were very evenly matched both
liz fielding and batting. but the few errors
made by the picked nine proved expensive,
as they resulted in advancing the stars
around the bases.
1t was battery battle all through, Van
Haltren and Roscoe Coughlin pitching SUI
perb ball, keeping the hits down and put
ting the sphere over the plate. Van Hal
tren was never in better form, and his de-
livery brought up recollections of his palmy
pitching days while with the old Greenwood
& Moran team. He seemed to have gone
back few years, and was again the Cali
fornia colt, with his peculiar contortions in
the box and deceptive change OF pace.
Coughlin's pitching was remarkable. con-
sidering the heavy batsmen he was pitted
against. A scratch triple and four singles
were lined out by the celebrities. Roscoe
was not afraid to put the ball over the rubber,
but gave the batsman every opportunity to
try their skill. The support he received in
the opening Innings gave him increased con-
"a.
his best.
The fielding of the two teams was OF
character seldom witnessed in an exhibition
game. 1t was clean cut, sharp and accurate.
The infielders bore the brunt Of the work
and handled hot hits with easy grace
Mcdonald at short had ten difficult chances
and did not have even the suspicion of an
error. Cantillion also played great ball, his
backward running catch in deep field being
one Of the features of the play. Ebright's
two assists were on hard chances, and one
was accomplished by a right hand stop of a
hot driver over third base.
Charley Dooley's error was the only really
poor play in the game. He had fine OPP
pOrtunity to retire two men, but lost his
head and threw wild to the plate, allowing
runner 20 score.
Rube Levy's catch of long fly from
Fogarty's bat, in the third inning, was
surprise to the audience. The ball was
batted to point between left and center,
and 9th Levy and Danny Sweeney started
for it, a collision seemed imminent, when
Sweeney darted aside. The movement sur
prised Rube as he was about to give way to
the little fellow, but like fash he reached
out for the sphere and gathered it in.
For the All Califurnias the fielding of
George Van Haltren, the irst-base work of
Fred Carroll, the accurate throwing of
Hardie at third and the catching of Brown
were the features.
George Speer was behind the bat for the
picked nine at the commencement of the
game, but in the second inning his right
hand was badly split and he was forced to
retire Stevens did the catching during the
balance of the game, and for a man who
was cut OF practice played the position in
coed shape. As there were no extra men on
the benches Jack Donohue, who was um-
plring, was pressed into service and assigned
to Stevens place IN right field. Jack distin-
guiShed himself on his second trip to bat by
tapping out two-base hit to left field
Pete Meegan umpired the last seven in
nings
The runs were made as follows: In the
third inning for the All-Californias George
Van Haltren secured first base on an infeld
hit, stole second, went to third on Stevens
high throw to Cantillon and scored on a
grounder that forced a runner out at second.
In the fourth inning Pete Sweeney hit to
right field for three bases. Charley Van
Haliren batted to Dooley, who threw wild
TO the plate, and Sweeney scored. In the
seventh George Van Haltren hunted in front
of the late and made first. When he stole
second Stevens threw high over second and
Danny sweeney failed to block the ball,
Van going to third. Carroll batted to
E1righi, who erred and Van scored.
The picked mines one run was made in
the fifth inning on McDonald's double and
COughiiu'S single. The score:
AT SAN FRANCISCO, DECEMBER 81 1890