The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-15
SUNDAY PASTIMES.
The Coast Hand.Ball Champion
Badly WOrsted.
outmatched by the Two "Jamesies Stir.
riag Game at the Wickets-A Lively
Run by the Wheelmen.

Perhaps no time in the history of hand
ball on this Coast, and certainly not during
the past Ten years, has there been eyinced
the interest in a contest shown yesterday in
the Union Hand-ball Court. when John
Raardon, the Pacific Coast champion, stepped
Into the court to meet the two 'JamesieS,"
WTenn and Dillon.
All three are well known TO every local
deyotee If haud-5an, and SO far as acquaint-
ance with the court is concerned, no one
can claim that another holds the least
advantage over him. ReaTd0n has played
there fICm early times, and II was there
he won his championship.
In different manners all are remarkable
players ReaTdoD in his Judgment OF the
elasticity Of the halls, IN his calculative
movements, his clear, cool head and his long
reach; Wrenn in his overhead stop and his
foot movements, and Dillon by his all around
ability.
From the day the match was first pro-
posed much speculation has been going on
as TO the probable outcome of such meet
ing. ReardOn, being champion, found many
persons ready to bet on him for that alone;
others relied more on his Weil-knoWn and
really remarkable qualities as a sirategist
IN their estimate. Nrenn and Dillon were
not wanting however, for following, and
a strong one, too. They cane to the court
IN crowds, betting first, last and always on
CAUTIOUS SPORTS.
O'her bettOrs, more calculative and less
carried away by championship honorS and
favoritism, were disposed to grant IN ad-
vance the h0nOTS Of victory to Nrenn and
Dillon. For one man, no matter how good
he is, 10 pit himself for several games against
two good pUtteTs and agile shoppers IS
fearful task, and none but the very best
dare try II for more than "a best two out OF
three" contest.
IL
largest there has been this season, and con-
siderable loud talk was INDUCED in by the
hun bred or more turned away without the
slightest chance OF finding a chInk-bOle
through which to peer into the court. In
all about 500 persons were present in the
court while fully a hundred more lined the
coping on the three houses whose walls
formed the sides Of the court.
Manager Armstrong acted as referee and
scorer. His decisions were not always re-
ceived with favor, but at no time did any
one blame him with Wilfuny DTejudCed de-
cIsl0ns. Many said he was Ignorant OF the
rules governing the sport, and his frequent
appeals to some one in the audience
whether such and such a thing were not SO,
seemed to give ground Tor The accusation.
Even those " no were most disposed to hiss
hs decisions quoted down long before the
conclusion OF the game, for It became ap-
parent that bis alleged errors were not com
mItted 10 favor any one
wRENN-DILLoN WIN THE TOSS.
Tie game began at about o'clock.
NTenu and Dillon won tie toss and put the
bali IN motion. Their stand Won them seven
aces, which IS very good. ReaTd0n feII in
immediately with his old-time trick Of put
tins the ball so ii angled high against one
OF the side walls. This destroyed the con-
tnuity Of calculable motion and often landed
the bail in the court half dozen feet from
tie spot II was expected at. His first in-
ming scored him the largest run made during
the entire play-twelye aces.
This frustrated his competitors whose
next efforts failed TO score, and in return he
made four more. The first game ended by
his scoring i've after Nreuu and Dillon had
made seven. THIS gave Wrenn and Dillon
fourteen TO ReardOn's twenty-one aces.
On the second game being called Rear
don went 10 the stand, but though be put as
vigorously as at first his receivers took the
ball every time and put him out without
scoring. From that moment the playing be-
came more exciting, because more even.
Inc largest scores III the second game were
s, made by NTenn and Dillon in their fourth
inning and by ReaTdon IN bis fifth inning.
In tie third game there were scores 81
aces made by NTenn and Dillon in the fifth
and eighth innings. Wrenn and Dillon won
the second game by p aces to Reard0n's 10.
EeardOn, however, could have dOUbly dis
counted them in the third game, which he
Won against his opponents lOue aces.
THE FOURTH GAME.
One fact that had not become so apparent
in the third game as it might, showed it
self Immediately in the start Of the fourth
game. ReaTdOn was growing tired and he
showed 1t. This gave his opponents re-
newed hope and the game was holly con-
tested for twenty innings. The highest
score made was and the next 1, while there
was Gully gO0se-egg. The game TesultedIn
a bare victory for ReardOn, who scored y
aces 10 Wren-DlllOn's 20 It was in this
game that manager, or rather Referee. Arm
strong called down the spectators Kisses for
d decision on a blocked bail" and after
ward for their pity in his calling on a spec
tatOr for the rules OF the game he was ref
erecting. The blocked BALI decision was
adverse to ReaTdOD, which TIled that gentle
man cons iderably and may have lead to his
defeat IT the next game.
CHAMPION REARDON LOSES.
At the beginning Of the fifth and last
game the contest which was for the best
JHIee out Of five, stood two for each side,
with seemingly equal chances for the last.
Both sides were confident; both seemed
fresh and eager for the outcome. At no
inning were there more than two aces
scored, and for hard fighting the game VIII
De remembered for years.
Dillon and Wrenn went TO the wall and
scored one, but Reard0n made one each for
three innings, missed one made one each
IN the next TWO innings, then for nine inn
ings he sc red nothing but g0Ose-eggs. he
was eYlurntly played out and thoroughly
wnde d. To the surprise Of all be made one
more, then took a rest, while Wrenn and
DILLON scored in six more innings. Reardon
closed with six aces in the decisive game
While NTenn and Dillon had the requisite
twenty-0ne. 1t was a surprise to ReaTdOn
and 10 his friends that be should lose three
ont of i've games and lie forfeited 500 on
the result.
RESUME OF SCORES.
The following IS a concise statement Of
the scores in the i've games PLAYED: