Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-15
OLD BASE BALL DAYS.
When the National Game FIourished Here
"a 1t Has Never Done Since.

When the National Game FIourishea Here
~ 1t Has Never Done Since.
Few living Of the patrons of base bah of We
olden time will forget the high character Of the
Red Stockings in Cincinnati, and two local rival
clubs of Washington, writes Dan Leech. for
merly chief clerk of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton, in the Sayville Il. L. Ne,cs. The cities
mentioned were verify base ball towns, since
they turned out larger audiences to the number
OF inhabitants than any other places in the
country.
But it was in Washington that base ball
reached its highest poin. in appreciative audi
enccs The city boosted two amateur clubs
the National and Olympic-that had on their
mines men Of education and influence During
the then several annual series the grand stands
and bleaching boards Of the respective fields
were fully occupied an hour before the game
began. On the roll of membership Of either
club were the names of persons prominent in
official and mercantile life while heads Of gov
ernmentdepartments readily accepted honor
airy membership in these organizations and
cheerfully contributed to their financial sup
port.
Then as now, Of course. while the strength
OF nine was presumed to repose principally
In the batting skillful pitching was deemed the
main dependence. 1t was the same battle Of
the pitchers as today; only then it was pitch
ing, now II is throwing Neither club had more
than one man for the box and but one extra
man for emergency-generally a fair ali-round
player, but seldom worth anything in the
pitchers position The pitchers of both mines
were college graduates and more or less up in
general athletics. The pitcher of the Nationals
was Mr.. W. Williams, recently deceased. and
tamiliarly known among bIse ballists as Billy"
Williams. Not only was he master of his posi-
ton on the nine, but also of the business in
trusted to his care receiving teller of the
cash room by successive treasurers of the
United States. OF genial disposition, he was
ever smiling while on the diamond, and never
so happy as when there. The pitcher of the
rival Olympics was Mr.. Edward o. Leech. di-
rector OF the bureau of the mint.
While IN many respects the pitching of
Williams and Leech was the same, for head
work the latter was rated far the superior.
When facing batter his energies were wholly
consecrnted to the work before him and he
closely studied his position that be might use it
to the very best advantage to keep his club
in the lead. With him the welfare Of the
Olympic Club outweighed personal considers
tons and he was selfish to fault OF it's reputa-
ton and success. Frequently refusing to
notice criticisms of himself, he was an ever
ready volunteer when his club needed de-
fender.
And who Of the frequenters Of the National
Oiymplcs games but remembers the exciting
contests between these rivals for the Champion
ship Of the national capital? And what crowds
pressed upon the field or hung about the club
house at the close of a game?
The Nationals victorious, the friends of the
Olympics would attest their sympathy with the
players by following them across muddy lots as
beaten cut not conquered, they dragged their
tired bodies to the coy club house, and vice
versa. That base ball was appreciated to the full
est extent in Washington it is only necessary to
mention few of the actual PLAYERS of the
National and Olympic clubs now living. Many
equally prominent have died, or If living their
names are forgotten at the moment
Mr. Charles e. Coon, ex-a5sistant secretary
Of the treasury, was not only brilliant player,
but also president Of the Olympic Club, while
Mr.. Harry {. Mclean, assistant supervising ar
ch1tect OF the treasury, made a reputation as a
third baseman, and his phenomenal left-hand
catch during an exciting contest is a pleasant
memory to at least one who witnessed it,
Nicholas 4. Young, until lately leading gov
eminent official and latterly president Of the
Base Ball League OF America, is another cele-
brated Olympic man, who long held the cham
pionship for base running.
Then there was Mir. A. G.. Mills at one time
chief clerk Of the supervising architects Office,
Treasury Department, lawyer and now presi-
dent OF one of the largest elevator companies
Not only was he an ardent player and lover of
the game, but he helped vastly to promote its
interest. As an enthusiast in athletics he con-
uhuco uo pIcelucHt VI one OF tNe more prOml-
nent athletic clubs Of New York city to devote
his time and energies to popularizing whatever
is respectable In this line
Other players on the Olympic's nine were
Louis 4. Martin, special agent United States
Treasury Department, who. like Mclean. had a
contempt for anything tricky or underhand in
connection with the game.
John II. Berthrong, formerly private secre-
tary to Secretary Boutwell,, ard now a dis
tinguished Boston artist. made himself famous
In base ball circles as the only man capable at
the period Of which We are speaking of sue
cessfully covering at the same time both center
and right or center and left fields.
Henry A. Bennett. chief of division, controll-
er's office, Treasury Department. and George
c. Fox, then student at Georgetown UNIVERSITY
later assistant Z. 5. marshal and once reputed
to be the longest distance ball thrower in
America.
OF enthusiastic spectators we recall the genial
face and cheerful voice of lamented President
Garfield The distinguished British minister
and attaches of his and other legations were
frequent and interested lockers on, as were also
cabinet officers, members OF the houses of Con-
gress and occasionally advanced thinker
among the clergy. Not infrequentIy ladies of
official and social station encouraged the PLAYERS
by their presence on the grand stand or in lux
uriousiy appointed carriages that drove as near
he diamond "a safety per,nitta5