Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-23
A Halt Was Called.

AT the end of the first half of the fifth
inning the umpire called the game to
in favor of the Pittsburg team, because the
visitors were not trying to play ball. Um-
pire Gaffney never made a wiser decision
in his life. His Judgment at Cleveland
may have been right or it may have been
wrong, but in the name OF everything that
pertains to honesty and dealing fairly with
trusting public Umpire Gafney could not
have done other than he did yesterday
afternoon.
A more disgraceful performance of ball
playing has not been seen in Pittsburg than
that of the Chicago players yesterday. In
selfish sense they were doing well. They
had no chance to win the game even before
the necessary five innings were played, and
they resorted to that low and contemplate
trick of trying to let their opponents stay
in until rain came and stopped further pro-
ceedings Among school boys this is some
times laudable, but among professional
players headed by an Anson and in presence
of thous ands of people who pay 20 cents
cash each, it is simply downright swindle.
Couldn't Do Any Other.
That the Chicago team did this yesterday
there is no doubt whatever, and if Umpire
Gaffney had not resolved to call q halt he
would d not have been fit for his position a
day lenger. The facts of the game will be
suficien to prove everything.
In the first inning Donovan went out at
first, Gumbert, the pitcher, to first base.
Farrell gnt to first on tumble by Connors
and in irving to steal second was nabbed by
splendid throw by Schriver. Miller made
scratch hit and was also nabbed in trying
to steal second, the throw OF Schriyer being
remarkably good In the second inning
Beckley made q single, and in trying to
steal second was nabbed by another brilliant
throw by Schriver
In the meantime the visitors won two
runs. They made them in the first inning
on a wild throw by Ehret, scratch hit by
Dahlen and an error by Kelly.
In the :hird inning the home players tied
the score, and in the fourth they made three
runs, which made the score to 2 In favor
of the home players.
At this stage the weather was awfullv
threatening and there was probably 10 to /
on rain coming In five minutes. The visit
ors in their half of the fourth did nothing
and in the first half of the fifth they began
a burlesque that for the sake of baseball
here must never be repea ted again.
Why, the performance was disgrace.
How the Game Proceeded.
Donovan started OFF with a hit. The
atmosphere was black and rain threatened
at any moment Farrell made hit and
Donovan was allowed to get to third, which
point he should have never reached. Mack,
who had taken Miller's place on account of
the latter's injured thumb, made scratch
bit aD6 nonovan snorad and then hapan
series of efforts on the part
of the felders to allow the
home PLAYERS to score all they wanted to-
Five of the most flagrant and deliberate
errors ever seen on a ball field were made.
Schriver, who had been nabbing men brill
iantiy at second, began to hit the pitchers
box in throwing to second. Beckley de-
liberately walked from second to home.
Schriver, of course, making a wild throw to
third. Bierbauer knocked a slow grounder
to Dahlen and almost walked to first. But
Dahlen took lots OF time to throw the ball
slow and threw it in a way that Anson had
to walk step or two to get it. 1t really
was a gentle throw. Dahlen repeated the
dose on Shugart. and then Umpire Gaffney
could stand it no longer Two men were
out. 1t was not possible for them to escape
and the safety Of Shugart simply made
everybody wild. His home run in the
fourth inning had broken the hearts OF the
visitors, and it was his getting to first in the
fifth that ended the contemplate proceed
ings. Umpire Gatfney called the game to
0 in favor of the home team because the
visitors would not play.
And Our Uncle Objected.
Captain Anson objected. He claimed that
if his team were not playing to win he did
no: know it. He had not ordered them to
do so. ''They played bad ball, 9" he said,
''but as far as know they played the best
they could"
1t is to be hoped that never
such an exhibition will take place
in this city again. Nobody gives
up 20 cents more cheerfUlly than a
Pittsburger for ball game, but the sight
oi about 1000 people clamoring for their
money back yesterday was a serious affair
for the stability of the game here. Anson
may or may not have been to blame, but if
he could not see deliberate efforts of dis
honest play he ought never to play another
minute on the ball field. He protests the
game and he ought to feel ashamed to do it.
Pittsburgers are honest, are game losers and
cheerful winners, but they never glory in a
victorV such as that of vesterday. The