Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1893-07-06
NATIONAL GAME NOTES
Caylor's Weekly Chat About the
Ball Players.
reNEY LOST BY TWO MAGNATES.


Responsible For the Failures of Erastus
Wiman and John b. Prince-Nearly 1OO,-
900 People Out Memorial Day.
Has anybody lately made the remark
hat baseball is dead or dyingp Probably
Dot, because it is painful and improbable
pkick against the pricks. Any lingering
hubt that may have existed of the immor-
Atty Of the national game was destroyed
" the demonstrations of Memorial day.
Onehundred thousand people-lacking less
han S00-witnessed the games IN the six
National league cities on that day. This
heats the record since baseball hos been
Played
The foodtide of this mighty attendance
was in New York, where %, 1874 spectators
we're inside the Polo grounds TO see the aft
Gnoon game between the New Yorks and
the Cincinnatis. No such crowd ever be-
iOreattendcd ball game. In 1888 a crowd
estimated at $4,000 entered by the gates
and broke through the fences at the old
Polo grounds near Central park on Memo
rial day afternoon to see the Detroits and
Giants play. But even with the thou
sands who got in without paying on that
| 0ccsion the total number fell below the
enormous throng that paid admission this
| year to the New York-Cincinnati game.
The number given in this instance is the
udlcial count-not an estimate.
| All further fear for the life and domi-
nRnce of the national game may be dis
missed. It once more asserts itself as the
port most beloved by American people.
| The attendance at the National league
mmes on Memorial day was proportionate-
y duplicated in the Eastern and New Eng
' land leagues. Down south, in California
| and among the various state and interstate
| associations the same good reports are
heard. Then, too, the college games this
year are enthusiastically received. From
5000 to 5000 spectators have greeted the
teams every time the Harvards, Yales or
Pnncetons have come together this year.
The first triple play of the season Of 1893
vent on record at Pittsburg during the re-
cent visit to that city Of Mr.. Won der Ahe's
Brown Stockings. 1t occurred in the fourth
inning, when Brodie and Peitz started of
With hits and Pitcher Breitenstein waited
for four balls and filled the bases. The
Httsburgs then made their triple play and
nttred the st. Louis team without run
| By a neat piece Of strategy previously ar
hinged. Griffin, the fourth st. Louis bat
ter, popped up a fly just inside the dia-
| nond, and Catcher Mack gave the signal
notifying the Pittsburg players that the
time had come to take advantage Of their
| prsarranged trick. Pretending to let the
ball drop for a 'force," he at the last mo-
ment put his hands under 1t near the
ground. Brodie, full of the belief that
Mackwas playing for force out, started up
lifeline, and Third Baseman Lyons followed
him. Mack threw to Lyons, who, being
light on Brodies heels, touched the latter
and them threw to Shugart at short, who
was near enough to the 'rattled" Peitz to
touch him. Thus Brodie, Peitz and Crit
n we're all retired on the play, for under
The present rules fly ball to the infield
yhen man is on first base need not be
held by the fielder to put the batsman out,
out II II touch his hands the umpire must
declare 1t a fly catch. Mack was careful to
ht the ball touch his hands before 1t
!sached the ground and thus turned what
20 first gave the impression was to be
force" into fly catch.
Two wealthy men recently met with
financial reverses. Both men have figured
4 eonspicuously as baseball magnates. One
, Erastus Wiman of New York, and the
other IL Charles e. Prince Of Boston.
Nj. Wiman took up baseball in 1886 I'M
Der rather peculiar circumstances. He was
q that time largely interested in Staten
bland real estate and in the ferry company
nd rapid transit arrangements on the Is
Ind. Being man of wonderful inventive
nculties and executive ability, he set about
devising schemes that would attract New
York people to Staten Island. About this
lime the Metropolitan Exhibition company
@ New York owned two baseball teams,
tpresenting two rival associations or
leagues, and they at the same time had
bit one ground on which to play. In this
dilemma they offered to sell the team and
nanchise of the Metropolitans, the repre-
entative Of the American association.
Wiman tho&yht he saw an opportunity to
Htract the masses to Staten Island, and ne
bought the Metropolitans for about S8b, 0OO.
xnen he fitted up magnificent grounds at
expense of nearly $4,000 at st. George
Roing New York bay.
The Metropolitans played at st. George
pr two seasons, but their earnings did not
gay their running expenses, nor did they
Waw to their new home the many thou
aads of visitors upon which Mr.. Wiman
@lculated. 1t Is believed that this base
paA experiment. cost its originator nearly
HO000 In cash, and probably helped to
Mes 49, r
Mr. Prince is the leader of q select few OF
psokers who were chosen by the Drotner-
apoo OF players In the winter OF 1881 10 Inr-
Ssn the money to establish their CLUB IN
boston. The gentleman was honestly LED
Roelieye that to use Colonel Sellers, ex-