The record-union., 1894-09-22
BILL GOODENOUGH AS A SCRAPPER.
How He Did Up Catcher Spies at
Minneapolis.
George Borchors is Pitching Winning
Ball These Days for the De-
troit Team.

Ex-Sacramento baseball players are
distinguishing themselves east of the
Missouri River, some by their good ball
playing and others by their prowess as
scrappers.
Little Reitz continues to hold the front
place among second basemen of the big
leagues, and will no doubt be on top at
the close of the season.
George Borchers, the native Sacra-
mentan, is pitching splendid ball for the
Detroit team. A couple of weeks ago he
won four straight games for his club. and
is recognized as one of the most effective
twirlers now on the diamond.
Billy Goodenough, who wearied of
handling the brake on a Third-street
electric car in this city two years ago and
returned East, is doing great third base
work for the Milwaukee Club, in the
Western League.
Goodenough the other day took the
conceit out of Spies, the Grand Rapids
catcher-another player well known in
Sacramento-who appears to have fallen
into an ugly and disagreeable mood. A
correspondent of the st. Louis ,SDOrti12g
Nel0S. writing from Minneapolis, thus
relates what occurred on the diamond
a l
came about:
Manager Ellis and his Grand RAPIDS
players have come and gone, but have
left very unsavory reputation behind
them. 1t seems to be one continual scrap
from the time Ellis and his band left the
hotel until their return. In one game
Catcher Spies became so abusive and
using language seldom heard on ball
field that Umpire McQuaid fined him S25.
The next day this same player created
q scene never before witnessed in pro-
fessiona1 game in this city. My idea is
that Spies is without doubt the most
despised backstopi in the Western League
1t is only few weeks ago that he got
into trouble at Indianapolis and Toledo
by his overbearing manner toward some
OF the opposing players.
But this time ne came out of the
trouble second best. He selected Willie
Goodenough to operate on, and that is
where the big conceited catcher made a
great mistake. 1t is play for Goodenough
TO handle such men as Spies, and the
Grand Rapids backstop may consider
hlmselT very fortunate in escaping as he
did. In the seventh inning Goodenough
tried to score from third on an infield
hit. lie slid head first 10 the home-plate,
but Spies deliberately stepped about three
feet from the plate and blocked the Mil
waukee center-fielder. Goodenough
struck his head with terrific force against
Spies shoe and cut his lip badly. Spies
also spiked him III the shoulder.
"Goodenough arose and asked the
burly catcher what he meant by such
work, when the latter turned and struck
Goodenough on the cheek bone with the
ball. The Milwaukee man Immediately
closed in on Spies and for moment
there was very pretty exhibition of in
fighting, only 1t was all one-sided.
Goodenough landed three times in rapid
succession on Spies face, and the latter
became dazed. The players and specta-
tors surrounded the com batants and for a
time riot seemed certain. Finally the
police cleared the diamond and order was
restored. The principals were ordered
out of the game by Umpire McQuaid and
the game proceeded.
After the row Spies sat upon the bench
with Manager Ellis and hurled vile epi-
thets at Goodenough. Mr.. Ellis, instead
OF censuring his hired man for such con-
duct. only sided with him. During the
midst of the trouble Manager Ellis
jumped around the diamond and cried
out: oh. my team is gonei They are
killing all my good play yers.' The as
sault was uuprovoked, and Spies should
be dealt with by the President of the
league. 1t is such work that will kill
baseball"
TPv MoNTorrr-JO Teas NO