The morning times., 1896-05-25
Account of a Game Played al
Troy Long Ago.
IT WAS A GREAT CONTEST
Washington Sports Were willing to
Back the Champions of the South,
But They Could Find Few Takers
The Old Sports Were Afraid to
Bet--Won In the Ninth.
Northern Rndaet. Trou. N. Z.

IODdDly Ouc Oh Tie IJOSU GAcitliiR anu
closely contested games of baseball played
in the early history of Drofe ssional base
ball was that between q the Haymakers and
the Nationals of Washington, crack ag
gregation. In those days big scores were
the rule, aud hundred runs in game was
an ordinary total. Fifty-five to thirty was
comnonplac ce result, and it was considered
q tolerably close game. In this game the
score of 16 TO 3 was considered phenom-
enal, and up to that time it was the finest
exhibition of the national game.
The coming OF the Nationals had been
heraided, and people OF all classes took
deep interest in the coming contest. In
formation concerning the condition Of the
men was eagerly sought, and they were
often intervie wed on what they thought OF
the HaymakerS' chances OF success. Troy
aud Lansingburg sports in those days had
big rolls" aud they wanted to increase
the size OF them. Enthusiasts thought that
the Nationals had been overrated and that
they would fall easy victims to the superior
ability of the burg boys. But the sports
were cautious, and as the result proved
too much so.
WASHINGTON SPORTS HAD MONEY.
The Nationals were accompanied by a
large following OF "thoroughbreds,' who
were in quest OF easy money. They Of
odds. Some bets at short odds We're Of
fered by the Washington men previous to
the game, but they Were few. AT the close
OF the first inning the Troy crowd took
courage and some money was put on bat
little as compared with the amount in the
pockets OF the sports on the field In
the second inning the courage was all taken
from the Troy sporting contingent and
their enthusiasm suffered a wet blanket
sensation throu ghout the contest until the
ninth inning was well under way. Then
the Troy sports gained courage when it
was too late, and a big Washiugtonan,
flashing Il huge roll OF bills, shouted as
soon as his meu had lost: See here YOU
Troy men, you might have had all this
money
They tell a story of boy who is now
successful business man who saw this
game of baseball, and will probably rever
forget il If he lives long beyond the allotted
three score and ten. His youthful en-
thusasm was not pent up, and he had not
recourse TO the information so current that
the Washing gton nine was a team OF crack
a-jacks. That Monday noon his mother
gave him a sem of money with which to
pay herhiil for taxes to the city chamberlain
She carefully pinned the money to the hill
and gave him the odd chanGein in shinpIasters
to carry in his waistcoat pCcket.-He went
toward the chamberniH's office. and " bile
en- route stopped to hear the baseball talk
He had implicit faith in the Haymakers. and
this was strengthened when he heard Others
of their DartiSans. vow that the Unions
ouidn't lose"
HE BET TAX MONEY.
Later he heard an even bet offered on
tine Washington club and he stepped right
up saying. IN bet YOU" the while un-
pinning ms motber'stax money. The wager
was soon staked and the young fellow
sta rted for Wallis lot. with the rest or the
throng. thinking that the chamberlain could
wait for tie taxes until the morrow if he
gave its subject Thought at all.
That boys FEELINGS during the two hourS
from the closing OF the first inning until
the close of the game may be ina glned.
How he acted when the winning runner
crossed &c home base and his mothers
money was not lost. Trojan VITO wit
messed his antics. having had knowledge
of the het describes thus: That kid
went right mad; that's all. He moped
all through the game and tried to brighton
him up, but II was no go. When Leaven-
worth caught that ball which McAtee
fielded in to him. and those 5000 voices
commenced TO cheer, just 50 soon did the
kid commence TO cry. 1t was short cry.
and 1t became cheer. Then he waved
his hat until | thought he was mad. He
wanted to buy cigars for all the Haymakers.
but soon quieted down. went to Troy.
drew the stake money. and, as he told me,
went home md told his mother all about it.
giving the Doodle all 10 her,
The Northern Budget OF October % gave
this account of the game:
The game of baseball on Monday after
noon last, between the Unions tHaYmakers)
of LanslngbuFg, and the National club of
Washington, attracted one of the largest
crowds of the season, a large proportion
.tEl
weather, was composed OF ladies.
NATIONALS STRONG AT THE START.
The game opened in favor of the Unions,
standing at the close of the first inning,
Unions, /; Nationals, 0; but in the next in
ming the Washington boys by superior
batting made six runs to the Unions two, and
kept the lead until the commencement OF
the ninth inning, when the score stood
Unions, I; Nationals, l 3: leaving our boys
to get eight to tie the game and one to
win: that is, should they be fortunate
enough to give the Nationals a round
on the last inning, as will be seen from the
score they had done on the seventh and
eighth.
Amid the greatest excitement the Unions
went to the bat. NJ. King led off with a
safe hit to left field. made his first, stole
second, and finally came nome on a
bat by 5. King, while the rest of the club
by one of their olden time displays at the
bat made what seemed the impossible
number of nine runs.
The excitement was now indeed intense,
and every breath was suspended as the
umpire called STRIKER to the bat" and
Studley, of the Nationals, took his place.
Ward, inspired to renewed exertions, sent
In the balls quick and hot, consequently
little irregular, the result of which was
that Studley took his base on called balls.
Brainard, the next striker, sent the ball
to NJ. King off second.
Studley, forced from his position at first
had started for second, but King was too
quick for him, touching him with the ball,
and fielding it to Leavenworth at first, in
time to cut off Brainard, hands ONE double
play, two out and no runs. Parker next
went to the bat, with set teeth and IN
evident determination to redeem the mis-
fortunes of Studley and Brainard !'Wait
till you get ball to suit said his friends,
and he did wait, at last sending q daisy
cutter down toward left field; but McA tee
was there and confisoated the ball. fielding
it to Sonny at first with lightning speed.
'Striker out" called the umpire No
runs.
WELL-PLAYED GAME
The requisite round had been given
the Unions had won the day. The he"Cham-
pions of the South" were defeated, and
the game eliminated In one Of the grandest
volleys Of cheers ever heard, and amid a
scene OF the widest enthusiasm ever
witnessed on the field.
The fielding was quite brilliant on both
sides, and marred by very few muffs or
errors. s. King of the Unions made a
magnificent foul fly catch in left field in
the first inning. McKeon, who Is some
times unfortunate in right field, nobly re-
deemed himself by making the two most
brilliant and difficult catches of the day,