Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-28
While Our Old Friend Nichols 70 the Only
Man Boston Needs.
National League Standing.

Baltimore, Sept. 27.-Outside of a
contingent of faithful Boston 'rooters'
who are making merry at the Eutaw
house, there is no joy in Baltimore, to-
night. Boston has taken the rubber in
the crucial series, is ahead in the fight
for the pennant and there seems to be
but little probability that the Cham
piOns can save 1t. Hoffer the wizard,
Nops, the sOuthpaw, and Brother Joe
Goblet all went down like ripe grain
in hurricane before the terrific on
slaughter Of Boston batters, until what
seemed at first to be a victory for the
home team was finally turned into a
rout, the like of which has been sell
dom witnessed on ball field.
More than $4,000 people saw it done,
and that they witnessed the downfall
of their favorites with perfect good
humor, gathering about the victors and
cheering them heartily at the finish,
gives the lie direct to the two stories
that have been current regarding Balti-
more base ball public. viz: That it does
not patronize the game. and that
''rowdyism" is the rule upon it's
grounds. There have been few, if any
crowds as large in the history of the
game and none could have deported
itself better from start to finish than
did that of today's. The same may be
truthfully said of the other games of
the present series. SOD
In none of the trio was a jeer sounded
at the umpire or player on either side
nor was a single fine assessed or
player ordered out of the game. The
utmost good humor prevailed at all
times and friend and foe were treated
as nearly alike as human nature would
permit.
The story Of what happened, today.
may be briefly told. First came the
struggle at the gates for tickets, then
the straining, pushing and fighting for
admission. then the scramble for a
place from which the diamond was visi-
BILE until every seat had an occupant
every inch of standing room was pre-
empted and men and boys chung to
fences. fiagstaffs, telegraph poles or any
other point of vantage. The Boston
'rooters" with their brass band, formed
so small part of the vast throng that
they sank into comparative insignifi-
canoe. but the band played on and the
rooters rooted and shouted just the
same. Finally the teams came out for
practice and then in due time the play
began and the multitude settled itself
down to watch the battle.
First Boston made a run, then Balti-
more made two, then each made three
and the score was tied when Boston
added another to it's string. Thus far
all was well. Then the visitors forged
to the front with three more tallies.
This was bad indeed, but hope still
lived in Baltimore. And so it ran until
that dreadful seventh. Corbett had
been crippled by a hot liner early in
the play. Nops had been batted out
of the box little later and Hoffer had
been hit for four runs, but still and
crowd hoped on.
No one looked for deluge, as Hoffer
had apparently steadied himself and no
runs had been made off him in the two
succeeding innings. All at once it
came. Single followed double, double
followed single. player after player
crossed the plate until the crowd grew |
dazed and wondered if it would ever
end. The official scorers almost lost
their count.
Hoffer became discouraged and |
wanted to go and sit down but Captain
Robinson kept him in the box Finally
the fusilade of hits was ended, Hoffer
came down from the air, everybody
took long breath and the scorers
figured out that Boston had made nine
runs. all of which were earned. That
settled 1t and although the Champions
made feeble rally in their half and
battled out three runs, followed it up
with two more in the eighth, their
efforts were not of more consequence
than are those of men who strive to
whistle up the wind.
During the volley of base hits in the
seventh the crowd was a study. AsI
he first two or three were made the
'ast throng looked serious. then as hits
began to pour out like water from a
rough, smile and then hearty
augh broke forth and none could have
njoyed the discontinue of the Cham .
lions more than did their admirers in
he vast audience.
OF the many hearty and spontaneous j
,ursts of applause none were more
inging than that which greeted Hamil-
on. when In the fourth, after being !
upon and severely stunned by Z
ennings at second. he made grand !!
un for home on loves single, collided !,
With Baltimore's fleshy backstop ami !
alling heavily. pluckiiy crawled to +
yard the base. almost fainting from!
he shock, as he touched it.
Again, at the end of the game, 10000 q
eople gathered about the visitors,
hook them by the hand, shouted :
heerul pleasantries at them, told them
that good fellows and fine playersl {
hey were and finally sent them away 2
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