The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-27
RIGHT TO PLAY QUESTIONED
LOOKS AS THOUGH FAVoRITISM
Is DISPLAYED.
Burge Makes the Greatest Catch OF
Y ears, While the Stands APP
plaud Him to the
Echo.
By doe corbett.


Six days ago, at Recreation Park. the
Athletics and Sand Grabs competed. For
ten long innings they struggled and
fought midst the cheering Of multitudes,
only to have the contest declared draw
by Umpire Mcdonald. The score at this
moment stood 6 to 6. The game was hard
and earnestly played, but the fates were
against the men. Darkness set in and
Mcdonald as heretofore mentioned, called
the contest with the even score, intiicting
no damage on any one save, possibly, in
the chances the patrons of the game
might have had of witnessing one OF the
greatest games Of the year. This the
contest promised to be had the fates al
lowed 1t to proceed. However, they were
generous enough in giving these same two
clubs an opportunity to clear the doubt
that existed in all minds as regards which
team was the better.
Yesterday they crossed bats again. and
the Athletics vanQuished the Sand Crabs
by the very close score of 8 to I. 1t was
not, however, the same Athletic team that
played on Sunday last. They were mighty
in the box yesterday; on Sunday they
were not. The doubt still exists rather
than is silenced. The clubs will have to
meet on the same footing as they did in
that memorable ten-inning contest before
baseballdom will draw final conclusions.
But how is it, asks every one, that Mr..
Iberg so mysteriously and suddenly be-
came a member of the Athletic team?
How is it, ask these same fans, that Iberg
is permitted to roam from one team to
another at will? Until yesterday he was
indisputably a member Of the San Fran
ciscos. He has played in over ten games
with that organization and why he should
be allowed to bob up so serenely and at
such an opportune time is a question
should like to have explained. 1t really
looks to me like put up job to defeat
the Sand Grabs out of second money. My
conjectureS may be wrong, and II they
are but one conclusion can be arrived at
and it is simply this: The league is man
aged as though a crowd of children was
at its head. In fact, from this late and
most opportune move of Mr.. Iberg l am
inclined to believe that few school boys
could do better.
The league apears to be as devoid of
system and discipline as 1t was about
three or four months ago. Just think of
it. A team has a chance for second
money and deliberately takes one OF the
best twirlers in the league from another
club to insure this chance. The league |
body in existence at the present time, |
should put its foot on this sort of thing |
and send Mr.. Iberg back to where he |
came from.
1t is not fair or just to permit him to |
roam where he pleases and where he can |
render some team invaluable service: |
With these two teams lighting for second |
place it certainly looks bad very bad, to |
see a man of the ability Iberg possesses |
going to the assistance of one, Of the
clubs. In my opinion the Sand Crabs |
have a tremendous kick coming.
/ had almost forgotten about the game, |
yet recolect mentioning that the Athletics
emerged the Victors, thanks to Mr.. Iberg. |
This player, as usual, was almost irwin |
chile. His work through the entire game
was of the order that wins nine times out
of ten. The Sand Crabs, try as they
would, could do no better than score one |
run, and this from baseball view strict |
" was pure gift. With Strieb on third
Ia on CT cd or ftrGt n
ond Lehman threw TO second, and Han |
ley, who received the ball. paid no at |
lehIoh 10 otrleD. contentlng hinSell with
running down Whalen. Had he been on /
the alert and quick at all he could have |
prevented Strieb from crossing that plate, |
but BlOckers has a poor arm and does not |
IN consequence care 10 display his throw |
ing propensftieS. This is the reason why |
the Sand Crabs managed to secure one /
measly run. They should have been shut |
out, but the beating as 1t stands is severe |
enough.
Again, they did not play up to their usual |
form. Whalen, who occupied the pitchers |
department, was alarmingly wild at the |
outset. Three men were given free trans
portation to first in the initial inning ow- |
After filing the bases, however, he pulled |
himself together and allowed only one |
run. In the next inning two more were |
scored off him. Yet the blame cannot be |
lald directly at his door. From then on he {
did Well, but was supported in a most |
wonderful manner by Sir Burge, the aero
DdllC TlSul-ueluer. 1nlS INDIVIDUAL COW |
cred himself with 80 much glory that he !
was barely visible. To him must be given |
the credit of making the greatest catch /
seen in California in years. With one man |
out, Johnson hit a long drive into right |
center. With a burst of speed as wonder |
full as was the catch, he started for the |
ball, and just as it was about to disappear |
In the seats erected for the purpose of |
accommodating the football cranks leaned /
in the air and brought it down with mis- !
ungIoved hand. Immense applause greet
ed the performance, and it continued /
every time the boy came near the stand |
Later on in the contest he made another |
sensational catch and threw to the plate |
botl. of which performances received tu-
multuous applause.
Outside of Burgess great work, the play
ing Of the Sand Crabs. while steady at |
times, was nothing to really brag about |
Their opponents outplayed them at all |
stages save in right garden; yet it is a
question whether they would have won
with Fitzpatrick in the box. Laying aside /
the Iberg episode, the game was a clever
one and interesting. Those who saw IL |
were not dissatisfied by any means: but |
the crowd was awfully slim. To-day.
however, it will improve. The score is |
as follows:
SANTA CRUZ
ALB. R. BH. sB. Pc. A. E.
B Ed5iiani !: So: SD 9 !