The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-11
REALLY FEATURELESS PLAYS
THE ATHLETICS PLAY AN IN
FERIOR GAME.
The Result of the Contest Was Never
In Doubt, Baltz's Gameness
and Sand Crabs Work
Being Interesting.
By doe Corbctt.

MI. FITZPATRICK, Inat star pltCDeT, Win
a reputation equal in some respects to
that of our National League masters,
met with a setback yesterday afternoon
at the hands of those fast-coming Sand
Crabs, and was compelled to retire from
the field of hostilities after the game
was irretrievably lost Mr.. Reilly, the
premier second bsseman of the league,
succeeded him amid an avalanche Of
boots and groanS, the result of the gloom
he cast over the territory known as Sec
ond base by his rendition which might
be safely termed How not to play sec
ond base"
Mr.. Reilly, however, despite the fact
that he claims no relationship wit. the
pitchers department. acquitted himself
notably, as he did on a former occasion;
but, withal, his efforts came too late, as
his predecessor had already met the fire
of the foe, who In the future will De a
much dreaded one, l have no doubt, so
far as Fitzpatrick is concerned.
1t will be easily contectured, therefore,
that Mr.. Fitzpatrick, in the baseball YER
nacular, was just a trifie to the bad.
The expression, however, does not, fear,
convey the proper conception Of his bad
ness, baseballically speaking, of course.
and to be more pointed or rather to come
that Mr.. Fitzpatrick was hammered un-
mercifully by those Sand Crabs, and
when he did finally condescend to retire
I, for one, WAS infinitely obliged by his
condescension. Yet. must confess. tina,
l entertained q rather wearied opinion
of his successor, Reilly, who. during his
predecessors sotourn, gave a truly
game, the kind that will easily discour-
age pitcher, and did In this case, for
unfortunate Fitz, like all other knights
of the box, naturally expected his second
baseman to stop base hits and do great
things in general for Reilly has In the
past demonstrated his worth and ability.
Whether my conJectureS are correct or
otherwise the tact remains that F1tz
pitched miserable ball, and to make mai
tiers less complicated, the Sand Crabs de-
veloped a terrific batting streak, which,
coupled with the ragged playing of Reilly
the game one-sided and uninteresting. in
a sense, as the victors We're never in
doubt, they having an uncomfortable lead
after the third inning, the score standing
at this stage 10 in their favor.
In the next inning three more runs were
made, and in the inning following two
more, which left the score registering 10
to l in their favor, and from this on the
game was baseball in name only.
L cannot say, however. despite the
score, that the contest was entirely I'M
interesting, for II was not.
The Sand Crabs were in elegant trim
and played one of those fast, hard hitting,
clever games, making up by the interest
lacked in excitement
They really played the best game have
seen them play this season, and have In
the past month improved in almost every
department.
Their battery and base running were of
the pennant order, and the dashing spirit
for them much applause.
1t is really pleasure to see them per-
form; that is. when they move as they
did yesterday, and If the other clubs
would make as much noise, and thereby
make up in this manner what they lack
in the art of real baseball, I have no
doubt of their also winning the admira-
ton of all.
There is no disputing the fact that q
lively manifestation of true interest In
the outcome of the game Is admired by
the fans.
Baltz, who did the twirling for the Sand
Crabs, displayed an unreasonable amount
of lively spirit, and in consequence hurt
his ankle. 1t is not necessary to go into
the extreme while endeavoring to emerge
victorious, but even after condescending
to slide. Baltz continued in the game, and
this display of spirit and gameness, while
not meeting with the appreciation of all,
for many considered him too badly In
tured to play further, was, nevertheless,
greatly applauded.
With his injured ankle, which must
Baitz labored on. doing mastery work
When his cohorts placed the game be-
yond danger for him. he let UP enough
to allow his opponents few runs. but
portunity to rally.
His support, while not perfect. was truly
elegant. But few mistakes were cred
tied to them, which pale into insignifi-
canoe in the face Of Reillys mistakes
alone.
Many long hits were sent to the field,
but Strieb covered himself with glory by
the way he handled five of them. all OF
which were taken on the run. and one
in particular being captured only after
a noble effort.
The game was, therefore, interesting at
times, but all credit Is due the Sand
Crabs, for 1t was their beautiful work
which held the crowd the entire game
The feature of the contest was the poor
throwing Of the Athletics. and the awful
mistakes Of Reilly, the emergency pitcher.
The score follows:
ATHLETICS
Ap d nrI en- Do N