The San Francisco call., 1898-07-05
YOURS TRULY GETS A HAT
THE SAND AT TIMES MARS THE
 CONTEST.
The Athletics Play a Grand Game, Yet the Oaklands Contested Every Point With
 Vigor.
BY JOE CORBETT.

Admiral sampson presented to the American people as a Fourth of July sur prise the complete destruction of the Spanish Santiago fleet. The Pacific Coast League is propelled by an ambitious as well as patriotic people, and, not to be outdone even by MT Sampson, they pre- sented to the crowd which wended its way to Recreation Park yesterday afternoon a game of ball which was almost perfect, and concluded the days work by present. ing me with a S5 hat.
 This latter incident occurred, however, in a most peculiar manner, and I mention 1t simply to demonstrate the advantages to be gained by mixing in affairs which, to be plain spoken, do not concern one. MT. Rauer bet MT. Kaplen, manager of the Athletics $5 hat that the Oaklands would win the game. This proposition was entertained by MT. Kaplen, Rauer remarlIing that if he won the hat would be turned over to the Examiner corre- spondent l could not understand why I should be overlooked in such a manner, after all the nice things l said about this man Rauer, and battered my way into the conversation by remarking that my supply of hats was very scarce. l took occasion, however, to mention this fact when the Athletics were ahead and Mr haplen, no doubt fearing that if he did not observe my hint roast would follow in the morning edition, immediately ejac- ulated: Mir. COrbett if my team wins you may have the hat" The dear boy' never for a moment conjectured that I would take him up, but as said needed hat, rather than be caught in a lie l was cOerced. into taking it, much to the delight of the official scorer. Now, if they had only bet an overcoat or a house ana lot! It certainly is difficult to please people, yet l see no reason why the bet should not be continued at least until iC lN one thing bothering me in regard to the transaction, and that is the order for the nat, or, rather, will the order for the hat be honored without my being identified? This "Order' business may be all right with some individuals, yet l should much rather have received the hat Not that l have any doubts about the EenuIneneSS of the order but l wish l had the hat. We'll in the morning 1 shall first get that hat, and then present the order. In this manner l hope to avoid the quality of hat thaL-iS generally given with an order; for instance, the kind you would receive if obtained through some order you won at Q picnic. Experience is grave teacher;
 The only element which marred the beauty of the game was the clouds of dust which every now and then enveloped the players and invaded the stands until 1t became almost unbearable. My how it does blow in that neighbornood! A per son misses half the game in vainly en- deavoring to prevent the dust from blind ing. and to add to the discontinue of those who were maSsed in the stands be- side third base was President Bert, blaZ- ing away continually with siX-shooter MT Bert's display of patriotism would have been much admired had he reserved his fire until the game was finished.
 Barring the wind and dust the game was close, beautifully played and intense ly interesting. The Athletics started on by making three runs in the first inning on clever batting and base running, as- sisted by MT Russells inability to locate the plate. They made another in the sec ond and two more in the fifth in the same manner. Their playing in every depart ment was gOod-far above the average.
 Their new acquisition, MT Fountaln, however, was miserable failure in the pitchers box, being afflicted with the same fault as his opponent, MT. Russell, and was retired after the second inning in favor of MT. "Foghorn" Fitzpatrick. The change wrought marked advantage, as Fitzpatrick pitched excellent ball, consid- erng the fact that he struggled through a whole game on the day previous. He crowd and kept them in a state of ecstasy all through the game by his many comic and peculiar antics while on the coachers line. Surely Fitz, you are wonderi
 The support accorded him was of the first class variety, Reilly in particular playing clever ball in the field and doing terrible execution while at bat, four hits being made by him out of five times up. Had StultZ not been asleep on the bases on one occasion and had Fitzpatrick in the seventh inning thrown to second in stead of first, not fault would have been visible in the team work throughout the game These little incidents had no bear ing on the result, however, as their daring base running and opportune hitting won for them the game.
 The Oaklands, while defeated, also played good game. Their inability to properly connect with the ball is princi- paliy the cause of their defeat. Only six hits did they make in the entire game, yet they scored five runs. and this through daring baserunning. In the seventh they had man on second and third. with Hard-hitting Sullivan at bat. A hit was necessary to tie the score, but it did not come as Sullivan hit an easy grounder and was out at first He, however, stole three bases and with Stultz, who had an equal number. must the honors be shared. The score Is as follows: