The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
PICKED BLINDLY FROM THE SKY Wonderful Catch Made by Mclaughlin. MANY BRILLIANT PLAYS. SENSATIONAL BASEBALL AT RECREATION PARK. Smith Caught One of Knelrs Fast Ones and Started Process
 sion Around the
 Bases.
SENSATIONAL BASEBALL AT
 RECREATION PARK.
BY JOE CORBETT.

In view of the fact that our gallant rep reSentatives of the stars and stripes were holding a reception at the Presidio and Bay District track, the crowd which as sembled at Recreation Park was not as large as it might have been, yet those who were fortunate enough to be present had an opportunity to witness some bril- liant individual plays that excelled any thing I have ever seen at Recreation Park or ever expect to see. It very rarely hap pens that a game of ball is played in which a particularly clever or sensational play is not made by some player of either side In yesterdays game, however, they were so numerous that those who were keeping score had to hustle in order to jot them down. The most sensational and difficult catch was made by Me Laughlin, and there is no doubt that he was as surprised as those present on ind ing the ball still in his hand on reaching terra firma. It occurred in the fourth in- ming. Billings, the first man up for Stock ton, was presented with @ base on balls. Smith. who has been hitting the ball hard of late, lit on to one of KneePs fast ones, sending it to the fence for two bases, and scoring Billings. Rice, the next man up, hit a pop fly, it being due to drop about thirty feet over McLaughlin's head. The moment the ball left the bat Nc turned and sprinted with all his might in the direction the ball had taken, and without turning jumped about as high as he VIII ever jump and came down with the sphere in his left hand amid storm Of applause. It was a great catch, and will not be duplicated for some time.
 Scott and Selma also made one-handed catches, either one of which would bring the stands down in an ordinary game or ball. But as 1 said before, this game was out of the ordinary in every way. Hlts, errors, wild pitches, bases on balls, in fact, almost everything that could pos sibly happen, was to be seen during the game. With all that it was a good game, save in the first inning. Both pitchers seemed to be very cratic at the start and were touched up in a lively manner. ball, yet they should not think for a sec ond that their work at any time was really good Knell, after giving ten bases on balls and allowing eight hits to be made off his delivery, should shake handS with himself, for he certainly had an oil day and was very fortunate In winning:
 Whalen was invariably hit when nus were needed. andy had he been accorded better support would no doubt have pitched a better game. He seemed un- able to fool or out-general batsmen at critical stages. In only two innings did the Athletics connect with him, but Tn those two innings they punched their hits and made su4 cie--- number or runs fc win. They oulplayed their opponents Tn every position save the box, nearly every player on the team making star
 play all by his ''lonesomes. IndiVIdual plays, however, were about equal, and p errors were plentiful, especially on tne Stockton side. The game was, neverthe- less, a god one, and enjoyed by every fan present. The features are too numerous to mention, Reilly playing the best all-arOund game for the Athletics, and Selma and N Smith doing likewise for the Stocktons. The score is as follows: