The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-29
ANACONDA NEWS.
HULLY GEE! PLAY BALL
The Amateur Season Officially
Opened Saturday.
WINNINGTEAM NOTKNOWN
Game Was Won by the Umpire-He Left
With the Stakes During the Cen
eral Fight-Players Are Now
Hunting for Him.
WINNING TEAM NOT KNOWN


the Copper City baseball teams met at
Anaconda Lake park several weeks ago
many persons thought that the anna
teur baseball season in Anaconda was
opened. But it wasn't. The amateur
season was properly and officially open
ed on Saturday afternoon by the Bur-
ton Juniors and the Anaconda Juniors.
From that date until snow flies the
shout of the coacher, the glad yell of
the rooter and the swat of the bat
against the ball will resound in every
vacant lot large enough to sport a dia-
mond and a short outfield. Previous to
that official engagement the only games
played were for the purpose of warm
ing up" the players after long winter.
The famous game was played on a
vacant lot in the east end of the city
Captain Jerry Murphy of the Burton
Juniors went out early in the week and
looked over the field. He wanted to
discover whether the field was dry
enough for base running and the grass
long enough to keep grounders out of
the mud, and after casual inspection
he said
well, guess we can stand for this
Then he went home and after some
hours of effort, assisted by Manager
Earl Dillon he composed the following
answer to the challenge he was in re-
ceipt of from Captain Patsy Sullivan of
the Anaconda Juniors:
captain Patsy Sullivan, Lincoln
School, City-Sir: Yves got yer def for
a ball game for championship of east
end and We'll cross bats wit Anaconda
Juniors for a dollar side winner to
take de ball, each man stickin' in 10
cents an captain stickin' in 20 cents:
de umpire selected on de grounds an
money in umpire's hands before game
is called. j. MURPHY.
Captain"
When this missive was completed
Captain Murphy and Manager Dillon
read it over with much qualification.
They We're especially proud of the
cross bats" and when Captain Muir
ply had sealed the note he winked at
his manager and observed:
''Dere, / guess dat'H hold them guys
for minute er two, huh?"
On saturday the two teams began to
assemble on the vacant lot about 2:3O
o'clock. Captain Murphy and his men
cast derisive glances at the Anaconda
Junior aggregation and scattered over
the field for practice while Captain Sui
livan called his cohorts around him and
began the important task of collecting
the stake money. The first three men
approached had their 10 cents slowed
away in anticipation of that proud mo-
#ment, but Pitcher @ Brien was shy For
three days he had carried his 10 cents
safely, but in weak moment he had
yielded to the joys of cigarettes and
had spent 2 cents. He weakly pleaded
to be let in on an cent basis
Nav, nix now" said Captain Sulli-
van. "youse skates can't come out O.
no two odds. If anyone amt deere wit
his bit he don't play. Hully gee, what
you want? I've got to stick in 20 an
you suckers want me to stake you!
Mkt"
Things were at the precarous stage
for Pitcher O'Brien and it looked as If
he were to be left on the bench during
the game. when Catcher Willie Smith
whispered to Captain Sullivan that de-
feat stared them in the face unless
O'Brien went into the box, as the bur
ton Juniors were dead onto the curves
of Fogarty, the reserve pitcher, ard be
further suggested the advisability of
taking up collection to make good the
shortage of the twirler. After some
muttered disapproyal of "stakin'
skates the collection was ordered and
the money was. forthcoming, and then
the two captains lrew nea. one ar
other. Practice instantly stcpped and
the players ot both sides gathered
around to hear the details of the cen
test.
'Deres one thing I want to know he
fore we start anything" said Captain
Murphy, do we play wit de new balk
rule?"
Sure" said Captain Sullivan, and
the pitcher looked at him uneasly.
All right said Murphy. AN an
other thing, no ringers goes. We don't
Cct oil
An, cut it out" said Captain MUIR
phy, didn't youse guys ring in a left
leider las year on us dat was in de
high school team"
An umpire remained to be chosen and
a solemn looking young man was
agreed upon, as he seemed to be a
stranger in the neighborhood. and into
his hands the stake money was noured
The players scattered to their positions,
the Anaconda Juniors taking the first
turn al bat. The pitcher of the Burton
juniors was young man with MANY
fancy moves, which he displayed to adj
vantage before pitching the first ball.
But Captain Sullivan, the first at hat
took his measure while he was swing
ing his arm, and landed on the bah for
three bases.
When it sailed over the infield the
three outfielders and the second and
third basemen started after it and one
VI eieii "ouiu nave got 1t before it |
went out of the lot if the third hose
man had not collided with the center
fielder and stopped to settle the matter
without further delay. The other NAV
ers waited to see the outcome of tbe |
fight, and Captain Sullivan went on |
around the bases until the left fielder |
suddenly recovered himself and niclIed |
up the ball. The pitcher was coverine |
third base and that was as far as Can. |
tain Sullivan got just then. The next
batter made two-bagger and the cap |
tam scored, and then a batter went |
out a first and two in succession few
out and the base runner died at second |
There was much cheering advice |
from the crowd on the sidewalk and |
around the home plate when Captain |
Murphy came to bat for the Burton
Juniors and faced the mighty but shy
0'Brien. The twisters the latter sent
In seemed to puzzle Captain Murphy
for a time, and two strikes were called