The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-07-10
That Baseball Controversy.

EDITOR THE BAMBERG HERAID:-We
are sorry that the Hartzog correspondent
mentioned the unpleasantness that occur
red between Hartzog and Oak Grove ball
teams on June 2S As they did refer to
serious trouble and "a rough begin
ming" we are more than sorry that they
did not state the full facts in the case, as
the whole trouble rested on promise
made by Hartzog's captain, which promise
was broken.
Some days before the game Oak Groves
asked Hartzog's captain to name his men,
which he did, naming nine or more men
of the immediate vicinity of Hartzog not
mentioning Mr.. Sandifer at all. At an
other time he told an Oak Grove player
that Hartzog was not going toplay Sand
ifer on their team. Again he promised
another Oak Grove player that they would
not pitch Sandifer against Oak Grove,
using practically these words, I'VE have
pitcher that we can do you fellows with
but will not put him on you" In this in
stance and others Hartzogs captain
spoke as if the intimate relations of the
two neighborhoods forced both parties to
play strictly neighborhood boys. That
was all that Oak Grove had to play and all
that Hartzog should have offered to play.
Mr.. Sandifer lives about nine miles from
Hartzog We did not object so much to
his playing, but to his pitching.
With the understanding that it was
strictly neighborhood against neighbor-
hood the game was arranged for Satur-
day, June %. We met and found Mr..
Sandifer one of their players. We called
the captains attention to the matter. He
said that Mr.. Sandifer had joined no
other team and Oak Grove could not rule
him off of the Hartzog team. We let that
pass, still believing that the Hartzog
captain would stick to the special promise
he made, not to pitch Sandifer. Oak
Grove went to the bat with Dote Smith
in the box. We batted Smith very well
giving Hartzog some running and search
ing in the weeds for the ball. We don't
know why, but suppose the Hartzog
captain thought it better to 60 back on
promise than to lose their ball. Oak
Grove didn't care, have another old one.
At any rate, after the first inning, Hart,
zog put Sandifer in the box, regardless OF
understanding, intimate relations, pro
mise, objection or anything. That veX'
ed Oak Grove and we repent in sack
clothes and ashes" that we did not call the
game when Sandifer went in the box
We admit our mistake and deeply regret
it, but feel that we have wronged no one
but ourselves.
AS to tsserious trouble" and trough be-
ginning" we do not understand them. W.
| do know that (after game) Hartzog's cap
tain, when he was told of the understand
ing, promise he made, ETC., was the firs
man to tell Oak Grove if we wanted
row we could get it, and in very shor
| time struck at an Oak Grove player with
a bat. Now, on Hartzogs ground, under
standing gone back on, promise broken
row offered, man struck at with bat, who
had rough beginning"?
| Oak Grove stands where it Away:
stood. We are young. This is our firs'
year, and we regard it our practice year
but mean to be treated right. We vii
play any country team, Hartzog not ex
cepted, that will arrange game with u:
and stick to the agreements. o.. Il.