The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1903-08-05
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE

|
wonderful. Other athletic games
come and go, but base ball is even
more popular to-day than when the
game was invented. Neither is it's
popularity limited to sex or occu-
patton, for ladies turn out in large
numbers to see the league games,
and in every audience may be seen
clergymen of every religious de-
nomination. And when it comes to
enthusiasm the ladies are not be-
hind the men. They applaud the
good plays by clapping their hands
and waving their parasols, and some
of them on rare occasions, utilize
their lung power in manifesting
their appreciation or pleasure.
| But if there were no other evil
dences of the great popularity of
the game, the great expenditure Of
money involved in fitting up ball
park would be sufficient. The own
err of the ST. Paul club has just fin
ished downtown park, only three
blocks from the old state capitol,
at cost of $4,000. This sum does
not include the title to the land,
for the land is only leased, but it
cost that amount to fit the grounds
and erect the ampitheatre. The
latter is extensive and contains re-
ception rooms, bath rooms, a tenn
porary hospital, etc. The park was
opened with ceremony a few days
ago, and almost 5000 people wit
messed the dedicatory game. May
or Smith who is one of the most en-
thusiastic fans" in the twin cities,
and who never misses a game that
he is we'll enough to see, made a few
appropriate remarks to the large
audience and ''started the ball roll
ing" by throwing it over the plate.
But Notwithstanding the popu-
larity of the National game there
are two features of it which are
deeply deplored by all lovers of fair
| play and decent behavior. One of
these is the so-called "dirty" ball
playing, and the other is flying into
a rage and dealing out vulgar abuse
to the umpire when he happens TO
make decision which displeases.
One can scarcely see a game of ball
played without being obliged to
witness some dirty work-sometimes
only little, and sometimes an ap-
palling amount. This may consist
in player of the opposing club
thowing bat in the way of one who
is running to catch high fly. A
player who is looking upward while
running for fly ball, might, by
stumbling over bat, not only miss
his ball, but severely injure him
self. Another dirty trick is to
spike baseman in order to pre-
vent him from catching throw, or
to get in the way OF the base run
ner.
On the day of the last game of
ball between ST. Paul and Louis
vile clubs there was an exhibition
of dirty ball playing which not only
broke the record in that line bnt
put player out of the game for the
balance of the season. A Louisville
player was called out by Umpire
Foreman. This made the third out
and the players began changing po-
sitions. Capt. Clymer Of the Louis
villes, instead of going to his posi-
ton in left field, vent to Foreman
and began to abuse him on account
of his decision. After taking the
abuse like martyr for an unrea-
sonable length of time Foreman or
dered him out of the game. This
added to Clymer's anger and he
began putting up an exhibition of
vulgar abuse that would have filled
a cowboy with envy.
|
In the meantime another Louis
vile player who was listening to
the fracas from position near Sec
ond base, slyly picked up the ball
and threw it with all his might at
Umpire Foreman. The ball missed
it's intended mark and landed
Squarely on CIymer's law. and that