Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-05-13
BALL talk
FROM A ''FAN''
Early Day Ball Games on the
Diamond Are
Recalled

querade costumes and excited so much
hilarity.
When the ninth inning came, Boston
was one to the good. The local bunch
came up for a final rally. Two were
out and two on bases when Arson
stepped to the plate. Nichols and Ben
nett conferred. Then Bennett stepped
away from the rubber and Nichols sent
three wide ones over. 1t was Nick's in
tention to pass the old man and take
chance on the next batter. Uncle got
red headed. The fourth ball that f1oated
up was wide. but he famed in the air.
Also the fifth. Then he settled back
with resigned look on his face and
waited for the one that was to pass him
to the bag. And right there Nichols
fooled him.
Bennett sprang back to the plate.
Nichols sent one full across the center.
Uncle saw it coming and with a snort
of rage and establishment hit at it. 1t
was goodly smite even though the old
man was caught off his watch. He
drove the ball furiously across the in
the air. yanked it down.
i've seen lots Of exciting situations
in the game, but never many that were
more intensely interesting"
"One night in the sos" says Joe Cor
bett. of the st. Louis Nationals. when
the old Chicago team was here, AL
Johnson invited me up to his rooms on
the fourth floor Of the Beckham block
to meet some Of the visiting players.
Mike Kelly was asleep on the sofa
when l went in. The other players
We're having a little game Of cards.
Suddenly Mike sprang up.
ME to bed" he said. and started
for the door.
Two or three players jumped up
and blocked the way
"'Oh, very WELL said Kelly. there
are other ways and he made for the
open window. He must have forgotten
in his sleep all about the four flights
of stairs. for putting one hand on the
sill he hoped over.
Like flash big Jim Mccormick
leaped to the window and caught Kelly
by the collar just In time to save his
life. The next day Mccormick took
Kelly out on the street and pointed to
the window where the rescue had taken
place.
by jove said Mike I never did
such foolish thing as that before in
me life. What was l drinking last
night, anyway, water?"
In the first games I pitched for the
Boston Nationals" said Charley Mich
OILS 1.-The thing that impressed me most
was the cheering for the visiting play
ers when they hit me for double or
triple or home run. That isn't the
way in the west unless the home team
happens to be unpopular
About the second game l pitched at
the Hub l made long hit myself and
got just the same measure of applause
as player on the other team did when
he took my measure
Il soon learned that was something
peculiar to Boston and to no other city
There visiting and home players are
treated exactly alike. ! wish it might
be that way in every city in both the
National and American leagues
Johnny Powell was kicking hole in
the hard dirt of the pitchers box at st.
Louis one day last summer when Um-
pire O'Loughlin called play ball."
Powell kept right on excavating and
Silk" finally said:
Don't wear yourself out that wav.
If you lose the power to kick your use
fulness will be gone"
And with that tongue of yours tied
up for a day you'd cut about as much
figure at a bah game as toy balloon
in an airship race" said the boiler
make,
Years may come and years may go"
says Jimmy Ryan, but l think | will
always continue to hold the record for
the longest hit ever made once hit
a ball that went $500 miles without
stopping. and | want to see the man
who has ever duplicated such feat.
The funniest thing I ever saw on
baseball field" said Brett" happened
in game between two negro teams at
Memphis. II was a scorching day. and |
several of rs who were not on that day
open lot. and | believe half the colored
society of the south was present The |
two teams We're ununiformed. but they
made up for il with enthusiasm. and
averaged about one fight to an inning
The thing l speak of happened in
the sixth inning. The negro at bat
was one of those short. heavy boys,
with head like a league ball at the
close of double-header He was
pitcher Of his team. The other pitcher
had famed his last time up. and he
was evidently sore at his brother. He
was leng, raw-boned COON He
wrapped himself up like a watchspring,
and when he unwound a dirty streak
would flash toward the plate and some
thing went whop in the catcher's mitt.