Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-18
NEARLY BROKE Halls RACK.
Champion Batsman Tried to Hit Rad
bourne's Curves.

E
The advent of the curve ball IN the
early SOS caused a great deal OF nerriment
in the small towns of Wisconsin and Iowa. .
says Ted Sullivan. the base ball manager
and agent. 'sThe famous minor league
team had in Dubuque in 10. which ran
for pleasure and recreation, was composed
Of some great stars. and the pitcher OF
that formidable team was Charles Rad
bourne-then on the threshold Of his great
ness. / was manager of the team and
played shortstop In this particular coun-
try game. The contest too. place at Prai-
RE du Chen, Wis. and 1t was arranged
that the game should commence at o'clock
to enable us to catch a train that left that
town at 4:3O. This country team had a
captain named Hal Hawkins, who was the
great batter of Hooppole county, Wis. and
he taught school three miles away from
Prairie du Chen and could not be on hand
until 4:3o. They wanted us to defer the
game until that time. as the people claimed
II would be no game at all unless Hal
hawkins. the heavy hitter, was there. Prai-
RE du Chen is laid out on table land
ana the people showed us many places far
away to the outaeld where Hal hit the
oali into creeks and gulches. They claimed
one ball was hit so far that the fielder
considered 1t lost and never chased It,
Wei. the game started without HAL
although the villagers were very mad be-
cause we would not wait until the school
teacher arrived. They said gosh, good
nessp 'goodr 1t will be no game at ALL
and it is slanderousIy mean, slanderously
mean, on the part of Capt. Sullivan. Rad
bourne at that time with his grand ply
sique and command of all curves, drops,
shoots and raise, was always in his ele-
ment when he went against those country
citsos up In Iowa. The game had no more
than started when large crowd gath
cred behind the baekstop and 1t was no.
ticed that there were small crowds in DIFF
ferent parts of the bleachers whispering to
each other. After three or four of the
agriculturfsts came near breaking their
backs trying to hit RadbOurne's curves
and drops they became suspicious of the
kind of ball that was delivered to them.
They never saw a curve before, SO they at
once set up a howl and wanted to stop the
game, which they finally did and called
to me and stated that ms man was pitch
ing crooked ball and stated 1t was not fair
that they should be cheated in that way,
and said Mr.. Sullivan, 1 thought all your
men were gentlemen We nearly fell dead
on the Held with laughter and l had some
pretty good kidders at that on my club
namely, Lotus. Comiskey and Bill Glea-
son.
'.Finally the bail that Radbourne was
pitching was examined and also Rad
bourne's fingers, they thought he might
have something on them thai made the
ball look croOked--SO when the game was
resumed they put In a new ball of their
own The entire gathering now got be-
hind the backstop and catcher to see the
evolution of the crooked ball. as they
called it. The game finally ended by
score of As to 0 in favor of Dubuque.
las we We're picking up our bats to leave
for the train terrible shout was set up by
the crowd. They spied Hal Hawkins COM
ing down the road on horse who was
speeding like the wind and was decked
with foam. Sheridan never rode faster to
Winchester to save a defeat than did Hal
Hawkins, this country school teacher. to
reach Prairie du Chen, to save Iefeat for
his ball team. AS Hal entered the grounds
cheer upon cheer greeted him. After
lighting from his horse, he called out: Boys,
has the game begun Yes. Hal, and 1T
over, too. but they beat us by their pitcher
pitching crooked ball
Hal that Radbcurne should pitch some balls
to him before we left. This was agreed
to and Hal strobe up to -.1e plate with his
home made bat under his arm, that he had
brought on from the school house. The
Dubuque team was nearly convulsed with
laughter to see Hal go through all gyra-
tons in his attempt to hit RAIDS many de-
in his repertoire. but he finally pitched up
a slow drop which made Hal look sea sick.
He finally Iunged at it and came near fall
ing over on his head in his attempt to make
one long drive. The school teacher finally
turned around in disgust and told his team
and the crowd. Yes, boys, he pitches a
crooked ball, and the darn serpent comes
then for the train and the crowd was sat
isfied that although Hal was not there 1t
saw the man who could pitch crooked
ball"