Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-05
GREAT FEELING
IN THESE CONTESTS
When the Jeffersons and the
Unions BattIed for Suprem-
acy on the White Lot.

You don t want to overlook in your recOl-
lections of those golden years of base
ball the lively contests between those old
| time rivals, Jeffersons and Unions. for their
games form an important part of the his
tory Of the old White Lot" said man
famous not only as great batsman in his
time, but as a prominent soldier in two
wars, as he sat and kept tab on Joe Can
tiilon's pets and Connie Mack's hustlers
the other day at National League Park.
The speaker was formerly, one of the play
ers ON the Union team. The rivalry between
the clubs playing on the White Lot in 1867
and 1868 was keen and fierce. but between
no two teams was this feeling so developed
and so bitter as between the Jeffersons
and the Unions. Just why this special
hostility existed no one knew, but-these
two never met without great display of
feeling on the part df spectators and
players.
It was limited that the real cause of the
enmity lay in the fact that many Of the
| members Of the Jefferson outfit chung to the
feelings of the south, while the Unions were
all former Union soldiers with well-gained
knowledge of the war just over. But no
matter what the cause was the hostility
existed. And the games attracted even
more attention than their more finished
neighbore, the Nationals and the Olympics.
There was, too, more of display Of the
| gambling instinct, as Rum Row" always
turned out IN FORCE Wnen L0oSe TWO were
scheduled to meet.
The two teams played on adjoining parts
Of the lot, with but hundred yards or so
separating them, and it was considered an
ited' to play on the others field. In ar
ranging for their meeting, the challenges
that passed and were accepted usually
stipulated that the winner should be de-,
tests, the first two alternating on the
diamonds and the third, in case each won
game, was to be played on the field of the
team winning the tess. In 1867, when the
final series came OFF in<the fall, each team
won a game and the toss was won by the
Unions, whereupon the Jeffersons demand
ed odds, as the selection of the grounds
was considered a most important factor.
mines Of nearly forty years ago 1t is quite
remarkable to find that almost seven
eighths Of them still prominent in
Washington, with an active interest in the
game as 1t = Played today.
This deciding contest took place Friday,
October IL, rather late, 1t is true, but the
weather in October and September is much
more adapted to base ball than the raw,
damp, cold days of April. 1t was q con-
test noted for its extremely brilliant plays,
while the batting, too surpassed anything
seen on the White Lot for a long time.
All the other local mines were there and
every play was closely followed by the
throng. The Unions were short the serv-
ices Of Mr. Bustemante, the Mexican, who
had made quite a name for himself as
pitcher while a student at Georgetown,
as he was said to be detained in Jug" at
the college on the hill. His place was
filled by the noted exponent of athletics,
Johnny Alden, it being his first appearance
as twirler.
The Unions started off like winners. their
batsmen having no trouble in sending An
derson's slow balls to every part of the lot;
but in the fourth inning the Jeffersons
opened up q cannonading on Aldens swift
delivery, chased fourteen runs over the
plate, which was enough to- give them q
commanding lead on the game from then
on.
The feature of the contest was UrelPs
playing at second base for the Unions.
Incidentally 1t might be remembered that
this Is Col NJ e. Urell of the District
Militia. His pick-ups and catches were
remarkable, while his batting and sprint
ing around the bases were equal to that
of the best player In the city. His best
stunt was a one-hand catch of line drive
off Joyce's bat. and every one. friend and
foe alike, gave him the biggest send-off of
the day.
Tom Quantrell and Dick Sylvester also
played well for the Unions. while Fatty"
Joyce, Yeatman, Finney, Stone and Shields
were the notables for the winners. After
the game the friends and followers of
Jefferson formed in line and escorted their
team back to the club house, cheering and
yelling all the time like tribe of Sagawah
Indians.