The Washington times., 1907-08-12
FOR HELP,
CAUGHT THE BALL
The Rev. Billy Sunday Re-
IateS Interesting
Experience.

ELDORA. Iowa. Aug. l2--Rev. WI
liam A. Sunday. known for many years
as Billy Sunday. one of the stars of
the Chicago team, who has made
a wonderful record as an evangel-
ist and who has recently unpired base
ball games at Winona Lake. Ind, and
Clear Lake. Iowa, Chautauqua. has re-
Gently given an interesting baseball ser
mon, and, In fact, calls It his baseball
sermon. He thus describes his first
afternoon on the diamond after his con-
version:
That afternoon we were TO play the
Detroit club. The race was close and
there was much rivalry. The crowd was
immense and the game was a marvel.
We had reached the first half of the
ninth inning. The score stood to 3 in
favor of Chicago. Detroit was at bat
with two men on bases and two men
out.
Bennett Great Batter.
John Clarkson. then as 1 firmly be-
heve the best pitcher in the country,
was in the box for Chicago, and Kelly
was behind the bat Charley Bennett,
the best batter for Detroit, was at the
plate, and he had three balls and two
strikes. Fate hung on the next ball
pitched / knew Benefits weakness
and mis- strength. I knew he couldn't hit
a high ball (I don't mean a Scotch high
BALD. but he could kill n low one. so l
yelled TO Clarlson as / squared myself
in the left field: You know him; high
and In
"Clarkson dug his toe into the earth,
swayed backward until his hands, clasp
ing the ball. almost touched the ground
In his famous delivery, and then, Ike
a bent hickory sappling suddenly re-
leased. he whipped forward and sent the
ball kissing toward the plate. He had
grasped his sphere in the proper posi-
ton for the high inshoot. but in some
manner the grip failed him. As the ball
sped from his hand II took a dive and
started to split the pan just at Kelly's
knees.
Into the Crowd.
"I heard a sharn crack. 1t was a
familiar sound to me. 1t was made by
stick Of ash striking a league ball
sGuarely on the nose. 1 glanced into the
afr and saw the black sphere sailing
away over C1arkson's head. 1t came for
right field. and / knew in an instant
that II was up to me 70 save that game.
Quickly Judging the flight of the ball. 1
| turned and ran. keeping the ball in the
tail of my eye over my shoulder. The
crowd of 1900 spectators were still as
| death. They had stopped over into the
field from the bleachers, and barred my
way.
"'Clear the track. get out of my
wayp l yelled. and the crowd sepa-
rated like the Red sea before the hosts
Of Israel. On I we-:t. and on the ball
came. saw that II was going beyond
the field; I judged that II would light
in the bleachers. Up the seats l ran.
people tumbling 10 right and left to
clear a way for me. Five steps up
paused. The ball was upon me.
Prayer Was Answered.
Leaning far over, stretched upward.
and then uttered my first involuntary
| prayer. 20, Lord prayed. II You will
help me catch that ball I'll be ever so
/ thankful to You.
"Spat! went the ball as 1t hit in my
| hand-and stuck. You ought to have
| heard that crowd yell.
| 'Al Johnson, a brother Of Tom John
son. rushed 70 me and said: Here Is a
ten for you, Billy, and tomorrow Will
/ buy You the best suit of clothes in Chi
! cago,' and he paid $50 for that suit !