The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-09-01
STORY Of 4
FAMOUS CATCH
How the Rev. Billy Sunday
Saved a Memorable Game
for the Chicago Team.

Rev. William 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
evangelist and who has recently UNI
pired baseball games at Winona Lake,
Indiana. and Clear Lake, Iowa, Chau
tauuuas, says an EndOra CIowa) cor
respondent, has recently given an IN
teresting baseball sermon, and n fact
calls it his baseball sermon He thus
describes his first afternoon on the d1a-
mond after his conversion:
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 2 to ; in favor of Chicago. De-
troit was at the bat with two men on
bases and two men out. John Clark
son. then as l firmly believe 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.
Il knew Benefits weakness and his
strength / knew he couldn't hit
high ball q don't mean a Scotch high
BALD, hut he could Kill a low one, SO
| yelled to Garrison as l squared my
self in the left field. You know him;
high and in
"ClarksOn dug his toe into the earth,
swayed backward until his hands
clasping the ball almost touched the
ground in his famous delivery, and
then. like bent hickory sapling, sud
denly released, he whipped forward
and sent the ball kissing toward the
plate He had grasped his sphere in
the proper position Il
shoot. but in some manner the grip
failed him AS the ball sped from his
hand it took a dive and started to split
the pan just at Kelly's knees | heard
sharp crack. 1t was a familiar
sound to me. It was made by stick
of ash striking a league ball squarely
on the nose.
Il glanced into the air and saw the
black sphere sailing away over Clark
sons head. 1t came for right field, anC
l knew that it was up to me to save
that game. Quickly Judging the flight
Of the ball, I turned and ran, keeping
the ball in the tail OF my eye over my
shoulder. The crowd of 1900 specta-
tors were still as death. They had
stopped over into the field from the
bleachers and barred my way. Clear
the track and get out of my way
yelled, and the crowd separated like
the Red Sea before the hosts of Israel
On | went and on the ball came
saw that it was going beyond the field;
l Judged that it would light in the
bleachers. UP the seats / ran, people
tumbling to right and left to clear a
way for me. Five steps up ! paused.
The ball was upon me- Leaning far
over l stretched upward and then ut
tered my first involuntary prayer: o,
Lord I prayed, If you will help me
catch that ball I'll be ever so thankful
10 you
"Spat went the ball as it hit my
hand-and stuck. You ought to have
heard that crowd yell.
"Al Johnson, a brother of Tom John
son, rushed to me and said: Here is
a ten for you. Billy, and tomorrow l
will buy you the best suit OF clothes in
Chicago and he paid SIS for that suit.
believe God helped me catch that
ball"