Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-28
RICHMOND CAME
TO ITS WATERLOO
Exhibition of Terrific Batting
Given by the Famous Old Ma
tionaIS in September, 1867.

The great trip Of the National Base Bali
club In 1861 not only signalized the begin
ming of base ball contests between the east
and the west hut il led up to the Inaugural
ton Of base ball as a sport in the southern
cities. Richmond. Va. just emerging from
tho great struggle that had waged 30 fierce
Il, around its confines. and which ended in
its clpitulatiOu. formed team and called
ii the Pastlmes. The majority of the players
wcr, young men who had just returned
from college. where the game was played
with some success. the University of Nir-
eiuil and Georgetown furnishing two-thirds
Of the players.
The team had defeated everything in Vir-
ginia and North Carolina when II came here
fresh with the laurc,s of Championship of
Virginia." having won that title from the
old Dominions three days before the game
they had arranged to play with the Nation
ais They were Chesty enough 10 suppose
that they would trail the fair banner or
the Nationals in the dust.
Though II was hard ,mcs." money was
scarce. and railroading was expensive.
considerable number Of sporty Nirginians
from Richmond and Fredericksburg jour.
ncyrd up here to see the game. some OF
them bringing huge rolls of shin plasters'
To- show their faith in their Wanted cham
pions.
Southern Pluck Praised.
The game was played September II. 1867.
on the White Lot grounds of the Nationals.
and the Richmond boys found themselves
surrounded by thousands of persons who
To say the least, were not friendly. 1t will
h. recalled by old residents that at this time
"a large force of federal troops was still
quartcred on the White Lot. that part where
the Presidents stable now stands being
occupied by barracks. The soldiers were.
Of course. interested spectators of the con-
test, and still chung to the animosities en-
Seudered by the war. But so pluckHy DID the
youngsters from Richmond stand up under
the terrific beating that ,ne Nationals gave
them. playing with determination and fire
even until the last man was declared out,
that every one. even the old soldiers, forgot
their preiudiCes. and their applause and
wells for the southerners were the features
of thu contest.
As game of base ball it was most note
worthy from the fact that every fly BALI
was caught and both catchers attended to
every foul bound that went behind the
bat. B~Tthr0nE at one time running nearly
one hundred feet and accurately judging
tout bound to the amazem"nt of all.
Eleven Home Runs.
In the third inning the Nationals made
twrnty-three runs. Fox. Wright, Studlcy
aud Bcrthrong each making two home runs.
while Hodges Fletcher and Parker got one
apiece. OF eleven home runs in all. one of
Fnx's long drives rolled out of the lot and
down to the canal before it was overtakeu
by Campbell.
In the next inning the Pastimes achieved
its best play o. the game, when ii
succeeded In banking the Nationals in three |
iiu,. plays. BcrthrongS 'lightnnEer' being |
taken on the fly by Edwards; Fox long low |
drive To left field being caught by Campbell |
after Il long sprint for II. and Hodges |
h"uuder down between first and second be !
ing admirably stopped and passed to Bah !
cock at first This series of expert plays |
pleased every one. the soldiers giving the |
southern boys unstiuted cheers for their |
exhibition.
The batting of the Nationals in this con- |
test WAS terrific. and all told they made |
sonnet hing like one hundred singles for d |
grand total of one hundred and forty -twO |
bases. 1t is doubtful if a similar feat of |
batting has ever been accomplished in a !
game. and II is strange that the only ex- |
hausted participants of the contest were the |
two scorers and the umpire. The game be- |
gan at pm. and was not finished until |
&C.. The score.