Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-26
ALL CAPITOL HILL
STOPPED WORK THEN
Widespread Interest in the
Game Between the ACtives
and the Junior Nationals.

The opening of the Departmental League
last Monday was witnessed by a large
crowd. and, as usual there was quite
gathering of "old boys" who used to gam
Dol around the lot in the '7O's and SOS.
You may pirate as much as you like,
said one about this mechanical. scientific
game of today. but me for those times
when the pets of the various wards strug-
gled for supremacy--and a bat"
Those near about thought the old fellow
was through then. for he filled a grand
stand seat on the damp grass and appeared
to get interested in the work of the Mail
Singers. But the spirit of &c was In him
and he was not to be quiet long. why, in
the palmy days of 1870, when Washington
was wrapped up in the major league work
of the Nationals. Olympics. Jeffersons and
Unions, there was another fight going on
that. while to a great degree overshadowed
by the classier teams. was one of the hot
test ones the town has ever known.
Some of these teams were the Creigh-
tons Junior Nationals. Actives. Rosedales,
Atlantics. Eagles and the Chesapeakes
Now each one of these represented GER
tain section of the city. and there was in
consequence even greater factional feel
ing than was felt between the larger or
ganiZations whose adherents were scattered
throughout the whole town. irrespective OF
section.
The trophies in those days were a set of
bats and a new ball. At the beginning of
| the contest each team would present the
umpire with a new ball-one to be used In
the game and the other to be held by the
umpire kept span and clean, % be given
over to the winner. What? Sure, they
| never used more than one ball In a game
One was all that was necessary. Tor TINS
White Lot is too big and extensive to let
one get lost-for, If such happened. both
teams would stop the game and scour the
high grass until it was recovered.
There was always something doing, and
l will never forget that great game-to US
at the time, anyway--in which the Junior
Nationals and the Actives played for the
amateur championship away pack IN 1893.
This game attracted the largest crowd on
record for such an affair up to that time,
and the whole town was watching the re.
suit The Actives all hailed from Capitol
HILL and were ball players of the top-notch
order They were all boys of the best fam
| lilies of that section, and the majority or
! them are alive today and taking an active
interest in the game
"Of course with such team representing
the Hill it was no wonder that business and
social affairs were suspended in that sub
urban place. as 1t was called them and the
whole ward turned out. The Junior Ma
tionals were the cocks of the walk in their
vicinity too, as their practice work with
the famed senior outfit seemed to give them
an advantage.
/
Capitol Hill boys put up the fastest exhibit
ton of bal that you ever saw. 1t looked
like sure defeat for them even up to the
last inning. but they came back strong
and with Gee Oyster. Walsh. Miller, Kane,
McGee and Higgings driving the ball out
of the lot in succession. They needed every
run of this corking last-inning rally. for
they barely nosed out the Juniors by
score of rs to %.
walsh, who did the pitching for the
Actives, was en- elongated youngster who
could shoot them over in as good a fashion
as Billy Williams. and l tell you that boys
work that day caused all the older heads
present to sit up and pay attention. So
much so that he was induced to make his
debut with the Seniors soon after this.
Kane behind the bat and Oyster at short
were two more of their particular fielding
stars, while the whole team to man was
there with the willow.
The followers of the Active team were
so eated over their well-won victory that
they formed long line and marched all
the way home to old Capitol HILL, as 1t
was always termed in those days. Once
within their limits there was royal time,
the small boyos getting in their work after
nightfall with huge bonfires.
mo admission fee was charged to wit
ness the game that day and the rough ele-
ment once or twice came very near put
ting the game on the shelf. The Second
Ward Hog Riders were most anxious to
show the Tear Cats of Capitol Hill their
mettle; but the ball players and the mem.
bers of the Senior Nationals who were
present acted as volunteer policemen and
handled the base ball bats quite as eff
fectvely as your old 'Grass-hopper' does
his baton.
'The glory was all for Capitol Hill that
night. for they took home with them Inc
title of Junior Champions.
NJ fba follows: