Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-27
NEWSPAPER MAN OUTD0ES
AUTHOR OF "CASEY AT BAT"
In 1.-THE Volunteer" Writer Graphically
Shows How 6ugviIle Ball Team
Wins Apparently Lost
Game

Slivers, he of the one-man baseball
fame now appearing at the Orpheum,
carries around a sequel to Casey at
the Bat" called 1.-THE Volunteer" 1t
was written by c. P. Mcdonald, a
newspaper man. and dedicated to the
silent clown. 1t follows:
The Bugville team was surely up against a
rocky game;
The chances were they'd win defeat and
undying fame;
Three men were hurt and two were benched
the score stood six to four.
They had to make three hard earned runs In
tust two innings more.
1T can't be DONE" the captain said. pallor
his face;
i've got two pitchers in the held a mutt
on second base;
And should another man get spiked or Grip
pied in some way,
The team would sure be down and out with
eight men left to play
We're up against it anyhow as far as I
can see;
My boys amt hitting like they should, and
that's what worries me.
The luck is with the other side, no pennant
will win
It's mighty tough, but we must take our
medicine and grin
The eighth round opened; one two, three
the enemy went down;
The Bugvile boys went out the same, the
captain wore a frown;
The first half of the ninth came round, two
men had been put out,
When Bugvie's catcher broke a thumb and
could not go the route.
A deathly silence settled Ger the crowd as
sembled there,
Defeat would be allotted them; they felt it
in the air;
with only eight men in the field 'twouId be
a grewsome fray
Small wonder that the captain cursed the
day he learned to play.
| Lend me a man to finish WITH" he begged
the other team;
LEND you mani" the foe replied: my
boy, you're in dream!
We want TO win the pennant, too-tbats
what we're doing here;
There's only thing you can do-call for
volunteer"
The captain stood and poundered in list
less sort Of way;
He never was a gutter and he would not be
today
rs there within the grandstand here" his
voice rang loud and clear.
a man who has the sporting blood to be a
volunteer"
Again that awful silence settled Ger the
multitude;
Was there a man among them with such
recklessness imbued?
The captain stood with cap in hand, while
hopeless was his glance;
And then a short and stocky man cried out,
I'm take a chance!
Into the field he bounded with step both
firm and light,
"Gve me the mask and mitt," he said; Tets
finish up the fight!
| The game is now beyond recall; I'll last at
least a round;
Although Pm ancient you will find me mus
cular and sound"
His hair was sprlnkled here and there with
little streaks Of gray;
Around his eyes and on his brow bunch Of
wrinkles lay.
The captain smiled desparngly, and slowly
turned away.
why, he's all rightw one rooter yelled. An
other, Let him play"
"An right, go on" the captain sighed, the
stranger turned around
Took off his coat and collar, too, and threw
them the ground
/ The humor of the situation seemed to hit
them all,
And as he donned the mask and mtt, the
umpire called, Play ballw
Three balls the pitcher at him hurled. three
balls Of lightning speed;
The stranger caught them all with ease and
did not seem to heed,
/ Each ball had been pronounced a strike, the
side had been put out,
/ And as he walked in toward the bench he
heard the rooters shout.
One Bugville boy went out on strikes and
one was killed at first
/ The captain saw them fail to hit and
CRASHED his teeth and cursedl
/ The third man smashed a double and the
fourth swatted clear
Then in a thunder of applause, up came the
! volunteer.
His feet were planted in the earth. he swung
warike club
! The captain saw his awkward pose and
softly whispered Dub"
The pitcher looked at him and grinned ther
heaved a mighty ball,
The echo Of that fearful swat still lingerl
with US all!