Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-06
GREATEST HIT IN
A BASE BALL GAME
New Workers Believe Mike
Tiernan's Drive the
''Best Ever"
The greatest hit In base ball."

1.-The greatest hit in base ball"
How often is the expression heard. Ere
quenty, following a mighty smash that
proves the turning point in holly con-
tested game, some one gives vent to the
words: 1T was the greatest hit in base
ball"
They said 1t about Robe two years ago
when his three-bagger broke up the Sox-
Cub game. 1t has been said of Arson
Lajoie, Brouthers. Kee.er Stone, Bill
LANCE Wagner and host of other dia-
mond Iuminaries and probably will be
said as often in the future as it has been
in the past.
All of which brings up the question,
What was the greatest hit in base ball
and who made it?
However, it may be said without fear
of contradiction that one of the greatest
hits in the games history was made by
Mike Tiernan, right fielder Of the old New
York National League team-the team
that earned the title of Giants" which
Johnny McGraw's outfit inherited. Thou
sands believe the hit is without peer,
everything considered.
And it was great Not because it was
the longest hit ever made, but because it
came at the end of a long-drawn-out bat
tie of which the pitchers were in con-
troll: at the psychological moment when
every spectator was nerved to the highest
tension; and it won the game.
Back in 1890.
1t was Monday, May Il, 1880. that Tier
nan made history. The Giants and Boston
were playing at the old Polo Grounds
and Amos Rusie and Nichols were pitch
ing.
Both were in splendid form and had
their opponents at their mercy.
For nine innings the spectators sat spell
bound by the playing. The work of the
pitchers and Long time and again called
for cheers and not until the extra innings
commenced did the fans pay attention to
any one else Then every play called for
applause and shouts.
Throughout the thirteen innings required
by the Giants to win, Rusie was put in
holes by errors. Upon twelve occasions
it was necessary to strike out men to
prevent run. and every time he was able
to turn the trick.
Nichols struck out eleven men, but his
work did not shine SO brilliantly because
the strikeOuts did not come in moments
of greatest suspense.
Lots of Goose Eggs.
When Boston was retired in the thir-
teenth, twenty-five goose eggs We're chalk
ed upon the score board. The first Giant
to face Nichols was retired and then
Herman walked to the plate.
The first ball pitched was fOuled into
the grandstand and Umpire Powers rip
ped new one from it's box. AS the ball
rolled to Nichols, the old one was return
ed from the stand and picking it up, the
pitcher asked: This one is all right, ism t
:t?''
NO The new ball was in play first"
Powers responded. "Oh, all right re-
piled Nichols, rubbing the horsehide into
the dirt.
The new ball never reached the catcher
1t never crossed the plate. Shoulder high.
it sped like a bullet to Herman, whose
bat met it with solid whack that told
the story Of strength applied. and the
ball started toward the fence.
Brodie in center and ShellhesSe in right
started with the crack of the bat. The
ball was but thirty-five or forty feet in
the air, and 1t appeared that either out
fielder might get it. But the wallop was
ball travelled like projectle from big
gun.
Outfielders Sprint.
On went the ball beyond the sprint
ing fielders; on beyond the embankment;
on beyond the fence on top of the en-
bankment and on beyond the line of
vision of the fans.
The scene as Herman trotted around the
bases has been witnessed on every
diamond in the land. To ATTEMPT to de-
scribe IL would be folly. The, exact dis
lance travelled by the ball can be measur-
ed today. for the Flagstaff was erected
upon the spot where 1t fel-but they had
TO push back the center field fence to in
cIude the site.