Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27
FINDS ORIGINAL
N0-H|T PITCHER
Jimmy Calvin Performed the
Feat in Michigan Back
in 1876.

Base ball authorities are now scouting
around for the most ancient base ball.
and historians are. digging into musty
volumes to find who pitched the first no
hit game, writes Billy Weart in the Phila-
delphia Times According to an article
written by Elmer Bates of the Cleveland
Press last week. Jimmy Calvin. who
achieved much fame on the diamond as a
pitcher. was the first twirler to accomplish
this feat
Bates has dug up man who declared
that Calvin turned the trick in 1876 and
1t has been my good fortune to discover
that a Philadelphian played In the cele-
brated game. The player who helped Gal
vim establish the record because he didn't
poke out safe hit is Jack Bennett. who
Is now one Of the chief rCoters of the
Athletics.
A Royal Rooter.
Incidentally Jack is right there. too.
when it comes to pulling most royalty
for the Philles. Base ball is bred in his
bone. He scarcely missed a game here
all season, and even bunch of double
headers can't drive him away. He is
always one Of the first TO arrive at either
park. and he Is about the last to leave
verify believe that il they played three
games in one day Jack Bennett would
pe Oh OeCh OeioIe INC HiSl Dali WIS
pitched.
During tanning bee at Connie Mack's
office yesterday the subject OF no-hit
games came up. and the article written
by Elmer Bates was mentioned.
DO you know" said Bennett 81 PLAYED
In the game in which Calvin made his
record in 1876? The article was wrong
though, in referring to Silver Flint as
, having caught Calvin in that game. Pat
Doan did the catching for Calvin that
day. The game was played At Ionia,
/ Mich. Calvin pitching for the ST. Louis
/ Red Stockings against the Cass club Of
| Detroit. of which L was the shortstop-
There was weeks tournament at
| 1onia for $1,000 in prizes. OF which $1,000
was to so TO the winning team. Friday
! night the Cass team and the Red Stock
| inss were tied and we decided to play
| two games the next day.
| LAS matter of fact. we played three
games and the tourney ended in a tie.
| for each of US won a game and the third
| resulted in an even score. 1t was in the
| second game that afternoon that Calvin
made his no-hit record. the score being
| : to in favor OF the Red Stockings. Cal
| McSorley. who was Il shortstop and
change pitcher for st. Louis, twirled the
third.
Players In Game.
The tourney was played at the fair
| STOulluS, OH WHICH tIltlt "dS q IdlTIS
! good diamond, except at shortstop. There
was regular scoop at that point. and
| the shortstop either had to play in close
| to the pitcher else far out toward the
| left-fielder. L played close in and handled
| fourteen chances. for L got those that
| belonged to me az well those which
belonged ito the pitcher. In those days
we didn't wear gloves and they used
! lively balls. too.
| ''In addition to Calvin. McSorIey and
| Dolan. the st. Louis Red Stockings had
on the team Jack Gleason at third base
and Joe Blong in left field.
| Dell kurtZ was the CaSS teams pitcher
| in the famous game, and Sunny Hoff-
man caught. Charley Howard who was
a player much on the order OF Harry
Davis, and who is now cashier in bank
| at Detroit. was the Businessman. Dan
| O'Leary, who afterward brought out Flint
and Only Nolan, the famous pitcher, was
our risht-fieldcr
| The crowds that turned ont were cnor-
| NOUS for those days, six or seven thou
sand persons being present at each
| game
| Bennett. who for years after he left
| the diamond. was railroad man i'm the
| west. now makes his homo in rhila-