The San Francisco call., 1908-07-19

This is the result Of a hotly con-
tested game Of baseball played on
the last Saturday in June in the
jutemill yard at San Quentin pri-
son. Despite the number of runs made
by both teams. the game was an ex-
ceptionalIy good one and. during five
innings at least, the outcome Of the
contest was far from certain. Indeed.
II was the most interesting game we
had seen in 10 these many months
There is no doubt about it-they play
big league ball over at San Quentin.
The jutemim yard is not precisely an
ideal baseball field. There is no center
field. and only about three yards of
right field. and the left garden
is brought TO an abrupt close by
one of those frowntng stone walls
which constitute so large a part of
the architectural splendors Of the prison
grounds. But the players in the IS.
O. League" don't balk at minor diff
culties. They have accepted the limi-
tations Of their diamond and have in
corporated certain specific rules to
meet the exigencies Of the case. If
YOU knock the ball over the wall be-
tween first and second you may take
one base, carve the ether over the
center helder's head and you have
knocked a two bagger, send the
leathern sphere hurtling over the low
er wall and you have made home
run. These simple rules prove quite
as satisfactory as the rules we used
to make everNso long ago when we were
wont to play the great American game
IN the vacant lot next to Bilrs house.
II was hot-very hot-in the jute-
mill yard when the great game started
that Saturday afternoon. All along
the base OF the encircling walls the
men in black and white stripes stood
and sat, chatting quietly and rolling
cigarettes or putting at pipes Of va
rious ages. makes and previous condi-
ton OF servitude. A faint rumble
came from within the mill where some
score or two OF prisoners had not I'm
ished the required daily task Of
turning out 100 yards on the looms, and
from the shed in the lower end Of the
yard came the sounds OF clippings and
splashings where g dozen or so of the
men were enjoying the luxury of the
cold shower. A burly negro was
standing at the home plate knocking
out files to handful OF fellow con-
victs who felt the necessity Of a little
practice. Altogether. It was not un-
like the prelude to any baseball game.
save that the uniforms of the players
were somewhat unusual and that there
were no merry widow hats in the
grandstand.
Play ballp
A tall. square shouldered, clean cut
convict strode out to his place behind
the pitchers box, indicator in hand,
and the san Franciscos took the field.
They were a mixed lot. ranging in ages
from IS TO IS. and apparently having
little in common but the monotonous
black and white stripes. that ran down
their trousers and across their shirts.
The pitcher and catcher discarded their
overshirts and appeared in. neat, well
AlllnS WAlle OAoStsh4l lS-1AS HSet See
approach to the baseball blouse to be
seen on the grounds. The spectators
lapsed into silence as the San Francis
co pitcher spat upon the ball after the
approved fashion and rolled it in the
dust A burly Iaegro-the' heavy hit
ter OF the Coltred Giants-came to
bat and the gs1le was on.
A graceful, vel built, pleasant look
ing boy was that San Francisco pitcher.
His eyes were quick and bright-al
most ingenuous--and he smiled with