The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-29
HIT WITH POP BOTTLE.
William Hoffer, Oklahoma Player,
Hurt After Game.

William Hoffer, the Oklahoma City
pitcher and acting manager of the
Nets, was injured at the local base
ball park Friday afternoon, after the
| second game of the double header had
been forfeited to the Topeka team be-
cause the Nets were playing horse.
The injury was caused by some one in
the grandstand who tossed pop bot
tie out on the diamond. just as the
| CROWDS We're leaving the park.
The bottle struck the top of the Okla
homa City bench and was detected
| from this place to Hoffer, who was
bending over picking up the bats and
getting ready to leave. Hoffer was MT
! about an inch above the right temple.
For a moment he stood still and then
reaching for his head rubbed 1t an IN
slant and then fell to the ground A
big crowd gathered round the veteran
| twirler while a corps of doctors made
| an investigation
Hoffer was not seriously hurt. Many
| believe the fainting was feigned as he
| did not fall Immediately and in many
| other ways did not act like man VINO
was seriously hurt.
He was taken to the Throop hotel
| with the other members of the Okla
| lahoma City team in the big tally-ho
and was pronounced but slightly in
/ jured.
The tossing of the bottle was un-
| doubtedly an act of carelessness rath-
er than malicious. No one saw where
| the bottle came from and although the
| gates. were closed so that no one could
| escape the guilty person was not APP
pretended. Dick Cooley does not think
| the act a wilful one but he would like
| to see the offender made an object
| lesson, as pop bottle throwing is not
| tolerated at the local park. He has
| authorized the State Journal to an
! a a-1 IF fnr a
| apprehension of the guilty person.
| In the opinion of DR. A. Jeffrey, the
| physician who attended Pitcher viii
| Hoffer of the Oklahoma City team
when he was struck by a pop bottle at
| Fridays game, Hoffer is not seriously
| injured and is able to play today
should he choose to do so. THE bottle
| could not have been more than tossed"
said DR.. Jeffrey today, las it left
mere scratch or abrasion on the scalp.
such as one would receive should the
knee be scratched by falling over a
| cinder. 1 rode in from the game with
the team and made a careful examina-
ton of Mr.. Hoffer and could find moth
ing serious in his condition. The
| weight of the bottle was probably
enough to cause a slight headache, but
| beyond that the injury could not be
serious. 1 gave the other Oklahoma
City players my name and also notified
Mr.. CargiTl of the Throop hotel, where
the players are SIOppiHS, 10 call Hl0 IL
necessary. AS I have not been called,
1 think he must be all right"
| Hoffer retired early last night and
went to sleep Immediately. He com
planned but little after supper. How
ever, he did not arise with the other
players this morning.
DR.. Jeffrey's statement is corrobor-
ated by Dr. L. H. Mum and DR.. F. j.
Ernest. who attended Hoffer at the ball
park when he was injured. Several
! eyewitnesses agree in the story that
the bottle was not thrown at Hoffer
and that it was merely glancing
l blow that struck Hoffera
| Hoffer, the pitcher who was injured,
is one of the noted characters in base
ball history Fifteen Years ago his
! name was almost a household word
and he was considered the wonder of
the age. He topped all the stars of the
skdecade of the COS including the great
Breitenstein, Rusie and a host of 9TH
ers. He was a member of the old Bal
timore Orioles, that won the pennant
three consecutive years in the National
league, and HOffer's pitching played no
small part in winning the three.
+. Many of the Oklahoma City players
assert that Hoffer's injury is serious as
he was hurt on the head three or four
years ago by a pitched ball, which
caused his retirement for two seasons
Hoffer's home is in Cedar Rapids, Ia
He has a wife and family at that place
and owns considerable property.