The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-08-13
Great Game Ends In Row.
Norfolk's Standing.
Played Won. Lost. Pct.
IA 8 3 .642

The prettiest game of baseball ever
played in Norfolk ended in a row in
the seventh inning Friday afternoon
and 1000 fans, who had enjoyed
seven innings of fast sport without "A
score being made, left the diamond
with bad taste in their mouths.
Gregory and Norfolk were playing
the classiest game of ball ever wit
messed in the city when the storm
came up, following a decision of the
umpire to which Gregory objected.
The Gregory team left the field, refus-
ing to continue the game with Howe
as umpire, even though the objection
able decision was changed to suit the
visitors, and Umpire Howe forfeited
the game to Norfolk, under the rules,
with a score of 9 to 0.
Seven snappy innings of rapid ball
had seen no man cross the home plate
and interest was at white heat The
intensity of the situation was in
creased by the fact that bets estimated
at at least $500 hung on the result of
the battle. And it was the fact that
money was pinned to the result, which
made a peaceful settlement of the dis.
Iturbance between the two teams impos-
s,ble.
Row Came at Dramatic Moment.
The row came at a dramatic mo-
ment. 1t was in the seventh inning,
with the game drawing to a close.
And apparently Norfolk had just be-
gun to find kirkland, the visitors
| ut f,r I,1
Two Norfolk men were on bases-one
on first and another on second--with
only one man out So Norfolk hackers
were getting excited over the pros
pect of scoring.
Haak was on second and Anderson
on first. One man was out. Memo, at
bat, drove a grounder between third
base and short stop.
Third Baseman Graham fielded the
ball. The two Norfolk base-runners
, started down the lines-one toward
, third and the other toward second.
The batter lit out toward first.
The Pivotal Decision.
Third Baseman Graham, Selling the
| ball, made a pass at Base-runner Haak
who was heading for third. Graham
was not on the base and apparently
did not touch the runner. Haak
r swerved out of direct line. The
, umpire called him safe. The Gregory
> management took exception to the
decision, claiming that Haak swerved
out of line more than the allotted
three feet
=, At this moment Gregory hackers,
. most of whom had money staked on
the game, swarmed into the field.
] Norfolk hackers followed and in an
instant the diamond was alive with a
t mob of humanity each Individual
shouting out and arms waving.
The umpire chung to his decision.
Gregory fans insisted he was wrong.
= Many of the disinterested spectators
from outside towns said the umpire
} was wrong and that Haak should have
} been called out.
Norfolk Comedies the Point.
Rather than allow the game to end
) in this unsatisfactory manner Norfolk
I offered to concede the point and to
call Haak out. 1t looked for mo-
ment like the game would be re-
. sumed.
Gregory Balks on the Umpire.
, But Gregory baked on the umpire.
They refused to continue with Howe
presiding over the game. Howe is a
. Norfolk man. Gregory demanded that
y Segrist of Dallas be put in as UNI
, pire. Segrist is said to be a fair UNI
/. pire, but he was betting 500 that
=. Gregory would win, it was claimed,
, and people betting on the Norfolk
> team were unwilling to allow man to
$ umpire who might as they contended,
be thus prejudiced by personal in
|. terest.
) There was no other available UNI
S pire and neither team would consent
e to the others demand on this point.
e So the game ended and Umpire Howe
e forfeited the game to Norfolk, to o.
e Umpire Howe says that, according
n to rules laid down by sporting au-
!. thorities, the bets stand good and that
money staked ON Norfolk is the win
d ner.
D There was a sentiment among the
Norfolk players to go ahead and play
D the game out, with Segrist as umpire.
5 There was a sentiment among most
of the Gregory team to go ahead and
play the game out with Howe as UNI
pire Both men were regarded as
honest and fair umpires.
Not Players, But 5etters Stopped It,
: 1t was not the players but the bet
tiers who stopped the game. The play
ers would have been content to be
true sportsmen in any event. But
!. those having money on the game were
3 unwilling to concede an inch.
9 Norfolk people very lnucn regret the
. unsatisfactory ending not only because
9 of the game itself but likewise be-
q cause of the cordial relations that
exist between Gregory and Norfolk.
: Statements BY Officials.
J. The following statement was issued
= by Umpire Howe:
u Norfolk, Aug. editor News:
= Graham fielded the ball outside the