Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-18
SUNDAYS FAMOUS CATCH.
Thrilling Baseball Story, In Which
Prayer Figured, Told by Evangelist.

Prayer Figured, Told by Evangelist.
One of the features of Evangelist
Sundays sermon to men only at the
tabernacle Sunday afternoon was the
story Of the critical moment in a base
ball game between the old Chicago
White Stockings and the Detroit club,
twenty-five years ago last summer. II
was a game in which Sunday starred,
and his recital of it and his impersona-
ton of the players was bit of real
dramatic art.
Sunday still contends that 1t was the
Lord who helped him pull off the play
that won the game for Chicago.
Had Just Been Converted.
Sunday had just been converted end
had Joined the church, and the first
time he went to the ball park after this
afraid lest his teammates would make,
sport Of him. None of them did, how
ever, and number of them, including
"Cap" Arson, grasped his hand and
congratulated him.
It was on the afternoon Of the day
on which his baseball friends: knew Of
his conversion that the game was play
ed. The story Of the game is as fol-
lows in Sundays words.
II was playing right field and John
Clarkson was pitching. Clarkson is
in the insane asylm now, put there by
cigarets. My but he was a pitcher. He
had the fastest ball ] ever saw. The
White Stockings and the Detroit club
were running neck and neck for the
pennant. We had Detroit beat 8 to at
the last half Of the ninth inning. De-
troit was at bat, with two men out, and
a man on second and one on third.
Bennett, the old catcher for Detroit,
was at bat. Clarkson had three balls
and strikes on him. Bennett could not
hit a high ball, but how he could
murder the low ones.
II yelled to John Clarkson, Keep 'em
up John and we have got EN- You
know every pitcher digs a hole in the
ground where he puts his foot when he
is pitching. When there was no chance
for base to be stolen, in delivering
the ball John used to bend away back
and almost touch the ground with his
hands. He went clear down this time,
and as he went to throw the ball mis-
right foot slipped, and the ball went
low instead Of high.
Il saw Bennett swing hard and
heard the bat hit the ball with terrific
force. saw the ball sailing to right
center and knew it was going over my
head. could judge within ten feet OF
where the ball would light by the crack
of the bat. turned and ran as never
ran before, and as ran prayed. &c
ever helped mortal man, help me to ge,
~ 1.Nl~~ Sayp
st glanced over my shoulder and saw
that the ball was going into the edge
of the crowd. yelled Get out of the
way and that crowd opened and Xix,
| the Red Sea when Moses parted 1t.
thought I was close enough to catch
| 1t. looked back and saw it going ovel
my head, I jumped, showed my lef
hand back of me as far as could
stretch it, and the ball struck in 1t ant
stuck At the rate was going the
momentum carried me under the fee
of a team Of horses, but hung on Il
the ball and arose with 1t in my hand
CUP came John Hill and Tom John.
son. Tom until recently was mayor O.
Cleveland, o. He said. Here is SO Bill
buy you the best hat in Chicago. Tha
catch won me $1,000. Tomorrow go buy
yourself the best suit of clothes 70,
can find in Chicago. did and 1t cos
$50. I believe God helped me to catcl
that ball"
incidentally, altho Mr.. Sunday di'
not mention it in his sermon, there wa
a person in the grandstand, watching
that game. who was as much interest
ed in Sunday making his great catcl
as the player himself. This person wa
a young woman. Helen A. Thompson
who now answers Mamma" to Sun
4 days children. Miss Thompson an
Mr.. Sunday were engaged to be mar
Iried at that time. and there was n
more enthusiastic fan than the gil
who watched her sweetheart make tn
catch that won q pennant.