Norwich bulletin., 1910-08-26
LUCKY SEVENTH.
Pop Anson Explains Origin of the Well
 Known Cry.
Everybody up!" All stretch" The lucky seventh"

Everybody up."
 "All stretch
 The lucky seventh"
 This is when we win" Every baseball fan in the country knows what those remarks mean For years the seventh inning of a baseball game has been known as the lucky seventh, and all sorts of mascotic influences are fondly imagined to be focused right in that particular period The home club Is supposed to be the one upon whom the smiles of Dame Fortune fall, but it makes no differ enca If the home team is shut out in that inning and the visiting players ciout the ball for keeps, it is still the same old lucky seventh the next day.
 In New York at both Polo grounds and American League park it is the custom in the interval between the halves of the seventh inning for all the spectators to stand up, even if they do not stretch themselves. The mere act of arising is sufficient, according to the fan code of ethics, to show one is roofing for the home team. The same custom prevails on nearly every baseball grounds in the country and recently in Chicago on Q very hot day when every spectator of the over 20.- GOO at the National League park was either coatleSs or white shirtwajsted. the immense assembiage arose to its feet it resembled a mammoth bank of snow moving restlessly as if prepar- ing for an avalanche of the beautiful" It was as spectacle a pretty sight. but the sentiment behind the move of unity showed loyalty of feeling to the home players that was even pret- tier than the mere scene.
 Willie Keeler, when asked if he knew when the lucky seventh originated and how, said: T have heard of it ever since I played ball, and that has been nearly twenty years. l think it was called the lucky seventh from seven being a lucky number in shooting craps"
 That is surely an original idea, any how. and KeeIer said it seriously and meant it.
 Adrian c. Anson. the famous leader of the Chicago White Stockings for many years. and who played profes- sional ball as far back as 1870. gives this reason of the designation lucky seventh:
 Tn the early seventies the Athletics of Philadelphia and the Boston Red Stockings were playing a very impor- tant series Of games in the Quaker City on the result of which the cham plcnship of that year depended.
 The last game was being played and the race was so close that the team securing the victory would win the rennant- The game had gone along innng and the Boston were seven runs ahead. When the Athletics, with which club I was playing right field at the time. went in to bat for their seventh lnnlnR- Tn those OdyS the TWO captains tossed for choice of innings and we had chosen to take the last inning at the bat
 Three tthletics had scored in the inring and there were three on bases when I went to bat A home run would tie the score
 Picking out just the ball I wanted, for we called them for either a high or low ball, met it squarely the trade mark ard hi. it so far over the center field fence that it may be going yet for al I kncw. The ball never came back ary hcW.
 Ever since tEat great game the seventh hiring has been called the lucky seventh