The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-11-12
BASEBALL USED
FIFTY YEARS Ago

Emporia, Kan, Nov. 12.-Mit will
hite of this city, one of the "old tim
ers" of the great national pastime, has
in his possession a baseball which
he claims is the Oldest in existence,
one which was used in a game be-
tween the Tri- Mountain club and the
Portland club at Boston Sept. g. 1858.
The latter club won by the score of
AZ to AZ, and the date, names Of teams
and score are inscribed on the ball.
The sphere is of the old style OF one
piece covering and was given Mr.. Will
hite by Josh Westerhouse of Dunlap,
Kan, who witnessed the game in
which 1t was used The game was
for the championship of New Eng
land, and was one of the hardest
fought contests ever seen in baseball.
1t was in this city, by the way, that
John King, the cub catcher, played
his first game of professional baseball.
King was not always holding out for
raise over $4,000 a year, neither was
he keeping his opponents in dread
fear around the first base line. In this
city the fans are still talking of the
same NOISY john when he was
NNNSAAAhS AOA 90 a 5diLiGy lIie1hAllE AlO
hits and counting two errors in a
bloody battle for the championship of
Lyon county.
There it was that the great back
stop got his start, and then, as now,
he was among the top notchers of the
time both in salary and receiving abil-
ity. Five dollars was his remunera-
ton for receiving in his first profess
sional game in the clash referred to
when series of fully as much po-
least as far as Kansas is concerned,
leafs as far asKansas is concerned,
was started in Emporia, Aug. 81, 1894.
Intense rivalry existed between the
ball teams Of Emporia and Winfield,
some 100 miles to the south, and the
whole country between was aroused
with the heat of the competition for
county and state honors. Wilhite,
manager and center fielder of the EN-
poria team, had seen King play once
with the Kansas City Schmelzers, a
bunch of amateurs, and was at the
time so impressed with his work that
he determined to put him behind the
bat as the final assurance that his
team would would walk away with the
bunting.
But gloom reigned in Emporia that
day deeper than ever lowered Mud
vile when the mighty Casey struck
out. Emporia was beaten and the
Kansas City wonder had, if anything,
helped to contribute to that loss.
BY a count of to the Winfield
warriors took their opponents into
camp and Killing counted two errors
while his trusty- willow had sprung q
large sized leak which the ball went
through every time he faced the
pitcher.
But NOISY John" did not lose any
of his prestige from this showing. In
his handling of the ball and Judgment
of the batters he twinkled as bright
as he ever has in later days. white.
as did all the other close students of
the game. saw in him a wonderful
backstop, and they engaged him for
another game the very next day. And
he justified their judgment. for in that
contest Emporia was victor. to s.
and King had clean slate i'm the
field while he showed up with a
home run wallop and a Texas Lacquer
at the plate, which placed him in
the tally column twice
This was Kings last game in EN-
poria, although he was besought to
return time and again. He was soon