Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-09-27
Germantown Club At The Bat.

Mr.. Editor The Germantown base ball
club is not inclined to be drawn into any
controversy regarding the Washington Post
press report of the base ball game between
Rockville and Germantown, at Germantown,
Saturday, September Z, but in justice to
ourselves, we feel Obliged to reply briefly
to an article in last weeks edition of the
Sentinel, signed by the MANAGER of the
Rockville base ball club.
In the first place, the Rockville manager
states that the umpire did not call the
game until it was too dark to play. To
this all we can reply is that but one of the
two umpires called the game, that one
being the Rockville umpire. Besides this
without commenting on whether OF not il
was too dark to play, which is easily open
to question, we do insist that it was only
the dilatory tactics of the Rockville team,
and especially of its pitcher, who did every
thing he possibly could to delay the game
after his team had secured a lead, which
gave an excuse for calling the game. Fur
thermore. had the Rockville team arrived
on the grounds on schedule time the Ques-
tion of darkness would never have risen.
The Rockville manager also says that
not until the umpire formally called the
game did the Rockville team leave the
field. But, as matter of fact, it appeared
to us that the Rockville team did leave the
field before the game was called, for, in
stead of being on the field ready to play
ball when the game was called by one of
the two umpires, the entire Rockville team
was massed about the umpires, endeavor-
ing TO persuade them to call the game,
showing more proficiency in umpire batting
than in ball playing.
The Rockville manager deplOres that I'VE
lack proper spirit" We wish to ask him
how much proper spirit" team has which,
having gained the lead in the earlier
innings. consistently employs tactics de-
signed to delay the game and thus force it
to be called before the opposing team has
a chance to win. and then. when the game
is actually in danger of being lost. does
finally succeed in having one of the two
officiating umpires call the gamer
The Rockville manager further states
that the Germantown manager expressed
his satisfaction when the game was called
Harry Fisher is the manager Of the Ger
mant0wn base ball club, and, as such, the
only one having authority to make such
statement. That he did not do so have
been assured by him If anyone connected
with the Germantown base ball club did
make such a statement, it was some one
who had no authority to do so. The mana
Ger was certainly not satisfied that the
game was called when 1t was.
The Rockville manager also asserts that
in the opinion of most of the spectators 1t
was so dark that ball playing was danger
Gus. Without questioning the veracity of
anyone. we hearty doubt that anyone of
the spectators, except some of those from
Rockville thought as the Rockville mana
ger says. But even granting that some Of
the spectators did think so, we wish to ask,
as a matter of information, when the rules
were so changed that the spectators, or
anyone else besides the umpire, have any
thing to do with deciding when game is
to be called
The manager further informs US that it
was only on account Of darkness that Ger
mantOwn scored its runs. We wish to inform
the manager that II was only on account
of GOOD solid hitting by Germantown. We
wish also to point out that it was evidently
not too dark for the Germantown batters
to see ThOmpson's fastest balls.
We are also told that to win we i'm
ported the cream of Washington players, ="
Chief" Green. "Shae" Rawlings, Reggie"
Rawlings, "Skeets" Hays, Ray Gheen and
reply that in neither Of the two games we
played Rockville were more than four of
the six players mentioned present and in
uniform. Furthermore, Phil Buscher is not
a Washington man, but Is resident of
Montgomery county, We also want to
state that "Shag" Rawlings and Reggie"
Rawlings spend part Of their summers here,
and that these two men and Chief Green
have played with us regularly and are Just
as much members Of our team as VIII
HandibOe and Tom Thompson, Washington
players, and 0ffutt. Kelley, 0ldfeld and
Kirkland, of Garrett Park, are members of
the Rockville team. Anyway, what can
we do but import players when II was only
with the agreement that we would not pitch
Arthur Beall. our own pitcher and the man
whom Rockville was afraid to face. that
we were able to secure game with Rock
vile. Besides this. we thought II was a
! characteristic Of backwOods base ball
teams. and not of up-to-date clubs. to call
into question the birth places and residences
Of ball players.
| A little further on in the Illuminating
article Of the Rockville manager we are
confronted with the amazing statement
that as the teams have played two games
there Is no necessity for third one. as the
schedule is finished. He says, compa-
Gently, that they are through with us, hav-
ing won the championship Of the county
by virtue Of the one game played to de
cisiOn and the one tie game. Now. wha
we wish to know is. il the Rockville mana.
ger can give any authority for the state
ment that one game played 10 a decision
and one tie game constitute two games
As matter Of fact If the manager will
take the trouble TO inform himself, he will
| find that a tie game is not considered a
game at all until II is replayed to decision.
Perhaps the manager will recall similar
situation which existed between Germa n
town and Rockville in the year 1909, when
Germantown was forced to replay tic
| game. not having the temerity TO claim the
championship otherwise In regard 10
ROckville's claiming the championship this
year. we wish to say that, in our judgment,
the team which represented Gaithersburg
up to about month ago was superior to
any team which has played ball In the
county this year and has better claim to
the championship than either Rockville or
| Germantown.
II might be well to state here that after
the game at Germantown we challenged
the Rockville manager toplay third game
anywhere the Rockville manager wished
Rockville not excepted Needless to say.
the challenge was declined.
In conclusion, the Rockville manager will
please note that we have said nothing about
the fairness Of the decision which sent the
third Germantown man who scored bach
10 third.
THE PRESIDENT or THE GERMANrOwN ATHLETIC
ASSOCIATION.
Germantown. Md. Sept. 20, 1912.