Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-05-08
DECORAH-CRESCO GAME.
Ted Sullivan Tells Interesting Story
of the Battle of 1879" Be-
tween DEBORAH and
CrescO.
CONTINUED from Page u.

threshold of his greatness. This was
the year before he Joined the Nation
al League, and he was ready for any
scheme where there was fun and a
little pay Billy Taylor, who died
some years ago in Florida, was one
of the most natural players that ever
ed it afterward in Pittsburgh by
pitching one day and catching the
next. Well, those two were the bat
terry that the travelling man engaged.
Rad was ever in lis element when it
came to the task of making pretend
ers lay down their bats. At that time
he could give fifty strikes to a Chi
cago City League player and he
wouldn't touch the ball. All arrange
ments were made for Taylor and
Radbourne 10 go 20 Cresco on farm
near that city and remain there un-
til the day of the match. Their line
of business was to wach the other
farm hands toss hay and other
things, and partake of the cream of
the farm. Those two great men of
the ball field have passed out of the
hesh, but often did the great Rad
bourne convulse me with laughter,
describing his life on that farm,
while waiting for the great game.
Rad and Taylor could play a Reu-
ben and play it WELL They were
treated on that farm like kings and
lords, and all Cresco was chuckling
to themselves on the cards they had
up their sleeves for DEBORAH. Here
was the position of the two cities,
one week before the match: DEBORAH
had seven Chicago players with the
addition of two or three of her own.
CreSco had her two stalwart farm
hands to be added to seven of her
own. DEBORAH put watch on Cresco
to see if they were getting any new
men, but no new faces were seen on
the team while Cresco was practicing
for the great match. RadDourne and
Taylor never appeared with the Cres-
co team while they were practicing.
There was an air of mystery about
the latter city that DecoraIh could not
understand. CrescO held it's secret
well, as this travelling man closed all
leaks. The game was the talk OF
that section of the country, and Cres-
co took every bet that DEBORAH could
muster. Men had ali and every con-
fidence in Radbourne and Taylor.
-hey knew they were robbed by De-
corah in the last game, and they were
boiling hot TO get even. Decorah had
detectives in Cresco up to the after
noon of the game, but no new faces
were seen. What could this mean?
Cresco was backing its club and new
er spoke to any new players. The
travelling man had arranged for the
..nxrnI nf Pa6hnnrnn and
Taylor on the day OF the game
The great day Of the match open
ed up bright and clear. From early
morn to noon wagons were pouring
into Cresco loaded with people from
the surrounding country to see the
game that was the topic Of converse
tion for three weeks. Excursions on
the railroads came up from DEBORAH
with people who were eager to bet
on their invincible team. The Chi
cage contingent of players urged
their friends to take all kinds of bets,
as they We're going to make holy
show of the Cresco yaps, not think
ing Of what they were going against.
1t was a free ground where no adj
mission was charged, but the play
ing field was protected by a rope.
The Deccrah team when they arrived
at the grounds were cheered i'm
mensely by their friends. They COM
menced their practice, and beauti-
tul dress parade it was. They caught
the hall in all fantastic shapes, which
set their adheTents wild with delight,
and spondingly depressed the
followers of the Cresco club. The ar
tistic display OF picking balls up with
one finger bewildered the country
men. Bets were called out by the
friends of the DEBORAH club, but
CTesco was On hand to take them.
Any practical baseman knows what
dress parade means before country
audience. 1t is to Scare the oppos-
ing club.
Well, after those wafer boys OF
Chicago prairies and city left the dia-
mond, the awkward and ungainly
oaks OF Cresco appeared, but they
were minus their battery They threw
the ball around awhile, but the con-
trast between their dress parade and
the laddas was decidedly in favor of
DEBORAH But there was one thing
those Cresco boys could do-they
could hit little.
The original battery of the Cresco
club had not yet appeared, but their
absence was explained by their man