The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-06
Joe Boehling Pitches
Great Ball to Celebrate
His Homecoming.
PLENTY OF FUN,
BUT NO BASEBALL,
Altrock and Schaefer Steal the
Show With Their Ludicrous
Antics and Specialize S. \
Washington Youngsters
Have an Easy Time at
Expense of Locals.

Prepare not, reader, for the
story of a ball game, even though
we are more or less called upon
to chronicle the happenings DUR
ing an afternoon when several
young men from Washington en-
gagged i'll an afternoons pastiming
with a baseball team which is to
represent Richmond in the rcaln,
OF Swat.
Were it April l instead of a
later day i'll the month we might
go on for the space of column
or SO, interpolating numerous
swats and clouts and biffs, mixed
with a few swinging and slash
ing drives, tearing the ozone into
the veriest of ribbons; we might
even add that these sturdy young
men from the nations capital
accumulated some nine runs to
one gift offering for the locals.
Moreover, we might tell of
numerous happenings before an
other bumper crop of faithfuls
without turning one hair in our
head; but it isn't April / and we
can't cry April Fool" which
brings us to the real duty of tell
ing just exactly what happened,
and how.
Here for Amusement Only.
OF course, you went toitlle yard
expecting to see ball game, and,
SO far as Steve Griffin is con
cerned, he intended that one
should be presented. But neither
your nor Steve Griffin quite real
lied the ability of Schaefer and
Altrock, the famous vaudevil-
lians, to break up anything from
a wake to marriage. Nothing
was further from the mind of
Herman and Nicholas than play
ing the game as it is written in
Spaldings. They arrived to amuse
and be amused, and succeeded to-
such an extent that not one in-
dividual numbered among those
present took time to realize that
the locals were not playing quite
up to expectations.
1t was homecoming week for
Joe Boehling, and from every
neck OF this seven-hilled city came
the big mitts anxious to grasp the
port fin OF the lad who is about to
make good. 1t was a part of Joe's
duty to prevent the Colts from
interfering with the performance
given by Messrs. Altrock and
Schaefer, and he delivered.
During seven acts OF the comedy
Richmond presented n total OF twenty Is
one men to the barrier, this number.
being just as few as could possibly
have advanced to the front. IN eight
and two-third acts twenty seven Colts !.
batted, or one more than the mininiuu
number. Throughout the eight and
two-third sessions that Joe kept the
madding throng from interfering With
the real performers OF the afternoons,
he was assaulted by twenty-sevem
Colts, still one above the minimum
In plain, unvarnished tints, Joe Boeh-
ling pitched II grand ball game, and &
was hit safely just three times. 8
Fitting Climax offered.
AZ a climax to their act, Altrock and
Schaefer called III the members OF the
troupe formed a half circle in 'front.' &
of the footiights surrounding the
heaving mound, and all aided In hefp-
ing Joe deliver the teasing neIlet. win e
just one more local to retire AltrocJs
and Schaeter took MP the task OF hand-i
Ing up the leather. 1t was while Z, nr.
many was performing this part OF she
program that Ducky Eberts made the
circuit OH home run, though the ball.
never left the diamond. Every IN -
OF the comedians was applaudeti. and
never did bunch OF troopers play Ia, 4:
a more appreciatiye audience than did
these two, 49,
Sharing the curtain calls with tbfs
stars were Acosta and Caivo. che Cu.s
bans. out Of whom Grihith hopes 60
fC,onfi,. ,,yT m i, Il "a 49,