The mirror., 1914-07-23
! D 0 p E X
By ''Strikeout'

By "Styikeout''
lamPed an account of, what is claimed
to be, the only perfect game of ball ever
played since the creation of the game. AS
an Old acquaintance of mine, Bob Long,
from the Pacihc coast, now a resident of
Cincinnati, was one of the chief actors in
the signal affair, the details interested me,
as it will undoubtedly those of you who
failed to see the item.
Those of you who at one time may have
sojourned in Frisco, previous to the earth
quake, will recall Bob during his palmy
days on the diamond, while performing as a
star OF the lineup of the Seals, at the
Halght and Harrison street grounds. Now,
don t get him mixed up with that other
celebrated Bob Long, of the champion Red
Sox, who SO long held down short, and had
as side pal the peerless Collins at third
lhe Bob Long in question never performed
in eastern league circles, though not through
lack OF opportunities. The Pacific league
was then without the pale of organized base
ball-outlaws; and the power of the major
league drafts did not effect them. Bob too,
was making good money out there and,
sensible like, refused to chance an establish
ed reputation against the keen competition
of the east.
Bob, by the way, was pitcher, and none
more dreaded on the coast by opposing bat
tiers. He was curveless, with not much
speed, but he had ''Matty' head on him,
and knew how to use it. He finally came
east and settled in Cinci., where he obtain
ed hold in local politics and landed him.
self soft berth. But, he was still faithful
to his first love, and his official job did not
prevent him from playing with, and man
aging, one of the niftiest semi-prof. teams
in the country, Mitchell's Former Lea
guers. No doubt many of you that are
reading me have seen them perform on the
old east grounds, where the Reds used to
perform years ago, and before the erection
of the present Palace of the Fans.
The game in question is of but recent
history, and shows that old Bob has still
the stuff to put on the pill. 1t is the only
game that he tossed during the year, and
has become sort of anniversary of his base
ball career, to which, not only his team
mates, but the general run of Cinci. fans,
look forward with anticipated relish. His
same bunch-Mullaney' Mayos-and this
is what he did to them upon their last
clash, and incidentally has given him the
record of perfect game.
He went through the entire nine innings
without allowing hit, a base on balls, hit
ting batter, or having any errors chalked
up to his team mates in the field. Just
twenty seven men faced him and every man
struck out. Now, while this may be equal
led in the future, it is doubtful. The most
remarkable feature of the performance is
that Bob faced grizzled veterans of many
big league games; who have faced the
stein.
And by the way, while we are on the
subject of past here's of the diamond: what's
become of old Chris Won Der Ahe's famous
pretzel battery-Britt and Pietz? 1 can ac-
count for Breitenstein up to three years
ago: he was, up to then, still valuable as
set in the box for Franks New Orleans
Pelicans of the southern league. l saw the
blonde Dutch-slab artist pitch mighty nif-
ty games in the creole city since his advent
there. He maintained to the end that
graceful full swing of his left wing as he
wound up before letting 60, and he seemed
to me just as effective. Pietz, his catcher,
drifted west and finally became a scout for
the Reds, catching game now and then
for them. Perhaps some of you fellows
can supply the subsequent dope on this.
For the life of me can't just figure out
those Cards at St. Loo-did you ever hear
anything like it before? The same applies
to the Browns, though with less degree.
That Midget Higgins is certainly lucky in
his deals; though don't think Hub Pur-
due, who has been anxious these many
moons to hook up with McGraw, will do
his prettiest in the levee town; and l also
think that his ultimate destination, via the
trade route, is to be the Polo Grounds.
That's always McGraw's policy: to be in
the fix to force the hands of those who seek
to do business with him, by having choice
lot of performers on the bench ready to
clinch trade with. Red Murray is sweet
but it will take a mighty big star to separ-
ate McGraw from him. You watch.
And these same Cards; how they play
their heads off in their clashes with the
Giants They have proven this year, as in
many past, the real stumbling block to the
National League leaders. But for that
matter, all western clubs lay for the Giants;
they groom their best hurlers and save their
best men against the coming of the gotham
ties; they want, not only the glory of beat
ing them, but the big gate receipts which
series with the Polo Ground warriors always
is sure to materialize, and which have been
life-savers to many depleted club treas
ury. Do you wonder then why I insist
that the Giants are national asset in the
game?
And, still on the subject of the St. Louis
teams; what d. you know about this? Can
you beat it? Do you still side with those