Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-11-16
BASE BALL OF FORMER DAYS
Interesting Story of Games Start in
3sAlexandria.
lfBy Sylvester A. Breen,)

forner' basebali teams In AleAdnufld
since the National Game won favor
here, will endeavor to relate brief
Iva few facts that may prove interest
ing to many Of the Alexandria Ga
zette readers. a ''h9i='l'. 'sS'.
It,was about the Centennial year,
In 1876 that the baseball craze struck
this city although the fgane twas
played before that time, butt was
crowned then. I1h5-1!a ~ ]H'
The Episcopal High School in the
county, was the first successful team
to win laurels on the baseball field,
hereabouts and they met and defeated
the best teams in Virginia, West Vlr-
GINA, Maryland and the District OF
Columbia, and were the champions
until they tackled the Independent
Baseball Club, of Alexandria, when
the local boys after a great and ex-
citing contest relieved them of the
lille which the Collegians had held
for several years.
Great interest was taken in the
games between the Independents and
the Episcopal High School teams and
hundreds of the fans Of the town
would visit the college when they play
ed. Leading professional and business
men would make the trip to the High
School grounds by horseback, car
riages. and other easy means Of travel
but the majority of the men and
bows would ride "Shanks' Mare" by
taking the King Street Road out to
the "Chinkapin Hollow" then de-
sccnding therein and climbing the
steep hill on the other side OF the
Hollow would make short cut to
the place where they could root to
their hearts content. 1t was a GUS
tom at that time for the students
to wear neat round low cap with
roiished leather brim and the letters
'E. H. S. ION front of same.
Everybody was treated courteously
nv the professors and Collegians, and
many were guests at dinner after
the games.
TO win the championship from the
college lads it was necessary to play
two gapes-the first being forfeited.
On the day of the first game the
regular catcher of the Independents
was unable to catch and the manager
had to secure receiver from Wash
ington to fill his place. During the
progress of the contest it was MOTTO
cd that some funny work was being
done by the catcher. Capt. J. Marriott
Hill Immediately made a protest to
the captain of the rival team, and as
it was, impossible to continue under
peaceful conditions the game was for
feited to the E. H. S. team 9 to O.,
with the understanding that another
game would be played at later date
70. the championship.
In the second game with the Epis-
copal High School team the Indepen-
Gents went after the students from
the call of play ball and won in great
fashion. Charley Steiner was pitcher
on the above occasion and as he was
the first man in Alexandria to pitch
an overland or hard-thrown curve
hall, and had terrific speed to aid his
delivery, and with Norman Pruitt be-
hind the bat, it is no wonder the IN
dependents We're victorious.
The following is the line up of the
Independent Baseball Club:
Norman Pruitt, catcher; Charley
Steiner, pitcher; Capt. J. Marriott
Hill, shortstop; John Mullen, first
base; John Bartlett, second base;
Charley Mankin, third base; Billy
Murtaugh, right field; Harrison Price
center field; Thomas D. Downey, lert
field; George Hough pinch hitter anG
all-around player, and Feley Steiner,
substitute.
The Independent before disbanding
played in Richmond and other cities.
and the members thereafter joined
other teams.
Several other baseball teams that
existed about the same time as the
Independents were the Monticellos
and Osceolas who had on their rosters
many brilliant and fast players-some
now living and among our most
prominent business men and citizens.
Charley Adams Alexandria Baseball
Club.
The Alexandria Baseball Grub, with
Charley Adams as manager, was