The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-02

one thing-the infielders must relay the
ball to him. He would not bulge from
the pitchers box. If the catcher failed
to throw the ball within his reach he
would simply turn on his heel-the in
f1elderS picked 1t up for him. But say.
we thought a lot of Jim. He was the
mainstay of the team for six long
seasons.
That Famous Fourth of July Game.
There is one game that the citizens
of Topeka and Usage county never will
forget. 1t was played July 4, 1877, at
Lyndon. The contest was between the
Western club OF Topeka and the Black
Caps of Lyndon. Sim Bear was man.
ager of the Western team. The Vest
erners had disbanded the year before
and were not in the best of condition.
but the Zig prizes offered and the in
tense rivalry prompted the players to
assemble.
Accompanied by several thousand fans
practically everyone of able mind and
body-the team went to Lyndon. The
members of these two teams will in
terest Topekans. On the Black Cap
nine was Bob Miller. who left To-
peka a few days ago to live In the
Northwest. He has been in the news
paper work here for years and at one
time ran papers at Ottawa and Lyndon.
In fact he started what is now known
as the Ottawa Republic, edited by
Tom Morgan. Miller played left field
and the old timers say he had an arm
that would propel a ball from the pres
ent site of the Santa Fe depot in Usage
City far on past the postofhce. Then
there was Dorson Ingraham, now OF
Topeka, who played shortstop-a whirl-
wind in this position. w. F. Miller
brother to Bob played third base.
Emery Wales. now living in Missouri,
played second base. H. 8. Whitman,
in Lyndon.
played first. T. E. Denster was In CEN
ter field, Austin Reed was in right field,
Albert Owen, now of Harris, Kan,
caught and William Hawkins. who
lives in Oakland and is with the Santa
Fe. was on the mound. And Hawkins
was one of the real twirlers Of the day.
On the Topeka team was Charles
West. who for many years was with
the Union Pacific. He was catcher
Billy Cation pitched Frank Rex, now
in Los Angeles. played first. Robert s.
Thompson, one Of the Organizers OF
the Westerners and member of the
firm, Thompson Brothers. still retained
the second sack. Frank Milehan, with
the Santa Fe at Newton. was at third.
Hale Richie, contractor. now living in
Topeka, was at shortstop. Del Valen-
tine. clerk of the supreme court, now
loyal Kaw fan. played left field. Joe
Knight. who died a short time ago,
and who was with the Union Pacific
at Omaha, was in center field and
short time ago, took care of the sun
field. George Butts, living in Topeka
now, was scorer.
Knocked Ball Past Cow.
In those days the players used long
willow bats and live balls. However. a
lew years before. a dead ball had
been used-a ball that made 1t nearly
1mnOSC1hIa 20 L H. -
run. In this game, the ball was
knocked at one time far past grazing
COW, many yards outside the bounds
OF center field. The Westerners
won't admit it. but it is declared upon
veteran authority that it took Joe
knight five whole minutes to run
down that ball.
The score of that game was 10 to
according to the Black Caps. The
result was supposed to decide the
Topekans and Kansans were concern
ed. Ten thousand persons-as many
persons as have ever witnessed ball
game In Kansas saw the players chase
around the bases. Betting was lively
"a ring of several hundred put up
money on the actions of every batter.
The Lyndon bunch claim that Topeka
day. -,
The Lyndon players had practiced
.or weeks Each evening after work
the entire team turned out for prac-
ice Players would run bases by q
stop watch for practice in speed. Bat
ing practice was insistent Every
payer was supposed to bat not less
tnan 800. Their mangled fingers,
brought about by ungloved hands,
were hardened to the fray. The VIII
laee blacksmiths tackled hand made
spikes to their Shoes The sunflow-
ers were cleared from the big field.
Nothing was overlooked
The pitching, of course. was under
nand 1t was against the rules to
throw from position higher than the
waist The curve ball was unknown.
IN fact not until the famous Phelan
struck out fifteen men In six innings