New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-21
Supervisor of Recreation
Opens Baseball Tourney
at Seward Park.
HURLS OUTCURVE OVER
PLATE AMID CHEERS
Two Thousand Boys Take Part in
First Clashes on Various
City Fairgrounds.

Seward Park is the centre Of neigh
borhood that is ever throbbing with life
and activity. Thousands pass to and fro
IN the narrow thoroughfares during the
busy hours Of the day and other thousands
gather when night falls TO rest and i'm
bibe the fresh air the open square affords.
The park is a haven for the throngs whom
fate has housed in the row upon row of
Squalid tenements that stretch out in every
direction.
II takes some happening or an unusual
nature to disturb the even tenor OF those
who In these confined limits live and have
their being. Such an unusual happening
was staged last Tuesday afternoon when
the Tribune Baseball League opened It's
season in the park. Now, the principal
reason for the organization Of the Trib-
une tournament was TO get the boys OF the
crowded sections of the city out Of the
hot and dirty streets during the summer
months. II was especially fitting. there
fore, that the official opening Of the race
for the Tribune cups and medals should
be held in such place as Seward Park.
That something out of the ordinary was
in the air last Tuesday was clearly evil
denced by the large number Of youngsters
who poured into the park after the schools
Of the section closed their doors for the
day. The centre Of attraction was the
bulletin board on the playground, where
we're posted copies of The Tribune telling
Of the tournament The pictures OF one
Of the Juvenile teams which makes its
headquarters in Seward Park and of the
boy who last year pitched a no-hit game
we're Of special interest to the band about
the board.
Jaw, know dat guy what The Tribune
says pitched a no-hit game" chirped one
bright-faced lad. HE want so much. De
Henry ST. team what I played in last
year didn't do a ting to him. lie didn't
pitch no no-hit game 'gainst US"
This led 10 other characteristic com
ments from the young ball tossers, until
the argument waxed 80 warm that Mr..
Pincus, the playground instructor, was
obliged to take hand to smooth things
over.
The attention Of the lads was presently
dvirted from the bulletin board by big
automobile, which came chugging up to
the mark entrance. The machine con-
tanned William J. Lee Supervisor Of Rec
reatiou, who had appeared on the dot OF
10 throw out the first ball and thus start
the tournament going in due form.
II had been announced that CABOT
Ward, the Park Commissioner, would
he the one TO officiate, but at the pro-
verbal last minute he found he couldn't
be at hand at the appointed hour and Mr..
Lee consented, not reluctantly, TO do
the Job himself The boys didn't appear
TO be disappointed at the change in plans,
for a mighty cheer went up when the
man whose enthusiasm and energy made
the carnival possible walked to the
pitchers box.
Mr.. Lee performed most credtably. He
didn't simply toss the ball in the Gus
tomary perfunctory manner to the
catcher OF the Acme A. c., who was
waiting for It. He showed he knew
something about the finer points of the
twirling art. Mr.. Lee had a prelimi-
nary wind up that made a big hit. He
had something else in his repertoire, too,
and that was an outshoot. No straight
ball for him. Furthermore, he could con-
troll his curve, and the ball he hurled
dropped over the plate for a beautiful
strike.
The recreation supervisor sprung
another innovation by not running away
after he had done his little stunt, and
this pleased the boys too. He remained