The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-10-16
How The Game Was Won.

For obvious reasons ball games, that
mark the close of the season, are gen.
orally rather tame affairs. The sup
ply of enthusiasm, that in mid-sum-
mer gave promise of being inexhaust-
ible on the part of both player and
fan, has reached it's lowest ebb. Again
in the majority of leagues the lead
ers have batted themselves to secur-
ity so far in advance of contending
teams, that all hope of overtaking
them and dragging them back to a
more vulnerable position, has been ut
terly abandoned And the tail-enders,
the alibi-producers-t listless eff
forts to play out the schedule have
in them powerful antidote for any
evidence of enthusiasm that might
spring to life among the more list
less spectators.
However, as is we'll known, there
are exceptions to all rules, and such
an exception was being demonstrated
one glorious Sunday in the middle
of September on the diamond back of
st. Andrews Church. There was being
played on this occasion, the final
game of the series, and likewise, the
last of the season, between two mines
of st. Patrick's and st. Andrews.
Moreover, it was the deciding contest
for the pennant.
All through the season these two
teams, participating in the Catholic
School League, had fought each other
vigorously. They were evenly matched
and grudgingly yielded the slightest
point AS a consequence, the contests
were snappy and full of vim, and the
vast throngs attending voiced their
approval with vociferous shouts.
Jack Conway captain and man.
ager of st. Andrew) is little bit
worried today, all right" one st. Pat
rick fan exulted to another
why, what's the matter?"
ooh, nothing at all, but three of his
best men are down and out. l think
it will be a walk-over for us. Easy
with one foot. Maybe he'll give Joe
Manners trial today" SPF. No. l
continued with chuckle.
who's Joe Manners?" the other
asked. you will have to excuse my
ignorance. I'm stranger in these
parts" noting the first speakers look
of surprise.
THAT explains it. / thought every
body knew him. He's poor half-wit,
who has been following the st. An
drew team all summer, begging Con-
way to give him tryout. 1t seems
he was way up among the best few
years ago, but one day hot liner
caught him on the side of the head.
The blow would have killed an ordi-
nary person, but Joe Manners was
built like a Samson, and he recov-
cred; but not altogether. Even since
he has been kind of half-witted and
good deal of a butt for thought
less people,"
Poor duck" the other said in a
tone of deep sympathy. How does
he manage to get along"
mot very we'll, imagine. He sells
papers and makes his home with an
old aunt Look, you can see him
from here. The fellow sitting on the
the edge of the bench, all hunched up,
with his elbows on his knees. That's
Joe Manners.
well, as was saying, he followed
Conway around all season until, just
to humor him, Jack gave him an old
uniform and told him to put it on.
Happy? Say, if you could have seen
the proud light that came into Joes
eyes when he donned the ragged and
faded uniform.
"Of course, Jack has never given
him chance to take part in a con-
test; but believe, if he would, the
poor old scout would go completely
crazy with JOY. Well, we're off, as
the umpire walked out upon the dia-
mond and busted off the home plate
with an abbreviated whiskbroom.
After the usual preliminary con-
sultation between the managers of
the teams, the umpire gave voice to
the words whose utterance causes the
blood to quicken in the veins of the
dyed-in-the-wool fan, Play Ball, Bat
ter Up"
That was game, the memory of
which will linger long with the spec
tators. For seven errorless innings
each side went without tally. The
vast crowd shouted itself hoarse, as
hit after hit was snapped up with
lightning rapidity and whisked into
some waiting baseman's hands.
After the fourth inning the contest
settled into a pitchers duel, and the
perspiring fielders were given an OPP
portunity of regaining their breath.
From his position, perched on the
edge OF the bench, on the st. Andrew
side of the grounds, Joe Manners
fairly absorbed, with open mouth and
protruding eyes, each brilliant play Of
the men. Even during the time, when,
at the end of each inning, the men
exchanged places in the field ne re-
tanned his strained position.
In the eighth inning things began
to happen. Regain, first up for g.