New-York tribune., 1916-06-25
Largest Crowd Ever Seen
in Brooklyn Watches
Double Victory.
BUCK WHEAT HITS
TIMELY HOME RUN
Brilliant Plays Abound in Thrill
ing and Desperately Fought
Contest at Ebbets Field.
BY FRANK O'NEILL.

games or GOOOie-neSOeT Dy the
Brooklyn Robins yesterday while The
greatest crowd that ever gathered to-
cether in the transporting borough 10
witness a ball game bore witness.
sharp. clean and decisive we're the vic
tories Of the Robins in two struggles
that played on the feelings of thirty
thousand or more spectators. and had
total strangers pounding each others
backs and vowinG eternal friendship
as crashing hit or thrilling catch snd
stop was made. The scores were S to
and 10 I, respectively.
Timely as the victory was for the
Robins. for they added another game
10 their lead over the Philles. who lost
20 Boston, it was most untimely for
the Giants, for they dropped into
fourth place. below the Braves.
All that was lacking to bring the
Brooklyn fans to the end OF perfect
dav would have been for Nan Rucker
assistance Of Sherrod NJ. Smith Jack
Coombs. who makes a habit of con
Quering the Giants. worked through the
nrst game. and after spotting his op-
ponents a lead Of three runs in the
carly innings held them of the paths
end away from the plate in faultless
style Not satisfied with his work on
the mound, the Colby veteran struck
the blow. a sharp single to center
which assured victory in the opening
game
Ruoker Starts Well.
Rucker started in a manner which led
the Brooklyn fans TO shake their heads
dolefully and recall the days when the
Georgia sOuthpaw was held to be the
peer Of the best left-handed pitchers in
an time Robertson doubled and Doyle
cracked solid single TO right field, TAX
ing second on the throw TO the plate.
There was one hand down. and the sit
uation was dubious, 10 say the least.
But Cutshaw made a spectacular stop
and throw Of KaufT's grounder. mailing
Robertson at the plate, and Fletcher
popped 10 Daubert.
A run was scored by the Giants in
the third frame. but then Nap settled
down and slow-b -balled the New Yorks,
while united Brooklyn became intoxi-
G ted with JOY. Thunderous cheer after
cheer arose as he moved them down,
and Nap doffed his cap as he returned
10 the bench at the end Of the inning.
Time there was when Nap might have
continued on in that same run-killing
stride. but that was when the speed
NlS on INN Udll anu a dEt Sh~R w
the curve. where now there is iiutter
and a bend.
The handwriting on the wall ap-
reared for Nap in the seventh, when
two runs were scored, and 1t became
evident that about all Nap had left
was his glove, his grim, boundless cour-
age 20 fight on 20 the end and the
never ending good will Of the crowd,
which still remembers how well he
served in times past and gone. When
Burns and Robertson singled in the
eighth inning Sherrie Smith was called
IN. and he stemmed the tide. Rucker
received credit for the game.
Brooklyn won the first game. coming
from behind with a burst of power
that swept Fred Anderson. that ster-
ling exponent of the dampened dellv-
cry, of his feet and out Of the box IN
FIVE innings, and then proceeded to NAL
treat Christy Mathewson. who succeed
ed the erstwhile Fed. II may be that
the sight Of Matty rouseS Coombs to
greater deeds, for it was of the de-
livery Of the Old Master that Jack
struck the final blow.
Tieing Run Left on Base.
In the second game the Giants closed
with a rush. finishing Rucker, as told
previously. and at the end the telng
run was on second base, with two out
and George Burns at the bat. George
slashed one down the third base line
and Mike Mowrey threw him out at
Daubert's station.
There was never as great a crowd 70
witness a major league ball game IN
The Borough Of Brooklyn. There was
not a seat to be had at any price in
the grounds after l o'clock. The spa
cious grandstand grosned under its
load. for the baseball mad fans stood
along the back five deep in places.
Those in the back caught only glimpses
Of the struggles, but few complained.
Out in left and centre fields temporary
stands were erected and these, too,
were filed at an early hour. while late
arrivals filed around by the fence in the
back and were glad to have the oppor
tunity 10 stand and view the contest
from that coign of vantage. This over
flow gathering necessitated ground
rules and proved haven Of refuge for
several savage smashes. Three bases
we're allowed on hits into the crowd.
During the second game a regiment
of the National Guard swung up Bed-
ford Avenue, of on a practice hike be-
fore leaving for the Mexican border.
In fours front they swung along, these
lankv Yankee lads in khaki, for the
blue of another year has been discarded
for the dust-brown uniform Of these
modern times Old Glory snapped and
shone in the bright sun, and fans in the
upper stand rose to cheer the boys who
may yet win glory on foreign soil.
Buck Wheat, who has been crowned
king of the National League outielders
by Brooklyn fans, drove home run
over the right field wall which will take
Its place as one of the longest wsllops
ever made on the field. II cleared the
barrier with feet TO spare, and carried
right on across Bedford Avenue, finally
falling 10 earth in the vacant lot on the
east side of the thoroughfare. Extra
base hits we're frequent. Mowrey, Nc
Csrty. Johnston and Stengel drove the
ball into the crowd for triples. Rob
ertson. McKechnie and Doyle got
doubles for the Giants, all Of which
fell safe on unobstructed territory.
These were the high lights IN the
ofense. which was strong throughout
The defence was brilliant, and although
here and there an error crept IN, the
mistakes of the hand served only TO
add thrills for the msdly partisan
crowd. just so far as baseball rs CON
eerned, Brooklyn is Brooklyn and New
York New York, and never the twain
shall agree.
the first game after rather shaNy
start. and worked one OF his characteI-
istic games. lie put enough on the 7aii
TO keep his head above water, out Ola
not over exert himself. When the oc-
casion demanded, however. the Colby
taE orI