New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-20
69th Impartial as
1t Roots at Last
Big League Game


Friends and relatives o. members
of the old seth Regiment the
165th-went away from the Polo
Grounds yesterday with the earnest
hope that the men would never see a
greater defeat than that meted out
to the league leading Giants by the
rejuvenated but slipping Cincinnati
Reds, who played under the leader
ship of Christie Msthewson.
Not all the cheering of the lusty-
lunged soldiers. their sweethearts'
wives. parents and neighbors could
rally the lettering Giants. Errors
were their undoing, and even rein
forcements from McGraw's reserves
failed to save the day. Matty, despite
his transfer from the Giants to the
Cincinnati training camp for mana
gers, was still a favorite with the men
of the 69th, and was loudly cheered
when he quit the field, winner by
score Of 3 TO 0.
The game played yesterday was
baseball's send-off to the new lboth,
and the players gave of their best 70
make merry the last day the soldiers
had to spend in their home town.
$4,000 at Polo Grounds
The gate receipts, collected from
crowd of not less than $4,000, Will be
turned over to the reglmental fund for
the maintenance of dependents or the
departing soldiers.
Led by Lieutenant Colonel Latham
Reed and the regimental band, some
200 men left the 69th Regiment Ar
mory just before noon and marched TO
the ferry landing at East Thirty-fourth
Street. From there the municipal Ter
ryboat William j. Gaynor took them
around the Battery to the landing at
155th Street and the North River. The
Gaynor had hardly swung into the
North River before the gates OF the
Polo Grounds were opened and the
great civilian army swarmed into the
grandstands and bleachers.
While the Reds and the Giants were
al practice the strains of the regi-
mental band were heard to the west
ward. The throng rose and cheered
until the last member of the crack reg
iment was seated in the stands and left
field bleachers.
Before the game was called the Off
GERS of the regiment, attended by the
manager, McGraw, Of the Giants, Matty,
Monsignor Lavelle and officers of the
Friendly Sons of st. Patrick. posed for
the movie photographers.
Sing National Anthem
Just before the ball was tossed out
to start things going the Glee Club Of
the Friendly Sons sang "The Star
Spangled Banner" and every head was
barred. Everybody stood, and every
man in the uniform of the United
States army or navy stood at attention
until singing of the anthem ended.
Its a pity" remarked a woman in
one of the boxes off first base, that
they did not have a representative OF
all our allies at the home plate"
Some one passed the word along that
it was being announced that Toney,
the invincible pitcher of the Reds, had
hurt his hand and would not face the
Giants batsmen. The fans of the seth
took heart.
No such luck. The little fat man
with the big megaphone merely said
that James Butler, having made the
highest bid-S5o0-had taken a Ma
tional League baseball that had been
autographed by President Wilson for
the benefit OF the regiment. 1t was the
most expensive ball ever turned loose
on baseball field, and is destined to
make money as it rolls, for it is going
In France in the custody Of the Rev.
Francis ?. Duffy, chaplain Of the regi-
ment. He will sell it at auction in
Paris. the proceeds TO be devoted to
the care of French orphans.
Spend Last Night at Homes
The soldiers who attended the game
did not return to the armory until
nearly 9 o'clock at night. Only the
few men assigned TO guard duty re
manned. The others were permitted
to spend their last night in their
homes.
The men Of the regiment are looking
forward with much interest 10 the re-
ligious ceremony that will take place
in the armory this morning prior to
their departure. Through Colonel
Reed and Chaplain Duffy, they ex-
pressed a wish that blessing be be-
slowed upon them before leaving home.
When Cardinal Farley learned Of this,
the Right Rev. Patrick j. Hayes,
Auxiliary Bishop of New York, was
asked to give the blessing. The cere-
mony will be short but impressive and
will be attended by the non-Catholic
as we'll as the Catholic members of the
regiment.