The Washington herald., 1918-03-03

Reach to Tener to Reader''-That's
the way you get this story. gentle
reader, Of Al Reach's four home runs
In one game, which he was too mod
est to tell US himself. Reach whis-
pered It to Governor Tener, sitting
beside him at the National League
dinner I'm New York in 1915.
"A funny thing happened to, me,
John, in one of these New York ho-
tells few years ago. I was getting
my shoes shined in the washroom,
and looking down the line of chairs
saw Senator A. p. German, Of Mary
land. OF course I knew him, because
he was one of the country's big men,
but it never occurred to me that he
knew me. But when he stepped down
from the chair he looked over in
my direction and threw up his hands
and said: al Reach Why, Senator
I said. how do you happen to know
me?' Know your said he; your
face Is indelibly fixed on my mind.
Do you remember when you and the
Athletics came to washington in IS
to play the Nationalist Indeed I
do told him. And do you re-
member that you l>~I out home runs
the first four times you came to bat?'
oh, no. said, 1t wasn't the first
four times up Well, anyway. you
had four. home runs IN that game.
Yes, that's right I said. Well,
said he, I chased them all. was
playing center field for the Nation
ais that day."
That's the story as John Tener
got 1t, you might say, in confidence,
from Al Raanh. In h. ia
book we borrowed from Mr.. Reach
we ind a contemporary newspaper
account Of that wonderful game.
There is nothing in the clipping to
identify the newspaper in which it
appeared. but 1t was probably q New
York paper. The game was played
on August q, 1856.
The ball players Of the National
Capital" the Newspaper story begins,
have had a gala time OF 1t the past
week. and the National Club of
washington have obtained an enyi-
able notoriety and secured hosts Of
friends and admirers by their gem
temanly conduct on the field as ball
players by their plucky, manly play
as the Champions Of the South and
the noble generosity and hospitality
which has marked their reception and
entertainment Of their guests from
Philadelphia and New York"
The Athletics reached Washington
early on that Monaay morning In Au-
gust and were met by a reception
committee who took them to WILL
ards Hotel; and after duly refresh
Ing themselves inwardly and outward
ly they were taken in three stages
one six-horse and two four-horse
stages gayly decorated decorated with
hags-to the Capitol, where an hour
or more was spent in viewing the at
fractions OF that splendid building"
They spent an hour at the White
House waiting for an interview with
President johnson, but that gentle
man, who never was much OF Presi-
dent anyway, wouldn't leave his cab
met officers who were in consultat ton
with him on important business" /"
They went back to the hotel "in order
to take q nap previous to their after
moons work." and after dinner were
escorted to the Presidents Grounds,
which had been duly prepared for the
occasion at great outlay by the erec-
tion Of a series Of stands In amphf-
theatre form for spectators and invit-
GU BuSolsB q CudIkc OL 81 pSlnB tI1aue
for the use Of seat during the tourn-
ament-" There was "an immense as
semblage" present, the ladies stand
being filled with the bellies Of the
Capital and the beauty and fashion of
the CITY,"
The unusually large crowd appears
to have got upon the nerves Of the
Champions OF the South; indeed,
the reporter admits It and ingsnuods-
ly adds. though the weather was IA
vorable for the sport. the ground was
in rather too lively a condition, the
ball bounding about out OF all rea-
sonable distance, as a general thing. "
It seems not to have bounded far
from the bats OF the Nationals. But
we're ahead Of our story.
The reporter begins bravely enough
to give the detailed score by innings:
''At 2:25 O'Clock, all being in readiness
for play. the Nationals took their
stand at the bat. Parker opening play
with a fine hit to left field. 80 Cor
man was well taken on q foul fly by