Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-28
"OH, SAY, BUB, HOW
IS THIS FOR HIGH?"
A Regular Lahdedah of Game
Between the Athletics and the
Nationals in '65

"p EACH to Tener to l;eader'-rhat's tho
lC way YOU get this story. gentle reader.
OF VI Rcach's four home runs in one game.
which he was too modest 90 tell us himself.
Reach whispered ii to Governor Tener sit
ting beside him at the National League din
ner In New York in 1915.
"a funny thing happened TO ne. John. in
one Of these New York hotels few years
ago. I getting my shoes shned in the
washroOm, and looking down the limo of
chairs / Senator \. j. German Of
Maryland. OF course, knew him because he
was one Of the Country's big men. but it
never occurred to me that lie knew me But
when lie stepped down from the chair he
looked over in my direction and threw up
his hands and said: Al Reach why.
Senator. / said, how do you happen TO
know me" KNOW you" says he: your face
is indelibly fixed on my mind. Do you re-
member when YOU and the Athletics came
TO Washington in '65 to play the Nationals"
Indeed / do, told him. And 40 you re-
member that You lined out home runs the
first four times YOU came to bat" oh. no
7 said it wasn't the first four times up'
Well. anyway. YOU had four home runs in
that game Yes, that's right | said Well
said he + chased them all. I was PLAYING
center field for the Nationals that day"
That's the story as John Tener got IT, sou
might say. In confidence, from N Reach;
and In the old scrapbooli we borrowed from
Mr. Reach find n contemporary news
paper account Of that wonderful game. There
Is nothing in the clipping to identify tho
newspaper In which II appeared, but it was
probably New York paper. The game was
played on August @s, 1856.
THE ball players of the National CapI-
tai" the newspaper story begins. have had
gala time OF II the past week, and the
National Club of Washington have obtained
cnviable notoriety and secured hosts of
friends and admirers by their gentlemaniy
conduct on the field as ball players by their
plucky, manly play as the Champions Of the
South and the noble generosity and hosnl-
tality which has marked their reception and
entertainment of their guests from Phila-
delpha and New York"
The Athletics reached Washington early
on that Monday morning in August and were
met by Il reception committee who took them
to Wizards Hotel; land after duly refresh
ing themselves inwardly and outwardly thev
were taken in three stages--one siX-horse
and two four-horse stages, gayly decorated
with fags--to the Capitol where an hour or
more was spent in viewing the attractions
of that splendid building"
They spent an hour at the White House
waiting for an interview with President
Johnson, but that gentleman, who never was
much Of a President anyway, wouldn't leave
hts Cabinet officers, who were In consulta-
tion with him on important business" They
went back to the hotel 'in order to take n
nap previous 10 their afternoons work !"
and after dinner were escorted 10 the
Presidents Grounds. which had been duly
prepared for the occasion at a great OUTLAY
by the erection of series of stands in
amphitheatre form for spectators and invited
guests: a charge OF 81 being made for the
use OF a seat during the tournament" There
was IAN Immense assembage" present the
ladies' stand being "filed with the bellies OF
the Capital and the beauty and fashion OF
the city.
The unusually large crowd appears to hays
got upon the nerves of the "Champions of
the South; indeed, the reporter admits n
and ingenuously adds, though the weather
was favorable for the sport the ground was
In rather too lively a condition, the baII
bounding about out OF all reasonable dis
tance. as a general thing" II seems not 10
have bounded far from the bats of the Ma
tionals. But we're ahead Of our story.
Detailed Story Of the Slaughter
The reporter begins brayely 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 fine hit to left field.
German was well taken on a foul
fly by Mcbride. Walden struck out. but
prouty secured his first base by good hit.
Bsrthrong hit Q spleHdid ball 70 right field,
which was resolved by y. 0eskill, perthrong
thfrepx Ge<tlnf home, Fropfx having pr>~