Evening star., 1919-04-23
74-YEAR-0LD FAN
FIRST AT BIG GAME
George Edwards, Who Play
ed on Nationals in 1865, on
Hand at II O'Clock.
TELLS OF 0LDEN DAYS

| Seated alone on a bread box. George
Edwards, seventyfour years old, heid
his post against all corners at the
bleacher entrance to the Washington
Base Ball Park at 5th and streets
today. He was the first man there.
| arriving about IL o'clock. and the
arst one to enter the park to witness
the great game this afternoon be-
tween Washington and Philadelphia,
johnson and Perry twiriing. -
II played on the old Nationals In
| 1855" said Mr.. Edwards. to admirinx
boys, who. like himself. gathered to
! view the great contest from the
northeast corner of the grounds. The
blsacher- crowd did not begin to ar
rive in real earnest until about l
Shut Out Last Year.
"Yes, sir" continued Mr.. Edwards.
who came all the way from his home
over on 21st street to witness the
game. Yes, sir. I'm here every year.
Last year they shut the gate on me.
and wouldn't let me in. Said the stand
was full. So came early this time"
The base ball veteran played on the
OlQ NatlOuAi6 QuTth6 thO CiNii wei
days. when the crack teams OF the Ma
itional Capital used the grounds south
Of the Presidents "house" to display
their ability in the game. Today.
during war times. Mr.. Edwards was
on hand, with hundreds younger but
word in base ball playing and twirl-
I'VE played straight base ball in
those days." said Mr.. Edwards, giving
his cap a reflective pull. Now 1t is
scientific. Which do / think is the
bali. Of course. There's more to it,
At the mention of Walter Johnson's
name, Second Baseman Edwards of
the Nationals of '65 smiled APPROX
lingly.
Talks Of Great Pitchers.
| "A great pitcher, boys" he said.
But we used to have a fast pitcher.
too. the old Nationals did. His name
was Billy Williams-dead now. He
could pitch as hard a ball as Johnson,
too. In those days there were no
curves used. 1t was all straight pitch
ing"
Nationals and the Unions, both civil
war day teams here, never used
gloves, not even the catcher. The
latter player caught the smokers
from the paw of BILLY" Williams
without q sign OF glove' Aho wtnooe
30 much as a wink.
Oothers in the crowd marveled at
any catcher being able to hold a
pitcher as fast as Johnson without
using a glove, and to this Mr.. Ed
| wards replied:
"And without any mask. either. Why
YOU see this hand?" the veteran base
| hall player and fan" continued. 1T
was injured when was playing third
| for the Unions. George Fox. great
slugger Of those days. hit out what IS
called q line drive now. and l reached
for 1t Just as 1t struck.
Put His Hand Out Of Business.
"1 caught it. all right" Mr. Ed
wards recalled, smile fifty-four
years old flashing across his face.
! 1T got II. and turned over on my stom-
| ach and threw him out. But it. hurt
my hand. And the next day we went
there. They had bats about six feet
ione-you never saw such bats in all
YOUR life. And one Of those fellers
hit a ball, and I caught it. but my
hand was put out OF business.
| sNo." he continued. to the others in
lima " haven't played any ball for q
long time. But never miss an opening
| game"
| Recalling the games on the Ellipse in
civil war days. Mr. Edwards. who was
Of the Treasury. told Of the spectators
a. we'll AZ the games There were big
crowds in those days. too. and high off,
cials watched the contests.
Spectators were at liberty to play
r.rds, and to drink. on the grass, Mr..
Edwards declared, adding, I'll bet you
better not play cards out on tho grass
today"
-snent their time today attempting to
ret over the fence at the ball park and
Si6e themselvcs in the grounds until the
game began. It is believed that sew
althouSh police and ball park officials
were ION tho job and foiled the at
tempts Of scores along, this line Of en-
| deavor Many watched the players
warming up from nearby house tops.
! Evidences were not lacking that seats
! -. IL ho Utilized on neal.hv hnnsaS T.,