Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-05
POLICEMEN ARREST
HOME DEFENSE, 81,
BEFORE 1900 FANS
Wild Scenes as Officers Wal
Iop Nick AItrock'S TWisterS
at Ball Park.

came from the rear in the eighth in
ming of their annual struggle against
the Home Defense League and sailed
score to the joy of 1900 enthusiastic
rooters at the American League Park
yesterday afternoon
The game was rep1ete with varie-
gated features. From start to finish.
1t was lively. And the thousands of
fans were JUST getting keyed up
to real enthusiastic pitch when
"Scibby" Giovannetti, catcher for the
police, smacked a resounding bingle
Clearly to center, and Boyd and
Roche romped across the rubber with
the seventh and eighth runs. When
hat occurred. the same crowd. rele-
eating to the ash-heap the legend
that the cop" is a friendless mortal.
gave up roar of plaudits that near
1y. unseated a youthful spectator
sSr6m his perch on the well known
right-field tree overlooking the ball
park.
That victory put the police on the
same plane with the Home Defense
Auxiliary. 1t gives each two victories
in the four-year stretch of contests
And Nick Altrock. comedian ex-
.traordinary, is credited by some Of
the critics as the principal contribu-
ting factor for the loss by his pitch
ing for the Home Defense League in
the seventh inning.
Gen. March Throws First Ball.
Before the game, to the strains of
''The Star Spangled Banner" the flag
was sent futtering to its mast in
center field. Then followed a parade
Of members of the police department,
headed by the inspectors and officials
and members of the Home Defense
League about the diamond After
these delegations marched the rival
teams, the police headed by Chief
Gessford and the Home Defens led
league.
Maj. Gen. Peyton C. March, chief of
stan, threw out the first ball from his
box near the police department dug
out. About him in various boxes were
onfcials of the government depart
ments and of the local departments
Other well known men present in
cluded Rear Admiral Carey T. Gray
son. representing President Wilson;
Rear Admiral Samuel MCGOWAN, rep
resent1ng the Navy Department; Com
missioner Louis Brownlow, Mrs. Nina
c. Van Wrinkle. chief of the women's
bureau, appearing for the first time in
public in the dress of lieutenant in
the police department.; Mrs. Clark C.
Griffith. wife of President Griffith of
the washington base ball club; for
mer Inspector Richard B. Boyle, the
fetired assistant superintendent of
police. and several others.
Altroek Keeps Crowd Roaring.
The opening comedy feature was
the vampire" dance by Al Schacht,
National pitcher. and Policeman
Nick" Altrock. Later in the game Mr..
Altrock gained the pseudonym of
policeman Nick" by appearing in the
nat and coat of member of the force.
and escorting an overenthusiastic
photographer to the side lines Not
sSen Dy allowing the police nine to
sning did he lose his popularity with
the crowd. although when he called
Tor a viva yoce vote from the grand
stand on: Who's no good" he Eot a
unanimous reply: You" which he ap-
piauded, sending the crowd into addi-
uonal quavers of merriment.
The Home Defense League made its
greatest stride toward victory during
the nrst inning. when it sent four runs
across the plate in quick succession.
A McCarty had been sent to the
Dencn Dy the weakness of grounder
to Kelly, Plunkett gained first on an
error by Dalglsh- Walker followed IN
with hit to right, and Kehl crashed q
Dlngie TO center, scoring Plunkett and
Walker. Fitzgerald made it three on
n.
ter Of the back Then Joe GiebeI came
through with bingle, which scored
kehl and Fitzgerald
When the smoke cleared away. Finny
Kelly got down to real work and retired
the side in one, two order.
Policeman Commits Theft.
The police nabbed one run in the first
when Roche walked. committed a theft
Of second. while hundreds of policemen
cheered, and trotted homo on Hiser,s
bingle to center. They got their bats
busy again in the third and added an
other tally.
The Home Defenders also placed an
otner run In their column in the third
when Kelly made wild pitch with the
bases carrying capacity crowd Walk
er breezed across the plate. Rhineberg
struck out and Kehl furnished the first
real thrill Of the game by attempting
to sneak over the home plate while
Kelly was winding up. The latter
stepped out of his box. Giovannetti
stepped directly across home plate, and
put the ball on Kehrs shin while his
toe was fraction Of an inch from the
rubber: That play brought them to
Kelly furnished a little uninten-
tional comedy for all but one person
in the fourth, when he fouled a ball
to the shin of Umpire Belts behind
the plate. While Mr.. Belts was hop
ping around on one foot the crowd
laughed. Before he finished he was
laughing with them
Nick Starts Real Excitement.
The real game started with the
entry of Altrock to the pitching line
in the seventh. The score stood to 3,
with the policemen trailing. Altrock
strobe to the box with an ovation
ringing in his ears. He had turned
against the police and was with the
Home Defense League Boyd gained
first on an infield hit along third.
Ahrock tried a few trick throws to
first. but failed to get his man OF
far enough. Then Giovannetti tapped
the ball to him. He turned to second,
which Boyd had gained during the
to McCarty. Altrock himself had
nearly run Boyd down before throw
ing the ball to McCarty. but Boyd
proved an eel and pulled up at third
unscathed. Giovannetti in the mean
time had perched on second base
Then Dahlgish struck out and Stew
art came up to the bat with a single
packed away in his war club. On
his hit Giovannetti scored, bringing
the record Z to 5.
In the eighth Vernstein replaced
Finney on the slab for the Defenders
Aci1y SdppC0 Tic A1SI D6ll plICueQ IOl
two bases. Redden followed with a
single, sending Kelly to third. Boyd
fitted long fly to Walker who muffed
{, and Kelly romped across tho pan
Redden was thrown out at home on
fIiser's love tap to the pitcher, while
Roche. who had singled. trotted
around to third. Up to the plate
walked Giovannetti. He swung once
and missed it, let one pass, and then
picked out an Offering for q crash to
center. The game was won. Roche