Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1925-07-02
oar and confusion.

ments, and laying down the rules,
as he alternately tossed the ball
from one hand to the other. At the
first start of these disputes, LIE
Grand Lippitt always made it a
point to get possession OF one O.
the bats. Just what his idea or
intentions were, nobody ever
knew; but it was probably just to
keep it out Of reach Of the other
fellow, or maybe just to add en-
phasis to his arguments, probably
the latter for at any rate have
seen him many times clinching his
arguments by vigorously shaking
his bat in the faces of his oppon-
ents; and this demonstration, Of
course, always met with APPROX
al of the Baraboo rooters. After
the storm had spent it's fury, an
agreement was soon reached, all
returned to their respective posi-
tions, and the play continued as
though nothing had happened. 1t
was merely a part of the game.
The First Fast Pitching
The first fast pitching that the
people of Baraboo had an oppor-
tunity to witness, came to them
''like bolt from the blue, for |
don't believe that anyone in Bar
aboo knew what was going to hap
pen, except Mr.. Dodd, and the man
who was going to do the pitching.
This young man was Moore Hud-
son, son of the first Episcopal cler-
gyman in Baraboo. He had been
away to college, Racine if | re-
member rightly, and was home OIL
a vacation. Like other young
men he had picked up. few college
tricks, and among others he had
learned how to shoot a ball WITH
considerable force over the home
plate, instead Of merely tossing it,
as had previously been the custom.
it just happened on this par
ticular occasion that Lodi "Was the
goat, and what added considerab-
ly to their humiliation was the fact
that they had appeared in gay
new uniforms. | don't demember
Just what it was, but the predomin-
ating color was purple, and they
made as fine an appearance as |
have ever seen. OF course they
were not long in catching the fem
mime eye of Baraboo, but their
glory soon faded when they began
to face Hudson's new tangled pitch
ing. When the first ball was pass
ed through, the crowd was almost
dumb founded, for they had never
even heard of such q thing; and
by the time the third ball had pass
ed through, the result Of the game
was foregone conclusion. AS
for George Dodd he had taken UP
his position at a safe distance be-
hind the home plate and, as though
nothing unusual was going on, he
was getting them on the first
bound, which at that time counted
the same as a fly catch of either
the third strike, foul ball or q
fair hit.
The Lodi boys were taken com
pletely by surprise, and were utter
ly unable to connect the bat with
the ball. What also added largely
to their confusion was the fear of
being hit by a wild throw, and as
the pitcher at that time was only
forty feet distant, it gave them
little chance to avoid a ball that
happened to be headed their way.
They were game, however, and
played like tigers for the first few
innings; but it was soon evident
that the odds were too great against
them and they began to protest
against the pitching.
This soon developed into the us
ual free for-all dispute, which was
carried on with much more vigor
and enthusiasm than the game it.
self. But Baraboo had too good
a thing to throw away, and Dodd
"stood pat" in his refusal to put
Hudson out of the game. He also
demonstrated that he was comply
ing with the new rule of that sea-
son, which allowed the pitcher the
height of his knee in delivering the
ball. But the Lodi boys refused
to go on with the game and were
preparing to leave the grounds,
when they agreed to some compro-
mise and the game was continued.
However, it was too much one-sided
to be of much interest; but it es-
tablished the fact that fast pitch
ing had come to stay, and was a
factor that would have to be reck-
oned with in the future. This
game took place on the grounds in
the east part of town, at Elizabeth
ctroot and &C IN Mr. Hudson. he