Friday, January 3, 2014

FAT AND LEAN PLAY SECOND BASEBALL GAME AT CORTLAND (SPORTSWRITERS' DELIGHT)


American baseball.
The Cortland News, Friday, August 6, 1886.

AGAIN SECOND BEST.

The Fat Men Carry too Much Flesh for Base Running.

   The game of ball between the fat and lean men for the benefit of Grace church was watched by about seven hundred people on Saturday night last, and although not as much fun was made as a year ago, the contestants played much better ball.

   The fat men had their innings with Duffey at the bat. Abe Schermerhorn twirled the ball through a few times and Duff tried to find it thrice and failed. The last time Brewer kept it in his hands and Duff retired to his bench. Jim Schermerhorn made a bunt to pitcher who fielded it to first putting Jim out. Then Arnold came up and hit safely into right field and was advancing to third on Brewers overthrow to second and scored on a passed ball. Straat also scored on a base hit, a passed ball and Taylor's hit for one base who was advancing to third on errors, but on Jones' three strikes was left. For the leans half of the first innings, Brewer hit a pitcher who cut him off at first, Schermerhorn got first on a dropped third strike, and reached home on errors. Woodruff made a base hit, stole second and third and scored on Blower's sacrifice. Maybury went out on three strikes.

   In the second innings [top and bottom?—CC editor], Mee batted to Blowers who fumbled the ball allowing Mee to get first, and scored on errors. Calkins hit a pitcher and was fielded out. Bradford struck three times and retired in good order. Duff struck to pitcher who fielded the ball to first before Duff could get under motion. Lean—Edgcomb thrown out at first on three strikes; Wickwire got first on balls but before he could score, Dana fouled to Duffey and Clark went out on three strikes amid great applause.

   Schermerhorn got first on balls, and was advanced to third on Arnold's hit and scored on Woodruff's low throw, Arnold reaching second and scored on passed ball. Straat fouled out, Taylor struck out and Jones hit a short fly to Blowers. For the leans, Brewer got first on balls, second on a passed ball, and scored on Straat's fumble of Schermerhorn’s batted ball. Woodruff was disabled in this innings by striking a foul tip which followed up the bat and hitting him on the nose. He retired covered with glory and court Plaster, Stoker taking his place. Stoker got first on a batted ball, stole to second, he and Schermerhorn scoring on Blowers safe hit; Maybury reached first and Blowers scored on Duffey's passed ball of three strikes. Ab flew out to Schermerhorn, Wickwire out at first, Dana struck out.

   Fourth Innings—Mee struck out, Calkins fly to Blowers, and Gersh hit terribly hard breaking the bat clean in two, but failed to reach first as the ball got there ahead of him. Gersh said "Thunder, if that club hadn't broke I would have put it over the fence." Clark made a three base hit on three strikes and scored on a passed ball; Brewer reached first on balls and scored on passed balls. Schermerhorn fouled to Duffey, Stoker struck out, Blowers scored on errors, Maybury out on strikes.

   Fifth Innings— Duffey flew out to Blowers, Schermerhorn to Schermerhorn, Straat to Blowers, Edgcomb reached first on a base hit, and scored, Wickwire out to Arnold, Dana three strikes, Clark three strikes.

   In the sixth innings, Tailor scored for the fats, Jones, Mee and Calkins going out. For the lean Brewer, Schermerhorn, Blowers and Maybury scored, Stoker, Edgcomb and Wickwire going out.

   Seventh Innings—Schermerhorn, Arnold and Straat scored, Bradford, Duffey, and Taylor out. Brewer, Schermerhorn, and Stoker score for the leans, Blowers, Maybury and Edgcomb out.

   In the eigth inning the fats failed to make the circuit, but the leans were more successful, Dana going around while Wickwire, Clark and Brewer got out.

   In the ninth inning the fats worked hard but failed to make but two scores, leaving the total 10 to 19 in favor of the leans.

   The following is the individual score by innings:

FAT.

                                         R. O.

Duffy, c . . . . . . . . .           0   5.

J. Schermerhorn, p.          3   2.

Arnold, 1b                         3   0.

Straat, 2b                          2   3.

Taylor, 3b                         1   2.

Jones s.s.                         0   4.

Mee, If                              1   3.

Calkins, c.f                        0   4.

Bradford, r.f                      0   3.

Runs, 10    Outs, 27

LEANS.

Brewer, c.                         4   2

[Abe] Schermerhorn, p     4   1.

Stoker, 1b                         3   2.

Blowers, 2b                      3   2.

Maybury. 3b                     3   3.

Edgcomb. s.s . .  .            1   4.

Wickwire, If                       0   4.

Dana, c f                           1   3.

Clark, r.f                            2   3.

Runs, 19    Outs, 24.


              By Innings.

              1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9    Total

FATS     2 1 2 0 0 1 3 0 1      10

LEANS  2 0 4 3 1 4 4 1 0      19


   The features of the game were the playing of Bradford in right field. It was wonderful with what surprising alacrity he could get out of the way of all balls coming into his field. The base running of Ab was also wonderful.

   The fat men claim that if a strong wind had been blowing they would have won the game, as the lean men would have been blown through cracks in the fence. This statement is considered fishy, however, by those who are posted, because a quantity of heavy dumb-bells had been procured to tie to their feet in such an event.

   The umpiring of Prof. Milne [Normal School] was a little off the ordinary. It was with great intrepidity that he would call balls off the pitcher when the batsmen would strike at it. Everything goes, though, and if the pitcher said anything he was fined.

   The following fines were imposed: B. F. Taylor for swearing, 25c; Bradford, for saying "My Thunder," 5c; J. Schermerhorn for disputing umpire, 10c.; Blowers for telling a man to run on a foul ball, 10c.

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