Fat and Lean Play Baseball in Cortland

"The American National Game of Baseball," Currier & Ives.

 

The Cortland News, Friday, July 24, 1885.

KNOCKED OUT IN NINE ROUNDS.

Too Much Adipose Prevents the Fat Men From Winning, Although Out Playing Their Opponents.

   Saturday afternoon last the street cars were filled to overflowing conveying an immense crowd to the fair grounds to witness the much talked of game between the lean and fat men of Cortland, and it is estimated that fully 1500 people witnessed it.

   At 3:30 L. J. Fitizgerald, umpire, called the men from their quarters in a tent, and from the moment of their appearance to the close of the game the fun never diminished.

   The fat men had procured new and elegant costumes particularly for that occasion, each one being of a different color although being made similar, having been cut after the "Mother Hubbard" style of architecture.

   The lean men went to the bat first and succeeded in securing four runs before being retired. The heavy weights were less fortunate being retired without having made a tour of the bases. In the third innings Mee, Straat and Duffey succeeded in crossing the home plate amid the greatest enthusiasm, although probably the wildest excitement prevailed in the ninth inning when B. B. Jones finished his tour of the bases and was credited with one run.

   The game stood at the close 18 to 27 in favor of the skeletons, although they were out played in the field and at the bat by the heavy weights, but not having the flesh to carry could run the bases in much better shape. The individual playing of Duftey, Schermerhorn, Jones, Straat and Arnold for the fat, and that of Ed. Hitchcock, Schermerhorn, Woodruff, Blowers and Wickwire for the lean men was the best. We append the score:

FAT                          AB.  R.  O.   P.O.  A.  E.

Hugh Duffey,c.            5    1   4       4   4   2

J. Schermerhorn,p.     4    0   3       4   3   0

B. B. Jones, s.s.          5    1   4       1   1   1

J. A. Barry, asst. s.s.   4    2   2       0   1   1

Calkins, 1b.                 5    2   3       4   0   2

B. F. Taylor, 2b.          4    1   3       4   2   0

Chas. Mee, 3b.           5    3    1      3   0   4

F. C. Straat, l.f.           5    4    1      4   3   0

J. R. Arnold, c.f.          5    3    3      3   1   1

Henry Freer, r.f.          5    1    3      0   0   2 

                      Totals:  47   18  27   27  15 13

 

LEAN                        AB.  R.  O.  P.O.  A.  E.

Ed. F. Hitchcock, c      6   3   3         3   2   2

A. Schermerhorn, p.    6   4   2         4   3   3

A. W. Edgecomb, s.s.  4   1   3         0   0   0

J. F. Maybury, r.s.s.     7   1   6         0   2   0

F. R. Woodruff, 1b.      6   2   3        12  2   4

C. N. Blowers, 2b.       6   3   2          5   2   3

E. A. Howard, 3b.        6   4   1          1   1  3

T. H. Wickwire, l.f.        6   4   1          2  1  1

A. C. Vosburg, c.f.        6   1   5          0  0  2

C. B. Hitchcock, r.f.      6   4   1          0  0  0

                    Totals:    59  27  27      27 13 24 

Time of game three hours.

SHORT STOPS.

   Bent Jones enjoys the reputation of being the only man that can muff and catch the same fly.

   Henry Freer says that if he hadn't interfered so, he could have run bases better. Will use knee boots next time.

   Vosburg offers to bet he can run the bases inside of fifteen minutes.

   Woodruff made a home run, three strikes, and an overthrow to first base.

   When it comes to play, Ben Taylor takes the most interest in the game, and if he can't catch them he will stop ‘em.

   The City Ambulance was on hand, but it was needed only once when Woodruff was overcome by cigarette smoke, and a stomach pump was brought into operation.

   The receipts at the gate were between eighty and ninety dollars.

   Everybody wants a return game.