Volume 15 , Issue 27

1907 Baseball - Nationals Took Things Rather Easy

In The Sunday Star, dated Sunday, March 17, 1907, out of Washington, D.C., we find the front page headlines: "Nationals Took Things Rather Easy," as there was no trouble defeating the Sand Crabs at Galveston, and Cantillon's men reserved their strength for the game with Houston.

Galveston, Texas, March 16 (1907) -- The Nationals and the Sand Crabs had a a hot running argument on this afternoon in mid-March, 1907, in which Cantillon's men had a shade the better of the argument. The locals had a greatly strengthened team in the field. It's pretty strong talent for a minor league circuit, and the youngsters who are trying to get a foothold at the edge of the profession started after the Nationals in hammer-and-tongs fashion.

The latter did not work any too hard as they were reserving their strength for the battlefield at Houston on March 17, 1907, but they had to play a pretty close game at that to beat the Sand Crabs. The latter hustled right along and at times tried to turn team plays that were of a surprising nature.

Long Falkenberg started twirling for the Nationals ad he couldn't gauge King, as the latter walked to Hickman's corner and then had the temerity to steal second. Cornmack was another free passenger. Orth's fast grounder nearly lamed Falkenberg's left hand and Schlarfly had to assist in getting the runner out at first, King scoring the Sand Crabs' one run. Nevins and Baird struck out, closing the inning and run getting as far as the Sand crabs were concerned.

Falkenberg got out after the third inning and Hughes, Kitson and Patton finished in easy fashion, their only efforts being to put a stop to further run making.

The Nationals scored twice right at the start. Perrine and Ganley waited for four balls, but "Nig" suffered sudden death in an attempt to do the Raffles act at third. Ganley stole second and got home on Anderson's safety to left. Big John got around to third on Altizer's sacrifice that failed, but was turned into a single by being to slow for catcher and third baseman. Hickman followed by forcing Altizer at second, letting Anderson rumble home. Two runs, with the score 2 to 1 in his team's favor.

Ganley opened a tiny package of fireworks in the eighth by a screamer to right cneter for two bases; Anderson sacrificed, second to first; Altizer put the ball on a line over Nevin's head, and the third and last Cantillon tally was chalked up.

While there were no particularly brilliant plays in the afternoon's set, the work of the Nationals was altogether good. Their only error, the poor throw by Blankenship, failed to help the Sand Crabs, and the latter's pair of blunders failed to fatten the Nationals' run column.

Those on the Nationals: Perrine, ss; Ganley, rf; Anderson, lf; Altizer, cf; Hickman, 1b; Cross, 3b; Schlafly, 2b; Blankenship, c; Falkenberg, p; Hughes, p; Kitson, p; Patton, p.

Those of the Galveston Sand Crabs: King, ss; Cormack, lf; Orth, lf; Nevins, 2b; Baird, 3b; Block, c; Hess, 1b; McConville, rf; Mason, P; Whittenberg, p; Smith, p.

A St. Louis photographic emissary of Jimmy McAleer's was there that afternoon snapshotting the Washington Nationals.

Perrine and Ganley tried a double steal in the opening inning, but "Nig" was obliterated at third. "Box" got there for his, however.

Blankenship made a howl when Umpire Newhouse allowed free passes for King and Cormack in the opeing inning.

The Nationals went out in one, two, three order in the second inning by hard raps to the infield that were cleverly handled.

Capt. schlafly was the white-haired boy of the afternoon. He stumbled as he ran for a slow grounder from Block's bat in the second inning, but tossed the ball straight and true to Hickman without ever stopping to recover. The hand-clapping he got was long and hearty.

Perrine hit a single in the second, but by trying to make two bases on it he perished ignobly.

Ganley walked on his first and second times up. Sporting editor Graham of the Philadelphia North American deserted Marlin and the Athletics for a day to come down and take a look at the Nationals.

In an attempt to sacrifice at the start Altizer beat out a prettily placed bunt.

A high throw by Blankenship on Block's sacrifice in the fourth was productive to the error charged to him. Blankenship got away with a steal of second while Whittenberg was studying his catcher's signals. Whittenberg was second in pitching and third in hitting in the South Texas League in 1906. He was a big right-hander with speed and a likely assortment of horse sense. Nevins was a Buckeye state lad, got two of the Sand Crab hits, one of them a puny Texas leaguer, about six feet over Lave Cross' head. Schlafly had a number of chances and all, without exception, were all taken. Ganley's double was the longest of the game, crashing up against the right center fence.

Click the news article link for the rest of the story.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

---