Winter days beget winter memories. There was a time when Jamaica Pond was a winter resource, and not just drive-by scenery for busy motorists. I'll let anyone so interested delve into the identities of the players listed below, but I'll recognize at least two. The name George Wright might be familiar - a public golf course is named after him in Hyde Park. Wright was one of the earliest baseball stars, and managed the Boston Red Stockings to several championships. After leaving baseball, he ran a sporting goods store in Boston, and laid out the golf course at Franklin Park. The Gen. Dixwell whose invitation is noted was quite another cat. He was a well-to-do gentleman and a baseball fanatic of a type of whom we would well recognize today. "General" Dixwell kept statistics of games and players, and kept three adjoining seats at the South End grounds, the better to support his portly frame. He was a celebrity in his own right, often quoted in the Boston newspapers, and a suitable guest for this extrordinary game.
Boston Daily Globe Jan 5, 1893
BASE BALL ON SKATES.
Game Will be Played on the Jamaica Pond Today.
Many Well-Known Professional Players Will Participate.
College and Interscholastic Leagues Will Also be Represented.
There will be a game of base ball on Jamaica Pond this afternoon at 3 o'clock. The players will wear skates and all the implements used in a regular game will be brought into service.
The idea of playing base ball on ice is not entirely new, having been tried several years ago on this same pond, when fully 5000 people witnessed an interesting contest between two nines composed of prominent players.
Today it is proposed that the scheme be tried again and with the ice in such splendid condition and with a small army of well-known players, all eager to lend a hand, the contest should be well worth witnessing.
The diamond will be laid out according to the lines suggested by THE GLOBE three weeks ago, which, if adopted, promises to increase batting. The pitcher will be put back to the centre of the diamond, as suggested in that same article.
The men will be allowed to overskate their bases, simply touching them as they pass, and other changes in the rules likely to be adopted at the next meeting of the national league, will be tried for the first time.
The teams will be composed of 10 players each and two well-known enthusiasts of the national game have been invited to act as umpires.
In order to keep the crowd off the playing surface and give everybody a good opportunity to see the game at the same time, a number of police officers will be on hand.
In this game will appear some of the brightest and most popular stars connected with the national league, the college league, the interscholastic league, as well as such well-known retired players as George Wright, John Morrill, Tim Murnano, John Manning, Harry Schafer, Tom Bond, Murtie Hackett and others.
Harvard College will be represented by some of the following ball players, who are also clever skaters: "Jack" Highlands, "Slugger" Mason, "Joe" Upton, "Andy" Highlands, F.H. Hovey, "Bernie" Trafford, "Al" Dickinson, John Corbett, "Wrenny" Paine, "Dick" Bullard, Jack Hayes, "Fred" Paul and others.
In the interscholastic league such well-known players as "Bob" Stevenson of Hopkinson, Tom More of Cambridge, George Close of Cambridge, Second Baseman Tobey and Left Fielder Goodridge of Cambridge, both of whom are brilliant polo players; "Hart" Hayes of Boston Latin, who has recently joined that school; Third Baseman Beal of Boston Latin, I.S. Clark of English high and Leo Ware of Roxbury Latin.
Some of the professional players who will play are Arthur Clarkson, Miah Murray, Tim Keefe, Arthur Irwin, John Irwin, Ed Crane, Fred Doe, Tom Cotter, Jim Canavan, Billy Murray, Hugh Duffy, Mike Slattery and George Haddock.
Gen. Dixwell has been invited to see the game.
Most of the boys will take the 2.20 train from the Providence station, as the game will begin on time.
Showing posts with label baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baseball. Show all posts
Monday, January 19, 2009
Sunday, January 27, 2008
World Series Winnning Manager - JP Resident
Bill Carrigan as a catcher. (photo: Library of Congress)Until last year, Bill Carrigan was the only Red Sox manager to win two World Series championships. Starting with the Sox as a catcher, Carrigan's teams won championships in the
1915 and 1916. He also lived for a time in Jamaica Plain, in the Arborway Court apartment building near Forest Hills. The building, and Fordham Court on South street, were both owned by the owner and President of the Red Sox, Joseph Lannin.
Mr Lannin, a real estate tycoon, must have lived in one of his Jamaica Plain buildings as well, because he was described in a later article as a parishioner of St Thomas' church. In fact, when the Red Sox went to the World Series later in 1915, Lannin brought Fr James Sherry of St Thomas with him as a guest - the same Fr Sherry who performed the marriage of Bill Carrigan and his wife, as described below.
So how long did Carrigan live in Jamaica Plain? We know that he won a law suit in which he was a defendant, involving an auto accident that occurred at the intersection of Centre and Orchard streets on September 5, 1914. That's not much of a window, but it's all I've got for now.
The Jamaica Plain Historical Society baseball article discussed the Lannin connection to Jamaica Plain. You can read more about Bill Carrigan here.
Boston Daily Globe January 6, 1915
Bill Carrigan Married Again
Ceremony Performed by Rev Fr Sherry.
Red Sox Manager Attended by Eddie Riley as Best Man.
Wedding in Rectory of St Thomas Church.
William F. (Bill) Carrigan, manager of the Boston American League team, and his bride of six days, who was Miss Beulah Bartlett of Lewiston, Me, were married according to the precepts of the Roman Catholic Church last evening.
The ceremony was performed by Rev James P. Sherry, assistant pastor of St Thomas Church, Jamaica Plain, at the rectory at 7 o'clock. Sec Edwin Riley of the Red Sox was best man, and Miss Anna L. Cahill of Brighton attended the bride.
Following the ceremony, Mr and Mrs Carrigan returned to their apartments at Arborway Court, Forest Hills, where they received the congratulations of a few intimate friends.
The announcement last Wednesday of the wedding of Carrigan and Miss Bartlett, who were friends and neighbors since childhood in Lewiston, caused considerable surprise. The first ceremony was performed by Rev Charles Hosea Temple of the First Universalist Church of the Redeemer at the home of the clergyman in Lewiston. On Thursday the bride and groom arrived in Boston and announcement of the marriage was made by Carrigan, through Sec Eddie Riley.
Although Carrigan and his bride succeeded in secreting themselves from friends in this city, the groom immediately instituted steps to have a ceremony performed by a clergyman of his own faith, and since his wife is a Protestant, it was necessary to secure a dispensation for his marriage with the rites of the Catholic Church.
The dispensation was secured and Riley, a close friend of the groom, and Miss Cahill, sister of Billy Cahill, a former Holy Cross athlete, agreed to attend the bride and groom.
Boston Daily Globe: October 8, 1915, January 19, 1916.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Jamaica Plain Boy - Red Sox Mascot
Time to move on from Franklin park for a while. There is more Jamaica Plain content than meet's the eye in this article. As told in the baseball article at the Jamaica Plain Historical Society web site, Joseph J. Lannin owned property in Jamaica Plain. In 1914 he owned both Fordham Court - still standing on South street near the Arborway - and Arborway Court, a long-lost apartment building that sat at the corner of South street and St Ann street (now defunct), near where Asticou road comes out to Washington street today. It may have been Lannin's connection to Jamaica Plain that got "Lefty" Glennon his job with the Red Sox described below.
Boston Daily Globe February 11, 1915
How Can The Rex Sox Lose?
Between "Lefty" Glennon, Luck Producer, and Ty Cobb Prophet,
There Seems to Be Nothing to It This Year.
Thousands of Red Sox fans will be interested in the announcement that William Joseph Glennon, the 13-year-old youngster with the deep-red hair, who was seen on the diamond every afternoon that the Boston team played in Boston last season, has been "signed" as a member of the team for the coming year in the capacity of mascot.
He is known as "Red" by his playmates, but this name has not the approval of his mother, who is naturally proud of the signal distinction of her son, coming as it does direct from Pres Lannin. The new mascot is left-handed, and she says "Lefty" is much better; so "Lefty" Glennon his name will henceforth be to Boston baseball enthusiasts.
"Lefty" Glennon is a freshman at Boston College High School; he is a bright student and well liked. He was "graduated" into the major league from a local team, the Red Sox of Jamaica Plain, an organization fostered by one of the curates of the St Thomas parish, in which he lives at 16 St Rose st.
On this team, which claimed the 12-13-year-old championship of Greater Boston, he played in centerfield and played it well, according to the fans of the neighborhood. These same experts figure also that the rise of the Red Sox near the end of the season last year was due to the daily attendance of young "Lefty."
Pres Lannin's letter notifying "Lefty" of his appointment states the hope that the team will play its way to success the coming season as a result of its mascot.
Red Sox Will Win Flag Before Sept 1 - Ty Cobb
Detroit. Feb 10 - Tyrus Raymond Cobb, writing to a Detroit friend from his home in Georgia, makes two predictions. One is that the Detroit Tigers will show an improvement over their 1914 form, and the other, of more interest to Boston, says that the Boston Red Sox will sew up the American League pennant before Sept 1.
"I say this advisedly, because I do not consider accidents. To my way of guessing, the next World's Series will be staged in Boston," Cobb says.
Boston Daily Globe February 11, 1915
How Can The Rex Sox Lose?
Between "Lefty" Glennon, Luck Producer, and Ty Cobb Prophet,
There Seems to Be Nothing to It This Year.
Thousands of Red Sox fans will be interested in the announcement that William Joseph Glennon, the 13-year-old youngster with the deep-red hair, who was seen on the diamond every afternoon that the Boston team played in Boston last season, has been "signed" as a member of the team for the coming year in the capacity of mascot.
He is known as "Red" by his playmates, but this name has not the approval of his mother, who is naturally proud of the signal distinction of her son, coming as it does direct from Pres Lannin. The new mascot is left-handed, and she says "Lefty" is much better; so "Lefty" Glennon his name will henceforth be to Boston baseball enthusiasts.
"Lefty" Glennon is a freshman at Boston College High School; he is a bright student and well liked. He was "graduated" into the major league from a local team, the Red Sox of Jamaica Plain, an organization fostered by one of the curates of the St Thomas parish, in which he lives at 16 St Rose st.
On this team, which claimed the 12-13-year-old championship of Greater Boston, he played in centerfield and played it well, according to the fans of the neighborhood. These same experts figure also that the rise of the Red Sox near the end of the season last year was due to the daily attendance of young "Lefty."
Pres Lannin's letter notifying "Lefty" of his appointment states the hope that the team will play its way to success the coming season as a result of its mascot.
Red Sox Will Win Flag Before Sept 1 - Ty Cobb
Detroit. Feb 10 - Tyrus Raymond Cobb, writing to a Detroit friend from his home in Georgia, makes two predictions. One is that the Detroit Tigers will show an improvement over their 1914 form, and the other, of more interest to Boston, says that the Boston Red Sox will sew up the American League pennant before Sept 1.
"I say this advisedly, because I do not consider accidents. To my way of guessing, the next World's Series will be staged in Boston," Cobb says.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Baseball - Did A Fossil Survive?
File this entry under Pure Speculation. I was reading an article on the history of baseball earlier this year, and learned about the "Massachusetts rules" form of the game that existed in the mid-1800s. It seems that the local brand of the game was superceded by the New York game - drats! - and the Massachusetts game faded from memory even here in its home. One particular rule peaked my interest. From "The Rules of the Massachusetts Game," by the Massachusetts Association of Base Ball Players. May 13, 1858.
"If a player, while running the Bases, be hit with the Ball thrown by one of the opposite side, before he has touched the home bound, while off a Base, he shall be considered out."
Hmmm... that's interesting. We played under that rule at the Agassiz schoolyard in the early-mid 1960s. We frequently played with different types of rubber balls, so there was no harm to throwing a player out by hitting him as he ran. This raises to obvious possibilies. First, maybe the idea of throwing runners out by hitting them is in some way natural, and came about as a logical result of boys making up rules while playing unsupervised games. That would have been my guess until recently.
The other possibility is more interesting. Could this rule, formerly an official part of the Massachusetts game, have been passed down by generation after generation of boys on fields and lots long after the "New York" rules had been adopted in official games? The idea that the boys of Jamaica Plain, playing without supervision, passed on this rule summer by summer, older brother to younger, over one hundred years certainly can't be proven any way I know of, but it certainly intrigues me. I've never seen it suggested in print, so I thought I'd put it out there in the Intergoogle on the chance that someone might have considered the possibilty before now.
"If a player, while running the Bases, be hit with the Ball thrown by one of the opposite side, before he has touched the home bound, while off a Base, he shall be considered out."
Hmmm... that's interesting. We played under that rule at the Agassiz schoolyard in the early-mid 1960s. We frequently played with different types of rubber balls, so there was no harm to throwing a player out by hitting him as he ran. This raises to obvious possibilies. First, maybe the idea of throwing runners out by hitting them is in some way natural, and came about as a logical result of boys making up rules while playing unsupervised games. That would have been my guess until recently.
The other possibility is more interesting. Could this rule, formerly an official part of the Massachusetts game, have been passed down by generation after generation of boys on fields and lots long after the "New York" rules had been adopted in official games? The idea that the boys of Jamaica Plain, playing without supervision, passed on this rule summer by summer, older brother to younger, over one hundred years certainly can't be proven any way I know of, but it certainly intrigues me. I've never seen it suggested in print, so I thought I'd put it out there in the Intergoogle on the chance that someone might have considered the possibilty before now.
Monday, November 5, 2007
No Baseball For You!
In September of 1910, the All-Church baseball league of Massachusetts sought a permit from the Mayor of Boston to play a fund-raising benefit game for the House of the Angel Guardian (an orphanage and school). A permit was needed because Sabbath laws prevented the playing of games on Sunday. Apparently, the mayor did not see fit to grant the permit. The field mentioned below was at the corner of Washington and Williams street, diagonally across from Doyle's pub. Across Williams street, boys now play Pop Warner football every autumn Sunday.
Boston Daily Globe September 19, 1910
Sunday Ball Game Stopped
Eugene J. O'Connor Jr Arrested.
Had Been Scheduled to Be on Foss Field, Jamaica Plain.
Defended as Being a Work of Charity.
The first attempt to play an advertised game of baseball in this city on Sunday was nipped in the bud by Capt Joseph Harriman of Jamaica Plain police division yesterday, when Eugene J. O'Connor Jr, 38 years old, of 23 Homestead st, Roxbury, was arrested at Foss athletic park. The arrest was witnessed by 3000, who cheered O'Connor when he was taken to the station house in the patrol wagon.
Announcement had been made that a game would be played between the fort Banks team and the All-Church team of the All-Church league for the benefit of a church institution and that the Mission church band would play. The band was not present.
Mr O'Connor holds a lease of a portion of the grounds included in Foss athletic park, which is part owned by Congressman Eugene N. Foss. A portion of the field is owned by the gas company and a fence is being erected by that company that divides the field which is inclosed with a high board fence.
When announcement of the game was made Capt Harriman received a number of protests from citizens and from a representative of the Sabbath protective league. He got in communication with Mr O'Connor and his attorney, telling them Saturday that he would not allow the game to be played without a permit from Mayor Fitzgerald and Chief Whitney of the district police. Mr O'Connor proceeded to carry out his play of playing the game yesterday on the advice of his attorney.
Mr O'Connor arrived at the park at about 1:55 with a crowd of 30 or more boys, with bags and bundles containing uniforms. They belonged to a 15 year old boys league. Mr O'Connor opened the small gate to the park, but Sergt Hennessey and patrolman O'Brien prevented the crowd from entering. There was perhaps 200 in the crowd, who offered no resistance to the police and silently awaited developments.
Sergt Hennessey learned of Mr O'Connor what he proposed to do and told him he would not allow it. Mr O'Connor then read from the report of Police Commissioner O'Meara quoting the following paragraph: "That works of necessity and charity may be performed on the Lord's day, but the individual policeman is not allowed to decide whether or not a particular work is not covered by chapter (?) is one of necessity or charity. That is a question for the courts."
Mr O'Connor contended that the game to be played was a work of charity, for the benefit of a church institution and that if the game was interrupted by the police he would sue for damages. He showed Sergt Hennessey a blank "for necessary work on the Lord's day," signed by Duputy Supt Warren. Sergt Hennessey told Mr O'Connor that the permit was of no use in the matter of a Sunday game of ball.
Crowd in the Grounds.
All the time the argument was going so the crowd was collecting fast outside of the grounds. Seeing the large number of people who could not gain entrance through the gate guarded by patrolman O'Brien. Mr O'Connor opened the large double gates on Wiliams st and 500 people poured inside the inclosure. There was no boisterousness on their part.
Capt Harriman arrived at the park about 2:20 and had a talk with Mr O'Connor regarding the game, and with him were 10 patrolmen. Capt Harriman told O'Connor "You can't do this thing legally, and the first man who throws a ball will be arrested. If you think you can upset our rules and regulations you are mistaken."
O'Connor argued that golf was played at the country Club on Sunday and at Newton golf clubs, and games of baseball are being played now in this city. He contended that his park was a private grounds and that he had a right to play the game on those grounds as no admission fee was charged.
"They may do those things elsewhere," said Capt Harriman, "but you will not play baseball here today."
"But," said O'Connor "Deputy Warren and Supt Pierce said we would not be disturbed if we played the game," and he then showed capt Harriman the permit he had "to perform necessary work" signed by Deputy Supt Warren. Capt Harriman looked at the "necessary work permit" and told O'Connor that it was of no use in this case, and he explained to O'Connor the nature of the permit he held.
Threatens a Summons.
O'Connor said that he would play the game and Capt Harriman then said:"I forbid you or anyone else to play a gme of ball here this afternoon. The superintendent and the deputy are in no way authorized to give a permit to violate the Lord's day. That permit you hould is for necessary work. This is not work. You can't play your band, you can't even toss a ball and all present here are liable to be summoned to court."
O'Connor took counsel of friends and seemed more deterimined than ever to play the game. He said he was waiting for his attorney before he called the game, but Mr Scharton did not appear. Just before 2 o'clock the forst Hanks team arrived and was cheered.
The crowd surged toward the gates when it saw Capt Harriman going in that direction, while a larger portion of the crowd followed O'Connor about the field. Capt Harriman approached the fort Banks team and told capt John Fisher that a game could not be played. Capt Fisher then declined to go on the field in uniform and start the game.
The Hubbard A.A., a 15-year-old team, was present with uniforms and it was said they were ready to play the game if O'Connor wanted them to.
About this time Sergt Hennessey arrested Edward Goodman, 25 years old, of 228 Blue Hill av, on the charge of attempting to pick the pocket of Edwin J. McGuire. he was hustled off to the station house.
Asks the Captain to Leave.
O'Connor at last approached Capt Harriman and said to him: "Captain, I am going to ask you to leave the grounds and take your officers with you. This is private property and I want you to leave."
"Well, I guess not," said Capt Harriman. "I shall stay here and see this thing through. Now, Gene, if you would only take my advice and not try to play this game you would save yourself a lot of trouble, for just as sure as you attemtp to play ball here this afternoon I will arrest you."
"This is fair notice," said O'Connor, "and I guess we will make a test case of it. I am going to play ball, and I ask you and your officers to clear the field so we can begin." Capt Harriman laughed and the crowd cheered.
O'Connor went to the dressing room and donned a white baseball suit, and when he appeared on the field with a bat and ball, the 3000 men and boys followed him to the extreme right field corner. There O'Connor batted the ball and it went over the fence into Williams st. His act was not seen by the police because of the density of the crowd around him.
O'Connor went back to the dressing room and again appeared with another ball. This time he was watched by Sergt Hennessey and patrolman McAdams. He had no sooner batted the ball than Sergt Hennessey and patrolman McAdams and Capt Harriman placed him under arrest.
Police Diplomacy
Capt Harriman's diplomacy prevented friction with the crowd that might have resulted in serious trouble. Capt Harriman was patient with O'Connor and the crowd soon disappeared after O'Connor was taken to the station house.
William R. Scharton, attorney for O'Connor, appeared at the station house and notified Capt Harriman that bail would be furnished. Bail Commissioner John. R. McVey was soon at the station house and accepted sureties in $100 for O'Connor's release. His case will be called at Jamaica Plain this morning.
*********************************************************************************
Atty. William R. Scharton defended the case in front of Judge Perrins of the Jamaica Plain municipal court. Scharton argued that since no game had actually been played, O'Connor could not be charged with playing baseball. Where the lawyer saw no game at all, the judge saw a flagrant violation of law. O'Connor provided bail, and the case was continued until the next day.
This case drops out of the news here, but O'Connor returns with another arrest in Mattapan and the title "The Father of Sunday Baseball" for his efforts.
Boston Daily Globe September 19, 1910
Sunday Ball Game Stopped
Eugene J. O'Connor Jr Arrested.
Had Been Scheduled to Be on Foss Field, Jamaica Plain.
Defended as Being a Work of Charity.
The first attempt to play an advertised game of baseball in this city on Sunday was nipped in the bud by Capt Joseph Harriman of Jamaica Plain police division yesterday, when Eugene J. O'Connor Jr, 38 years old, of 23 Homestead st, Roxbury, was arrested at Foss athletic park. The arrest was witnessed by 3000, who cheered O'Connor when he was taken to the station house in the patrol wagon.
Announcement had been made that a game would be played between the fort Banks team and the All-Church team of the All-Church league for the benefit of a church institution and that the Mission church band would play. The band was not present.
Mr O'Connor holds a lease of a portion of the grounds included in Foss athletic park, which is part owned by Congressman Eugene N. Foss. A portion of the field is owned by the gas company and a fence is being erected by that company that divides the field which is inclosed with a high board fence.
When announcement of the game was made Capt Harriman received a number of protests from citizens and from a representative of the Sabbath protective league. He got in communication with Mr O'Connor and his attorney, telling them Saturday that he would not allow the game to be played without a permit from Mayor Fitzgerald and Chief Whitney of the district police. Mr O'Connor proceeded to carry out his play of playing the game yesterday on the advice of his attorney.
Mr O'Connor arrived at the park at about 1:55 with a crowd of 30 or more boys, with bags and bundles containing uniforms. They belonged to a 15 year old boys league. Mr O'Connor opened the small gate to the park, but Sergt Hennessey and patrolman O'Brien prevented the crowd from entering. There was perhaps 200 in the crowd, who offered no resistance to the police and silently awaited developments.
Sergt Hennessey learned of Mr O'Connor what he proposed to do and told him he would not allow it. Mr O'Connor then read from the report of Police Commissioner O'Meara quoting the following paragraph: "That works of necessity and charity may be performed on the Lord's day, but the individual policeman is not allowed to decide whether or not a particular work is not covered by chapter (?) is one of necessity or charity. That is a question for the courts."
Mr O'Connor contended that the game to be played was a work of charity, for the benefit of a church institution and that if the game was interrupted by the police he would sue for damages. He showed Sergt Hennessey a blank "for necessary work on the Lord's day," signed by Duputy Supt Warren. Sergt Hennessey told Mr O'Connor that the permit was of no use in the matter of a Sunday game of ball.
Crowd in the Grounds.
All the time the argument was going so the crowd was collecting fast outside of the grounds. Seeing the large number of people who could not gain entrance through the gate guarded by patrolman O'Brien. Mr O'Connor opened the large double gates on Wiliams st and 500 people poured inside the inclosure. There was no boisterousness on their part.
Capt Harriman arrived at the park about 2:20 and had a talk with Mr O'Connor regarding the game, and with him were 10 patrolmen. Capt Harriman told O'Connor "You can't do this thing legally, and the first man who throws a ball will be arrested. If you think you can upset our rules and regulations you are mistaken."
O'Connor argued that golf was played at the country Club on Sunday and at Newton golf clubs, and games of baseball are being played now in this city. He contended that his park was a private grounds and that he had a right to play the game on those grounds as no admission fee was charged.
"They may do those things elsewhere," said Capt Harriman, "but you will not play baseball here today."
"But," said O'Connor "Deputy Warren and Supt Pierce said we would not be disturbed if we played the game," and he then showed capt Harriman the permit he had "to perform necessary work" signed by Deputy Supt Warren. Capt Harriman looked at the "necessary work permit" and told O'Connor that it was of no use in this case, and he explained to O'Connor the nature of the permit he held.
Threatens a Summons.
O'Connor said that he would play the game and Capt Harriman then said:"I forbid you or anyone else to play a gme of ball here this afternoon. The superintendent and the deputy are in no way authorized to give a permit to violate the Lord's day. That permit you hould is for necessary work. This is not work. You can't play your band, you can't even toss a ball and all present here are liable to be summoned to court."
O'Connor took counsel of friends and seemed more deterimined than ever to play the game. He said he was waiting for his attorney before he called the game, but Mr Scharton did not appear. Just before 2 o'clock the forst Hanks team arrived and was cheered.
The crowd surged toward the gates when it saw Capt Harriman going in that direction, while a larger portion of the crowd followed O'Connor about the field. Capt Harriman approached the fort Banks team and told capt John Fisher that a game could not be played. Capt Fisher then declined to go on the field in uniform and start the game.
The Hubbard A.A., a 15-year-old team, was present with uniforms and it was said they were ready to play the game if O'Connor wanted them to.
About this time Sergt Hennessey arrested Edward Goodman, 25 years old, of 228 Blue Hill av, on the charge of attempting to pick the pocket of Edwin J. McGuire. he was hustled off to the station house.
Asks the Captain to Leave.
O'Connor at last approached Capt Harriman and said to him: "Captain, I am going to ask you to leave the grounds and take your officers with you. This is private property and I want you to leave."
"Well, I guess not," said Capt Harriman. "I shall stay here and see this thing through. Now, Gene, if you would only take my advice and not try to play this game you would save yourself a lot of trouble, for just as sure as you attemtp to play ball here this afternoon I will arrest you."
"This is fair notice," said O'Connor, "and I guess we will make a test case of it. I am going to play ball, and I ask you and your officers to clear the field so we can begin." Capt Harriman laughed and the crowd cheered.
O'Connor went to the dressing room and donned a white baseball suit, and when he appeared on the field with a bat and ball, the 3000 men and boys followed him to the extreme right field corner. There O'Connor batted the ball and it went over the fence into Williams st. His act was not seen by the police because of the density of the crowd around him.
O'Connor went back to the dressing room and again appeared with another ball. This time he was watched by Sergt Hennessey and patrolman McAdams. He had no sooner batted the ball than Sergt Hennessey and patrolman McAdams and Capt Harriman placed him under arrest.
Police Diplomacy
Capt Harriman's diplomacy prevented friction with the crowd that might have resulted in serious trouble. Capt Harriman was patient with O'Connor and the crowd soon disappeared after O'Connor was taken to the station house.
William R. Scharton, attorney for O'Connor, appeared at the station house and notified Capt Harriman that bail would be furnished. Bail Commissioner John. R. McVey was soon at the station house and accepted sureties in $100 for O'Connor's release. His case will be called at Jamaica Plain this morning.
*********************************************************************************
Atty. William R. Scharton defended the case in front of Judge Perrins of the Jamaica Plain municipal court. Scharton argued that since no game had actually been played, O'Connor could not be charged with playing baseball. Where the lawyer saw no game at all, the judge saw a flagrant violation of law. O'Connor provided bail, and the case was continued until the next day.
This case drops out of the news here, but O'Connor returns with another arrest in Mattapan and the title "The Father of Sunday Baseball" for his efforts.
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