Page:History of Oregon Newspapers.pdf/504

495 awarded to either party. The scoring stood: married, 54; single, 23.

A week later, in the issue of August 17, 1867, there was published the same nameless, almost factless, type of story of the second game of the series, which the married men again won, in five innings, 53 to 48. The score may raise some doubt of the accuracy of the phrase "masterly playing," to which the State Journal attributed the married men's victory. The final game of the series is described in an account which is herewith reproduced; it will be noted that the only name mentioned in connection with the three games is that of the man who entertained the winning team at dinner; whether he had any part in the game is not reported. Here's the story, full of the word-play so often attempted in those times:

"Base Ball.—The third game between the married and single men occurred in this city last Thursday afternoon. A large concourse witnessed the playing, and all seemed intense ly interested. The game was well contested; both sides doing their very best. The scoring stood: Married men, 41; single men, 30. The victorious party were invited to the residence of Dr. Hanchett, where they partook of a "game" dinner. This part of the programme varied considerably from the play in the field. All had "bases," and everyone "pitched" to the "center"; all the "fouls" were "caught on the fly"; and all made "home runs," whether on a "ball" or a "foul"; and no matter how they played they kept their "innings" until brought up on the "short stop" when they all retired in the best manner possible."

One of the noticeable characteristics of baseball in the 60's was the tremendous scores rolled up—probably indicative of the weakness of the defense. The Oregon City Enterprise in an early issue carried a story of a game between the Portland Pioneers and the Clackamas team, which was won by Portland, 77 to 46. The Portland team started off with the astonishing total of 20 runs in the first inning; in the second inning they added 22 more, by way of making the game safe. Here the opposing boxmen tightened up, apparently, and the Portland swatters were able to make only 35 more runs in all the rest of the game. Meanwhile the Clackamas clouters rallied and actually put across 11 tallies in the final inning, leaving them only 31 runs behind. Seven home runs were made—sixty years before Babe Ruth was making that sort of thing regular. The game appears to have been a gala event, all around, followed by a banquet at the Barlow House. The Oregon City band played at the game and ate at the feast, and the Pioneer team after the game sent elaborate resolutions to the Enterprise office, thanking (1) the Clackamas Baseball Club for hospitalities; (2) the Oregon City brass band for