For the next week the radio boys worked like beavers. They had pored
over the catalogue that, according to his promise, Dr. Dale had lent
them, and, acting on his advice, had picked out a tube of well-known
make that could be bought for a moderate price. They had had to send to
New York for it, because Dave Slocum did not have just that kind in
stock, and they were feverish with impatience until it arrived. In the
period of waiting they pitched in and helped Jimmy with the horn, and
even Herb became sufficiently infected by the energy of the others to
turn to and do his share of the work.
The precious tube arrived on Saturday morning, and Bob, who had ordered
it, was gloating over it when the other boys came over to the house.
"It's come at last!" he cried exultantly, holding up the tube for their
inspection.
There were exclamations of satisfaction as the others gathered round Bob
and examined it.
"And it's come just in time to get a good christening," declared Joe.
"That is, if we can have everything ready by three o'clock this
afternoon."
"What do you mean?" asked Bob.
"Why, I just read in the morning paper that the broadcasting station is
going to send out the big baseball game between the Giants and the
Pittsburghs at the Polo Grounds this afternoon," replied Joe. "They say
that they're going to send out the game play by play, every ball
pitched, every strike, every hit, every base stolen, every run scored,
so that you can follow the game from the time the first man goes to the
bat till the last man goes out in the ninth inning. What do you think of
that?"
What they thought of it was evident from the chorus of jubilation that
followed. All of them were ardent baseball fans, and in addition to that
were good players themselves. Bob was pitcher and Joe first baseman on
the High School nine, while Jimmy played a good game at short and Herb
took care of the center field garden.
Naturally, with this love of the game, they were keenly interested in
the championship races of the big major league ball teams and, during
the season, followed the ups and downs of their favorites with the
closest attention. That spring the race had been especially hot between
the Giants and the Pittsburghs. Both had started out well, and the
Giants had cleaned up the majority of games in the East, while the
Pittsburghs had been cutting a big swath in the West.
Now the Pittsburghs were coming to New York on their first invasion of
the year, and interest ran fever high in the Metropolis and the section
round about. The newspapers were devoting columns of space to the teams,
and it was certain that there would be a record attendance at the game
that afternoon.
"Bully!" cried Herb, as he danced a jig on the receipt of Joe's news.
"It will be almost as good as sitting in the grandstand behind the home
plate," exulted Jimmy.
"Best thing I've heard since Sitting Bull sat down!" exclaimed Bob, as
he clapped his friend on the shoulder.
"First time we'll ever have seen a championship baseball game without
paying for it," laughed Joe.
"I wouldn't exactly call it seeing the game," said Bob. "But it's
certainly the next thing to it. But now let's get busy so that we'll be
sure to have everything ready by the time the game begins."
They needed no urging and worked so fast and well that by dinner time
they had the tube and horn arranged to their satisfaction. That left
them time enough to go around among their friends and invite them to
come in and enjoy the game with them. The invitation was accepted with
alacrity, and some time before the hour set for the game to begin Bob's
room was filled with expectant boys.
Naturally, Bob, as host, was a little anxious and nervous as the moment
approached when his improved set would be put to the test. It would have
been a mortifying thing for him to fail.
He felt sure that every attachment and connection had been properly made
and that nothing essential had been overlooked. Still, it was with a
certain feeling of apprehension that he turned the knob to tune in when
his watch told him that it was three o'clock. The day was hot, and
"static" was likely to be troublesome.
There was a moment of hissing and whistling while he was getting
perfectly tuned. Then he caught it just right, and into the room, clear
and strong, came the announcement of the umpire, repeated by the man at
the broadcasting station:
"Ladies and gentlemen: The batteries for to-day's game are Blake and
McCarthy for Pittsburgh, Hardy and Thompson for New York. Play ball!"
There was a roar of delight from the boys in the crowded room and a
clapping of hands that made Bob's face flush with pleasure. But he held
up his hand for silence, and the excited boys settled back in their
chairs, listening intently so as not to miss a feature of the game.
Then followed, play by play, the story of the first inning with the
Pittsburghs, as the visiting team, first at bat.
The hum of conversation had ceased in the room, and the boys leaned
forward intently, anxious not to lose a syllable.
"Strike one!" came in stentorian tones.
"Ball one!" followed.
"Strike two!"
"Elton singles to center. Allison made a bad return of the ball, and
Elton by fast running reached second. Maginn at bat."
"Strike one!"
"Maginn lays down a sacrifice between first and second and is out at
first. Elton gets to third on the play."
It was evident that the Giant pitcher had not yet got into his stride,
for he passed the next two batters, and the bases were filled with only
one man out.
"He's as wild as a March hare," whispered Jimmy to Herb.
"Sure looks like a run with Krug coming up," replied Herb. "He can
everlastingly lambaste the ball. He's made two homers this week
already."
"Ball one," "ball two," "ball three," followed in quick succession.
"Looks as if he were going to pass him, too, to get a chance at
Hofmeyer," murmured Joe.
"That would be poor dope, for it would force in a run," replied Bob. "I
guess he simply can't locate the plate. It's funny the manager doesn't
take him out."
"Krug hits a sharp grounder to Helmer," came the voice. "Helmer shoots
the ball to Menken, forcing Ackerson at second, and Menken by a
lightning throw gets Krug at first. Three out. One hit, no runs."
There was a ripple of applause at the snappy double play.
"That pulled the pitcher out of a tight hole all right," laughed Bob.
"Gee, but I bet the Pittsburghs are sore. The bases full and only one
man out, and yet they couldn't score."
"That's what makes a baseball game so exciting," returned Joe. "You
can't be sure of anything. Just when you think the game is all sewed up
something happens and the whole thing goes ke-flooey."
"Can't you imagine how the Giant rooters are yelling their heads off at
the Polo Grounds?" chuckled Jimmy.
The Giants in their turn at bat went out in one, two, three order.
"Ladies and gentlemen," came the voice a moment later: "Roberts now
pitching for New York."
"I thought they'd take out Hardy," commented Herb. "He was as wild as a
hawk in that first inning, and the manager isn't going to take chances."
In the next three innings neither side scored. Roberts, the new choice
of the manager, was pitching like a house afire, and did not let a man
reach first. The Pittsburgh pitcher was also on his mettle, and mowed
his opponents down almost as fast as they came to the plate.
In the fifth inning, however, the Giants broke the ice.
"Wharton lifts a Texas leaguer back of second," came the voice. "Krug
and Hofmeyer went for it, but the ball fell between them."
"Strike one!"
"Foul--strike two!"
"Miller lines the ball to right. Maginn, instead of waiting for the ball
on the bound, rushes in to make a shoestring catch and the ball gets
past him. Elton retrieves the ball and makes a great throw to the plate
to catch Wharton, who has rounded third and is racing for home. He
slides under the catcher's arm and scores. Miller in the meantime makes
third."
Again there came the murmur of applause that showed how the boys were
wrought up by the play that they saw in their minds' eye almost as
plainly as if it were right before them.
"Helmer hits to Hofmeyer," went on the voice, "and Miller is run down
between third and home, the batter reaching second on the play."
"Ball one!"
"Ball two!"
"Helmer makes a clean steal of third."
"Ball three!"
"Guess the Pittsburgh pitcher is getting a little nervous," whispered
Jimmy.
"That steal, together with the error in center, is getting his goat,"
assented Herb.
"Allison sends the ball on a line into the right field bleachers for a
homer, scoring Helmer in front of him," the voice announced.
"Gee, but that must have been some clout!" ejaculated Joe. "That fellow
sure can kill the ball."
The pause that followed told them as plainly as words of the yelling and
excitement at the grounds that were holding up the game.
"Ladies and gentlemen," came the announcement: "Ralston now pitching for
the Pittsburghs."
"Batted the other fellow out of the box!" exclaimed Jimmy gleefully, who
made no bones of the fact that he was rooting for the Giants.
"Him for the showers," agreed Herb, who was also a Giant adherent.
"I guess the Giants have put the game on ice," exulted Joe.
"Don't be too sure," warned Bob. "Those Pittsburghs are fence breakers,
and they may stage a rally any minute. It takes more than a three-run
lead to make them curl up."
That they were not going to "curl up" became evident as the game
progressed toward its close. They fought like tigers for every
advantage, made hair-raising stops and throws and slugged the ball
ferociously. But a Giant fielder seemed to be in front of every ball,
and when the Pittsburghs came up for their last inning the score was
still 3 to 0 in favor of the New York team.
But in that ninth inning!