Interscholastic baseball season was as undignified as it was
unnecessary, and it has surely brought no credit to the Harvard School
or to any of its athletic authorities. Knowing, as it seems they all
did, that Ehrich was absolutely and unequivocally disqualified from
competing in sports held under the rules of the N.Y.I.S.A.A., he was
nevertheless put in to catch in the most important game of the season.
Zizinia, the captain of the Harvard team, had been advised to substitute
Dillenback if Ehrich was protested on the field, but for some
unexplained reason, when De La Salle did protest him, he was
nevertheless allowed to play. This was a bit of gross misjudgment, to
say the least, and has resulted in Harvard losing the pennant, which
might have been won with Dillenback behind the bat. By pursuing this
course, Harvard School not only allowed an inferior team to represent
the N.Y.I.S.B.B. League at Eastern Park on June 8th, thus doing an
injustice to the entire association, but made itself liable to expulsion
and disgrace, which will probably only be avoided because of the
personal friendship of the League delegates for the Harvard
representatives. As for the unsportsmanlike spirit of the whole
performance, perhaps the less said about it the better.
The De La Salle nine is, no doubt, inferior both in fielding and batting
qualities to the Harvard team, but I do not believe that the latter
would have made a much better showing against the strong men from Garden
City had they met them. These are baseball-players, and no mistake; and
they worked just as hard all through the game with De La Salle as if
they were not having a "merry-go-round," as their rooters constantly
exclaimed. It certainly was a merry-go-round, and all the mirth was on
the St. Paul side of the fence, for a poorer exhibition of
baseball-playing has doubtless seldom been seen at Eastern Park than the
game put up by the representatives of the New York Association. The
out-fielders could not judge the easiest of flies, and dropped almost
every ball that they did manage to get their hands on, and the
in-fielders were not much better. To any one who saw the game, or who
was acquainted with the record of the St. Paul nine, it was not
surprising that the Garden City players piled up thirty-five runs to
their opponents' one, or that they made twenty-six base hits, with six
home runs.
[Illustration: Baker, Howard, Foster, Henderson, Goldsborough Robinson,
Hill.
3d b. sub. 2d b. coach. r.f. sub. sub.
Hall, p. Lum, l.f. and capt. S. M. Starr, c. E. Starr, 1st b.
Mortimer, s.s. Flippen, c.f.
ST. PAUL'S, GARDEN CITY, BASEBALL NINE.
Winners of the Inter-City Championship, Eastern Park, Brooklyn, June 8,
1895.]
The St. Paul nine have played thirteen games this season, and have not
suffered a single defeat. They have scored 179 runs to their opponents'
51; they have made 192 hits to their opponents' 69; and they have
committed only 54 errors to their opponents' 84. Their batting and
fielding averages reckon up as follows:
Batting. Fielding.
Hall, p. .407 .915
S. Starr, c. .371 .937
E. Starr, 1 b. .393 .948
Foster, 2 b. .375 .893
Baker, 3 b. .375 .714
Mortimer, s. s. .333 .709
Lum, l. f. .360 .923
Flippen, c. f. .339 .813
Goldsborough, r. f. .378 .900
It is evident from the above that St. Paul had a hard-hitting team, and
I have no doubt the fielding averages--especially of Baker, Flippen, and
Foster--would have been higher if the men had tried to make records
rather than to accept every chance that came their way. Hall's pitching
throughout the season has been up to a high standard, and his fielding
has been excellent. In one game he had thirteen fielding chances, which
he accepted without making an error. Foster, too, has done well, and has
spoiled many an apparent base hit. Next year the managers of this nine
should seek games with stronger teams than can be found in either the
New York or the Long Island leagues. I should like to see them play
Andover or Lawrenceville. The latter claim they cannot find opponents
worthy of them outside the colleges. Perhaps Garden City can give them
good practice.
[Illustration: OAKLAND HIGH-SCHOOL ATHLETIC TEAM,
Champions of the Academic Athletic League of the Pacific Coast.]
The men shown in the picture of the Oakland High-School Athletic Team
are Cheek, Jackson, Jenks, Gooch, Hoffman, Guppy, Russ, McConnell,
Hanford, Rosborough, and Dawson. They won the championship of the A.A.L.
for the O.H.-S. at the last two field meetings--March 16th and May
4th--and most of them return to school next year. W. B. Jackson, the
mile runner, enters the University of California this fall, and if that
enterprising college sends a team to Mott Haven next spring, Jackson
will be one of its members, and he will push the Eastern cracks in the
mile run.
Connecticut H.-S.A.A. Games, Hartford, June 8, 1895.
Event. Winner. Performance.
100-yard dash Conner, L. 10-1/2 sec.
220-yard run Dyer, L. 23-4/5 "
440-yard run Foster, B.H.-S. 53-1/2 "
Half-mile run Bassett, N.B. 2 m. 7-1/5 "
Mile run Buckingham, B.H.-S. 5 " 8-1/5 "
Mile walk Butler, H. 7 " 17-3/5 "
120-yard hurdle Field, H.H.-S. 17-4/5 "
220-yard hurdle Field, H.H.-S. 26-1/2 "
Two-mile bicycle Baker, L. 5 " 18-2/5 "
Running high jump Sturtevant, H.H.-S. 5 ft. 5 in.
Running broad jump Conner, L. 20 " 7-1/4 "
Pole vault Sturtevant, H.H.-S. 9 " 8-1/2 "
Throwing the hammer Beck, H. 111 " 10 "[2]
Putting the shot Beck, H. 36 " 8-1/2 "[2]
Western Massachusetts I.S.A.A. Games,
Amherst, June 8, 1895.
Event. Winner. Performance.
100-yard dash Coit, H. 10-4/5 sec.
220-yard run Coit, H. 24-4/5 "
440-yard run Perkins, C. 57-2/5 "
Half-mile run Thayer, H. 2 m. 10-1/5 "
Mile run Thayer, H. 5 " 55 "
Mile walk
120-yard hurdle Phillips, M. 16-3/5 "
220-yard hurdle Phillips, M. 29-4/5 "
Two-mile bicycle
Running high jump Chism, M. 5 ft. 4-3/4 in.
Running broad jump Gladwin, W. 19 " 3 "
Pole vault Scott, W. 10 " 1-1/2 "
Throwing the hammer Chism, M. 94 " 8 "[1]
Putting the shot Austin, M. 32 " 3 "[2]
Dual Games between Phillips Andover and
Worcester Academies, Worcester, June 8, 1895.
Event. Winner. Performance.
100-yard dash Sargent, W.A. 11-1/5 sec.
220-yard run Barker, W. A. 23-2/5 "
440-yard run Fish, W.A. 53-2/5 "
Half-mile run Laing, P.A. 2 m. 7 "
Mile run Laing, P.A. 4 " 47-4/5 "
Mile walk Lockwood, W.A. 8 " 3 "
120-yard hurdle Holt, P.A. 18-3/5 "
220-yard hurdle Barker, W.A. 28 "
Two-mile bicycle Campbell, W.A. 5 " 48-4/5 "
Running high jump Edmonds, W.A. 5 ft. 5 in.
Running broad jump Williams, P.A. 19 " 2 "
Pole vault Johnson, W.A. 10 " 2-1/2 "
Throwing the hammer Holt, P.A. 104 " 3-1/2 "[1]
Putting the shot Holt, P.A. 33 " 6 "[2]
Abbreviations.--Connecticut H.-S.A.A.: L., Hotchkiss School,
Lakeville; H., Hillhouse High-School, New Haven; H.H.-S., Hartford
High-School; B.H.-S., Bridgeport High-School; H.C., Hartford
Classical School; N.B., New Britain High-School; B.M.T., Boardman
Manual Training-School; B., Bulkeley School, New London. Western
Massachusetts I.S.A.A.: M., Monson; H., Holyoke; W., Westfield; C.,
Chicopee; A., Amherst. Dual Games: P.A., Phillip's Academy,
Andover; W.A., Worcester Academy.
A mere glance at the reports of the three interscholastic meets held in
New England a week ago Saturday will demonstrate that scholastic sports,
in spite of their prominence and excellence, are still in a suit of
"go-as-you-please" state of perfection. For instance, half the
associations use a 16-lb. hammer and a 16-lb. shot, whereas the other
half use 12-lb. weights. In some instances, such as at the
Worcester-Andover dual games, the contestants put a 16-lb. shot, but
threw a 12-lb. hammer. It is impossible to make a comparison of relative
efficiency under such conditions. Why is it not just as easy for all the
schools to use a 16-lb. hammer, and thus equalize things? Then they
could not only compare their own records, but they could see in what
relation they stand to college-men. The principal argument in favor of
the 12-lb. shot and hammer is that school-boys are not strong enough to
use the heavier weights. This does not seem to me to be a good argument,
because fully half the associations use the 16-lb. hammer and shot, and
there are no reports of resultant evil effects. Besides, a school
athlete who goes in for those events is usually a well-built and
muscular boy, who, if he is going to college will probably continue to
put the shot and throw the hammer. It is pure nonsense, therefore, for
him to become accustomed to lighter weights, for it will be like
beginning all over again for him when he enters college sports, and his
classmate who started with a 16-lb. hammer will have a considerable
advantage over him.
For some time I have wanted to speak of this matter and of kindred
subjects, but as I have not space enough to go into it fully this week,
I shall only say a few more words to start those interested in it to
thinking. The kindred subjects are the other events on the scholastic
programmes. Why not have the card at school meetings identical with the
inter-collegiate programme? We all know that there are too many events,
anyhow, on both cards, and I am glad to hear that next year the colleges
will eliminate the mile walk and the bicycle race. The schools cannot do
better than follow this example, and those leagues which have throwing
the baseball, standing high jump, standing broad jump, and other
acrobatic feats on their lists will do well to start in on sweeping
reforms. There is nothing athletic about throwing the baseball,
especially, and it certainly is not a picturesque feature of any
meeting.
Uniformity is a great thing in any branch of human endeavor, and the
sooner we can attain to it in interscholastic sport the farther advanced
we shall be. The formation of a general interscholastic league, such as
I spoke of last week, will be of great service in that very direction;
for the greater association would adopt a definite programme, and all of
the schools holding membership would have to accept it, and would no
doubt be delighted to do so. I am glad to say that the suggestion of
forming a general league has been favorably received by many enthusiasts
in interscholastic sport, and, so far as I know, has been unfavorably
commented on by no one. I have received, already, several letters
endorsing the scheme, and the only point so far on which my
correspondents differ is concerning the best place to hold the annual
meeting. Until representatives from all sections are heard from,
however, it will be impossible to say what the preponderance of opinion
really is. Mr. Evert Wendell is heartily in favor of the formation of a
joint league. In his letter he says that such a thing would increase the
interest in the subject everywhere, and would prove a great success.
Continuing, he writes: "The only part of it of which I disapprove is the
holding of the meeting in a distinctly college town. The interests of so
widely representative an interscholastic meeting must be so diverse that
it would be unwise, for many reasons, to hold it in a town identified
only with one of them. New York would be the most central place for it,
and, to my mind, the most advisable choice. The best tracks are here,
the best-known officials are here, and the greatest number of spectators
would doubtless be gathered here. The Inter-collegiate Association has
chosen New York as the most central and representative place in which to
hold its annual meeting, and the localities of the various associations
which you propose to have constitute members of the new-school athletic
body would in general be drawn from about the same parts of the country
as the colleges in the other organization. So have the meeting, by all
means, but have it in New York."
For the fifth time since 1889 the Hartford Public High-School won the
championship of the Connecticut High-School A.A. at the games held in
Charter Oak Park, Hartford, June 8th. They scored 38-1/3 points out of a
possible 112, their nearest rival, the Hotchkiss School of Lakeville,
being just ten points behind them. Some very good performances were
made, and eight records were broken, and if it had not been for a strong
wind blowing up the track the time in the sprints might in many cases
have been better. In spite of the breeze, however, the three trial heats
of the 100 were run in 10-4/5 sec., 10-3/5 sec., and 10-3/5 sec.,
respectively, and the final was made by Conner in 10-1/2 sec. He ran a
strong race, finishing a yard ahead of Dyer, his school-mate, with
Davenport third. Ingraham, unfortunately, had to be put back a yard at
the line for a false start, and could not overcome the handicap. Dyer
turned the tables on Conner in the 220, finishing ahead of him. It was a
pretty race, all the contestants running in one heat, the track being
sixty yards wide. Luce proved a disappointment for the Hartford
High-School in the quarter by going to pieces in the last half of the
race after earning a good lead at the start. Consequently Foster passed
him, and took first easily in 53-1/2 sec. Luce has done better than 52
in practice, and may learn from his experience of last week not to take
any chances with his diet on the eve of a race.
The half-mile run was one of the most exciting events of the day. The
runners kept bunched at first, but soon Bassett, Kearney, and Lawrence
plunged ahead of the field, each one struggling for the lead. Bassett
and Lawrence ran almost abreast until within fifty yards of the finish,
when the latter was taken with a cramp in the leg, which forced him to
third place, behind Kearney, while Bassett crossed the line in 2 m.
7-1/5 sec. This time would certainly have been bettered but for
Lawrence's misfortune, for both he and the winner have done better in
practice. I was surprised at Chapman's defeat in the mile, for I think
he could have won if he had shown more "sand." He led until within sixty
yards of the finish, when Buckingham passed him. Then he gave up, and
straggled in second. The high hurdles made a pretty race for two
Hartford High-School men--Field and Cady. Field is a most graceful
runner, and he scraped the sticks in fine form, with Cady snapping along
barely a yard behind. The time was comparatively poor, but I dare say
this was largely due to Cady's weakness, he having dislocated his
shoulder a few weeks before the race. He is a brother of the Yale
sprinter, and from present appearances I believe he will do better than
his senior when he gets the advantage of college methods and training.
The improvement over his last year's style is marked. He came in third
in the low hurdles, with Field again in the lead.
[Illustration: F. G. BECK, HILLHOUSE HIGH-SCHOOL, NEW HAVEN.]
The fifteen starters in the bicycle event kept well bunched until a
collision scattered the crowd and spoiled things for four of the riders.
The remainder bunched again and pedalled along pretty evenly, until
Steele, Rutz, and Baker forged ahead in the stretch and finished in that
order. The time, 5 min. 18-2/5 sec., is excellent. Another unusually
good performance at the Connecticut games was Butler's winning of the
walk in 7 min. 17-3/5 sec. He forged ahead at the start with such a
rapid gait that I felt certain he must give out before he could cover
half the distance, but he kept it up, and finished strong fully a
hundred yards ahead of Tichbourne. Sturtevant and Beck carried off the
honors in the field events, the former winning both the pole vault and
the high jump, breaking the record in each case. He is only seventeen
years old, but he is a promising man. He won the vault at 9 feet 6
inches without ever touching the bar; then he had it raised to 9 feet
8-1/2 inches, and cleared it at the first trial. He could have gone
higher, but was reserving his force for the jumps. In the high, he
repeated his performance of the vault by winning first at 5 feet 4-1/2
inches, then by having the bar raised to 5 feet 8 inches and clearing it
at the first attempt. In taking both the hammer and the shot Beck did
excellent work, as our table of records will show. Both weights were 16
pounds, and I feel confident that he can make a better put in the shot
when not competing in so many events.
It is to be regretted that the Springfield High-School decided not to
enter any team at the Western Massachusetts I.S.A.A. games, held on
Pratt Field. Amherst; but the meeting was most successful, and Monson
Academy again left the field a victor. The success of the Monson
athletes was entirely due to their careful training, and to the
systematic way and the earnestness with which the men went into every
event. I have heard many plaints to the effect that Monson's annual
victory in the shot and hammer was always due to the fact that her
representatives in these events were larger men than the other schools
could produce. That excuse cannot hold this year, for both O'Connor of
Holyoke H.-S., and Clark of Amherst H.-S., were giants alongside of
Austin, the Monson shot champion. Considering this was the Chicopee
High-School's first year in the association, her representatives did
remarkably well in spite of the fact that they finished fourth. Amherst
High made the lowest score, with only 6 points to her credit, while
Chicopee got 25, and Westfield, next ahead of Chicopee, only scored 27.
The winning score of Monson was 53 points.
THE GRADUATE.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] 12 lbs.
[2] 16 lbs.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
Highest of all in Leavening Power.--Latest U. S. Gov't Report.
[Illustration: Royal Baking Powder]
The _Interscholastic Sport_ Department of HARPER'S ROUND TABLE will be
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[Illustration: If afflicted with SORE EYES USE Dr. ISAAC THOMPSON'S EYE
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[Illustration]
=SEND for Catalogue of= the =Musical Instrument= you think of buying.
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[Illustration: BICYCLING]
This Department is conducted in the interest of Bicyclers, and the
Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject. Our
maps and tours contain much valuable data kindly supplied from the
official maps and road-books of the League of American Wheelmen.
Recognizing the value of the work being done by the L. A. W., the
Editor will be pleased to furnish subscribers with membership
blanks and information so far as possible.
[Illustration: Copyright, 1895, by Harper & Brothers.]
The only other really good ride on Long Island out of Brooklyn, besides
the one given in last week's issue to Babylon, is over the same route as
already described to Jamaica, and from thence as on the Babylon route,
on through Hollis and Holliswood Park. Just beyond Holliswood Park the
fork is reached whose right leads to Babylon, and whose left runs out
over the plank-road to Jericho, and thence up along the north shore of
Long Island. There are almost no hills along the entire route until the
rider gets up to the north shore at and beyond Huntington. On taking the
left fork, after passing Holliswood Park, the rider gets into Queens,
continues on through Floral Park, Hyde Park, and Mineola straight out to
Jericho, on a remarkably good road for Long Island, and a creditable
road for any country. Jericho is practically the end of this plank-road.
After leaving Jamaica and passing by the toll-gate, the rider may to
advantage take to the side paths, for these will give him considerable
help; but complaints against bicyclists have grown so numerous of late,
and there is so much danger that severe legislation will be pushed
against bicyclists, that every one is urged never to ride on side paths
or sidewalks within the limits of a village or a thickly populated town.
There are several roads which may be taken out of Jericho. One of these
is to turn right from Jericho and go on southward to Hicksville (and
turn at the bottom of the hill), about a mile beyond, near the edge of
the plain. Take the left fork and continue on this until the railroad is
crossed. After crossing the railroad turn left and keep to this road
until the railroad is again crossed, when a turn to the right should be
made at the next fork, and the rider will soon run into Farmingdale.
Running through Farmingdale, and turning sharp to the right at the next
crossroads, the wheelman crosses the tracks and runs to the Holycross
Mission-House, two miles away, turns sharp to the right a little beyond,
and runs into Amityville, three miles further on. The road is good, and
the side paths may be taken here to advantage also. After leaving
Amityville, cross the railroad, and turn to the left to the shore road
on the south shore of Long Island. A turn to the left carries the rider
into Babylon, and he may here rest, and run back to Brooklyn by the
route described last week.
Another run, and the one marked on the map accompanying the Department
this week, is to continue on from Jericho until the turning to the right
is reached, and then the wheelman can run up to the north shore, through
Huntington to Northport. There should be a turn made to the left at
Jericho, and, after a short distance, a turn to the right, thence
crossing the railroad track after passing Locust Grove and running into
Syosset. The road is somewhat hilly there, though not bad. On passing
the station the wheelman should turn right and take the next turn to the
left. It will bring him into Cold Spring. Turning right from here and
taking the main road he runs on three miles into Huntington over a
somewhat hilly road; thence the route is direct to Centreport and
Northport, a little over five miles further on, and the rider may then
keep on along the north shore as far as he likes. Huntington, however,
makes thirty three or four miles, which is enough for an ordinary
bicyclist, who would naturally return by train, or, if the return route
be made in the same day, sixty-five to seventy miles would be covered.
If the return trip be made, it is possible to take a pleasant run out to
Glen Cove by keeping to the road after passing (going west) Cold Spring.
The run then will be through Laurelton, Oyster Bay, Bayville, Locust
Valley, into Glen Cove, and the road can then be followed without
difficulty. From Glen Cove it is somewhat hilly. There is a pretty run
through Greenville, Roslyn, back to plank road at Mineola. This return
detour adds three or four miles, but makes a variety in the road.
NOTE.--Map of New York city asphalted sheets in No. 809. Map of
route from New York to Tarrytown in No. 810. New York to Stamford,
Connecticut, in No. 811. New York to Staten Island in No. 812. New
Jersey from Hoboken to Pine Brook in No. 813. Brooklyn in No. 814.
Brooklyn to Babylon, 815.
[Illustration: THE CAMERA CLUB]
Any questions in regard to photograph matters will be willingly
answered by the editor of this column, and we should be glad to
hear from any of our club who can make helpful suggestions.
PAPERS FOR BEGINNERS, No. 4.
HOME-MADE APPARATUS.
A DARK-ROOM LANTERN.