Clipping:The Atlantics back out of a match
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| Date | Saturday, October 5, 1867 |
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| Text | After a long consultation between the officers of the two clubs, word was given that the game would be played, and the large crowd present, who had been waiting patiently for over an hour, filled the seats up and took another rest. It was now found that the “champions” were not going the keep faith in the true spirit of the promise. Instead of playing their first nine, or those of them who were able to play, they stated their intention of putting a “muffin” nine in the field against the Athletics, with the avowed purpose of playing so poorly, that five innings could not be finished, and thus tricking the Philadelphians. No effort was made to disguise this shabby trick, and the members of the Atlantic Club openly talked of it as something “smart.” These facts coming to the ears of the Athletics, they very properly refused to play such a nine and the game was declared off. New York Clipper October 5, 1867 The Athletics on Friday were waited upon by Mr. Reagan, Secretary of the Atlantics, who requested a postponement. A dispatch was received also from the Atlantics themselves, desiring that the game should not be played. The Athletics felt that there was no just grounds warranting a postponement, and refused to entertain such a proposition, and so notified both Mr. Reagan and the Atlantics. They felt that they had already given up too much by Hayhurst’s arrangement. They knew that it was just by such quibbles that the Atlantics had held the ball year after year. They did not forget that the Atlantics had visited them upon one occasion, late in the season, on a few hours’ notice. They remembered that Berkenstock and Reach had both played where they were incapable of doing duty. The Atlantic’s reputation for selfishness in this particular was too long established to warrant the Athletics entertaining such a flimsy plea. There were too many precedents, one of which was insisting upon the Mutuals playing them when the latter were without the services of their regular pitcher. The Athletics, according to their agreement, left for New York, on Monday last. They were permitted, as has been the custom of the Atlantics, to be their own escort, and find the grounds a best they could. Arriving at the Union enclosure at an early hour, they got themselves in readiness to play, and were soon driving the ball around the field. The Atlantics hovered around their club house, which is distinct from where the Athletics made their preparations for play. Having nothing special on hand, we mixed in with the Atlantic crowd, and our ears were regaled with wrathful expressions, as well as threats, as to what Atlantic indignation would do when it got to blood heat. The multitude commenced to pile in pretty lively by this time, and Master Cammeyer’s agents were kept busily employed taking charge of the quarters paid for admission. The Match Committee, of the Athletic were invited by the proprietor, to meet a Committee on behalf of the Atlantic, in his private office, which McBride, Fisler and Reach at once acceded to. Hereafter they were asked what they came over for. Of course they stated their business, and were flatly told the Atlantics would not play. McBride then said: “If you will play us in Philadelphia, next Monday,(to morrow,) we will guarantee you every farthing taken at the gate.” The Atlantics had no intention of measuring swords with the Athletics, and declined a proposition for which liberality we think unparalleled. If the Atlantic Club is to be bribed into playing matches, it is about time, we thing, that match games ceased. Master Cammeyer, with an eye to business, and to propitiate the large assemblage present, proposed that the Athletics should play a picked nine. This Dan Kleinfelder heard of, and quickly repudiated. Dan was right in saying that he had not joined a menagerie, to be trotted around the country to be exhibited for gate money. Wilkins was also emphatic, and so was Cuthbert, in refusing to enter into any such compact. The other members, on hearing of the proposition to play a picked nine, begged to be considered out. Some strong motive induced Dick to lend his assistance, and a scrub match was played, and Dick’s side, or the one he played one, was badly beaten. Previous to the adjournment of the confab between the clubs, the Atlantics said that they would put a muffin nine on the field to contest with our boys, but we would never reach the fifth inning. This muffin business was suggested by that adroit trickster, Chadwick, who professes to have the interest of the game at heart, and who, on occasions of this kind, is to be relied upon for just such a suggestion as we have stated. We refer him to the article above [not copied here], from his pen, wherein the Atlantics are ready, with defeat staring them in the face, to keep their engagements. We wonder if the “adroit” can explain what he meant when he penned what we have quoted? He will probably wriggle out of it by declaring that he never wrote it. Thus ends the history of the recent attempt of the Athletics to get on a match with the Atlantics. We inquired of an enthusiastic member of the Atlantic Club why it was that they could play the Keystone on Thursday, and yet not meet the Athletics? Oh, we can wollop them with any kind of a nine, but with you fellows we want our whole team. Charlie Smith was well, and would have more than supplied Mills’ place had the Atlantics been anxious to play. They had an excellent substitute in Kenny; but, as we have said, they did not mean [to] play, and were only too glad to use the contemptible means they did to avoid defeat, which, to calculating observers, they know awaits them. The popular verdict everywhere accords to the Athletics the title of champions. Those who dispute it can rectify the matter by calling in at Fifteenth and Columbia avenue. Philadelphia Sunday Mercury October 6, 1867 |
| Source | New York Clipper |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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