Archive for the ‘Baseball’ Category

30
Oct

A Rocky Game

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Fort Dodge Daily Chronicle: Oct. 30, 1889

A Rocky Game

The Gilmore Citys and Clares vs. For (sic) Dodge at the Ball Park Results in a Victory for the Sluggers.

It was a very small crowd that witnessed an attempt made by eighteen men to play a game of ball at the ball park yesterday. The game was totally devoid of anything brilliant and poor playing was the feature unless it was that the aggregation from the northwest made five of their ten runs off of Orelup in the last half of the sixth, this being the only inning that he pitched. A home run was also made off his delivery.

Only six innings were played, the visitors who kicked all through the game finally succeeding at the close of the sixth inning to kick themselves out of the game. A gentleman from Manson umpired the game. Following is the score by innings:

1 1 2 3 4 5 Total
Fort Dodge 2 0 6 5 1 1 15
Gilmore and Clare 1 2 1 1 0 5 10
Struck out by Hood 10, Crowe 2, Orelup 2
23
Oct

Louis Fiene to Oklahoma

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Fort Dodge Daily Chronicle: Oct. 23, 1906

Louis Fiene to Oklahoma

Picture of Louis Fiene from the Library of Congress. Source: Baseball cards from the Benjamin K. Edwards Collection. Issued by the American Tobacco Company.

Picture of Louis Fiene from the Library of Congress. Source: Baseball cards from the Benjamin K. Edwards Collection. Issued by the American Tobacco Company.

It is proverbial that those belonging to sporting circles are good spenders that they make their money easily and get rid of it easily. However, this does not seem to to be true of Fort Dodge men. Frank Gotch, the world’s champion wrestler, salted his money in real estate and has become independently wealthy and now it seems that Louis Fiene, one of the crack pitchers of the Chicago White Sox and a former Fort Dodge boy will follow his good example. Fiene has returned home with over $2,000 (about $53,208 today), his share of the winnings of the team and a salary saved for this year’s work and with this and previous earning will buy a farm in Oklahoma and move his mother and sister to that place. Fiene’s rise in the baseball world has been phenomenal. Starting three years ago with the independent Fort Dodge team the work of this boy wonder, for he was then only nineteen years of age, won him a place for 1904 with Cedar Rapids of the Three I League and the following year he did great work with Detroit. Although laid up most of the past season with a game arm, what work he did was great. His pitching in the last series with Cleveland when he allowed only four hits has become historic.

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16
Aug

“World’s Fair” Day Was Great Success

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: Aug. 16, 1904

“World’s Fair” Day Was Great Success

More Than 200 Fort Dodge People Attend Duncombe Celebration Monday

Sports Were Features of Day

East End Team of This City Takes Game From Duncombe, Score 13 to 1 —
Bloomer Girls Play Foot Ball and Draw Large Crowds

A crowd of more than two hundred people took the train for Duncombe on Monday morning and spent the day in the enterprising little city to the east of us. Monday, August 15, was the great day of the year for the people of Duncombe. The “World’s Fair” day, which has been celebrated by the citizens of that place for many years, and which always takes a big crowd from Fort Dodge.

Program of Sports

The program of the day consisted almost of sports, and of these events there was no stint this year. Basket ball, foot ball, base ball, horse races, races on foot, sack races, three-legged races, egg races, and in fact, everything in the line of races that could be imagined. there were also wrestling matches and boxing matches and in the evening two big dances in operation in the two halls of Duncombe at the same time.

The real features of the day and the greatest drawing cards on the program was the basket and foot ball games played by the Boston Bloomer girls. The games were both fast and furious and kept the sightseers interested from start to finish.

Boston Bloomers baseball team

Post card showing nine members of the Boston National Bloomer Girls Base Ball Club, wearing baseball uniforms, posed with L.J. Galbreath in the center. Photo courtesy Library of Congress collection.

Base Ball Game

The feature next in interest, perhaps, was a ball game between the East End nine of this city and the local team of Duncombe. This game was in the hands of the East Enders from start to finish and resulted in a score of thirteen to one in their favor.

Many Stayed Over

Many of the Fort Dodge people who attended stayed for the dances in the evening, a goodly number of them not getting home until this morning. All report that the people of Duncombe know how to entertain and will be glad of another similar opportunity to visit that city.

(Editor’s note: The Boston Bloomer girls were a baseball team. The Library of Congress website says this:

“Bloomer girls” take to the baseball diamond challenging amateur, semi-pro, and minor league men’s teams in front of thousands of spectators. Known for wearing practical, loose Turkish-style trousers created by Amelia Bloomer, hundreds of teams ‘barnstormed’ the country during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, providing women an opportunity to travel and play this traditionally all-male sport.)

10
Jun

Are Many Rooters in Neighbor Towns

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 10, 1905

Are Many Rooters in Neighbor Towns

They Get Result of the Game as Soon as Known Here

Bet Money, Chalk or Marbles

Back Their Favorite Teams to Win – They Get The Score By Innings on All Iowa League Games Played in Fort Dodge

Evidently base ball enthusiasm is at a high temperature about Fort Dodge. The surrounding towns seem to be obtaining the reports of the Iowa League ball games at the same time as the local fans get them. While the games at Fort Dodge are in progress a good-sized crowd is in the store where the long distance telephone is, following the game with intense interest. The members of the crowd always have their favorite team and are also ready to back it. The reports come in by innings and often after a game a large number of cigars or a number of small amounts of coin change hands. Fort Dodge is the metropolis of the surrounding county and is looked to for a great deal of amusement. When any inhabitants of the surrounding towns are in the city they invariably attend the ball games. The baseball association is therefore seen to be doing good work in advertising the town and offering some inducement to the people to come here.

The interest manifested in Duncombe over the ball games may be seen by the following clipping from the Duncombe paper: “Uncle George Palmer and a number of the other baseball fans of this place became very much worked up over the Fort Dodge-Marshalltown game played in Fort Dodge Tuesday morning. Uncle George had figured that Marshalltown had a sinch (sic) on the game and was backing up his figures; but luck was against him, and he will support Marshalltown no more, especially when they are pitted against hte Gypsumites.”

Traveling men say that the fans of all the surrounding towns know as much about the team as the home fans and are more enthusiastic. Manson, Lake City, Rockwell City, and all other towns of equal distance get the result of the Fort Dodge games by innings by telephone.

10
Jun

Bones Broken in Game

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 10, 1905

Bones Broken in Game

Ball Player Breaks Collar Bone in Webster City

Webster City, June 10 – Third Baseman Dow of the Williams’ base ball team, which played in this city, had the misfortune to break his collar bone during the game. He was taken to the office of Dr. Rummel where the fracture was dressed. The injury will not prove serious and the young man returned home on the afternoon train.

The accident happened in the last half o the sixth inning. The Williams team was at bat and Dow was on first base. He attempted to make second and a long low ball was thrown (to) Arthur Martin, who was  holding this base for the Baraca team. Martin stooped to get it and tag the runner and Dow attempted a slide. He collided with Martin’s knee with such force as to break the collar bone.

The young man was taken from the ball diamond and assisted to the office of Dr. Rummel. The doctor states tat the injury is by no means serious. It will lay the young man up for two or three weeks, however. Of course beside the breaking of the collar bone, Mr. Dow was considerably bruised about the shoulder.

8
May

Important Writ of Injunction

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 8, 1903

Important Writ of Injunction

Happiness of Harry Holm for the Summer Has Been Dealt Crushing Blow

Faces a Dire Predicament

Has Been Enjoined From Occupying His Favorite Seat in Grand Stand

Harry Holm has been enjoined. Never again may he occupy his favorite perch in the grand stand at Riverside park, just where he can watch the balls curve over the home plate and tell whether or not the  umpire is right or wrong. The injunction has been served upon its hapless victim and unless he can break it, he will have to go and sit in the bleachers, for never again can he be happy in the grand stand, save in  his old accustomed place.

The full extent and purport of this malignant document, which has been gotten out by J.F. Ford, J.C. Walburger and G.F. Rankin as plaintiffs, is shown by the following literal translation:

“To the said defendant: You are hereby notified that on or before the 14th day of August, A.D., 1903, there will be on file in the district court of Webster county, Iowa, the petition of the plaintiffs, aforesaid, enjoining you from occupying the seat in the grand stand at Riverside park in Fort Dodge, Iowa, the seat referred to being more fully described as being located directly back of the home plate in Riverside ball park and fourth row from the ground, and you are farther notified not to occupy or attempt to occupy the third or fifth row, and that you are h ereby relegated to the rear to make room for real fans.”

Healy Bros. & Kelleher appear as attorneys for the plaintiff. Harry has not yet retained an attorney. He is thinking over a plan of resting his case with the ladies of Fort Dodge. Before this gentle tribunal he feels sure that so harsh and unjust a measure as this will not be for an instant countenanced.

The clause about his not being a real fan also rankles in Harry’s memory. “I’ll show ’em,” he remarked. “If they won’t let me sit in the grand stand where I want to, I’ll go into the bleachers or climb a telegraph pole, but they won’t keep me from seeing if I have to use a balloon.”

29
Jun

Amateur Ball Players Busy

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 29, 1903

Amateur Ball Players Busy

Several Fort Dodge Teams Played From Home on Sunday.

Fort Brands Have Hard Luck

Lose Two Extra Innings Games By One Score – East Fort Dodge Loses Close Game at Lehigh – R.M. Stevens Nine Beats Tara.

The Fraser miners defeated the Fort Dodge Fort Brands Sunday at Frazer by a score of 4 to 3 in a thirteen inning game. The game opened at 10:30 a.m. After the first two Fort Dodge men had struck out in the first inning, Dombrowska reached first on an error. Whitman and Barth on bunts and all three scored on Stuart’s drive to deep right. This ended Fort Dodge’s scoring as the Frazer pitcher struck out twenty men in the remaining twelve innings and held the Fort Dodge boys helpless. Frazer scored three runs in the second inning by bunching hits. Stuart’s work at third was the feature of the game. He accepted eleven chances, seven assists and four putouts without an error.

In the eleventh inning with two men on base, Whitman got and (sic) easy grounder and threw his man out at first. Ottosen threw to third to cut off the runner. The throw was  high, but the little third baseman speared the ball with his ungloved hand and completed the double by tagging his man three feet off the base.

With enthusiasm undiminished by their defeat, a forty mile ride and twelve miles cross country triy (sic), the Fort Brands tackled the Pilot Mound Pirates at 3:30 p.m. Pilot Mound won, 7 to 8, aided by a long-haired diamond and the umpire. If Captain Tyrell had called his team off the diamond Pilot Mound would have refused expense money. Nevertheless this game required eleven innings, the umpire finally forcing in the winning run by letting a man walk on balls that cut the plate in two.

The Fort Brands play the East End next Sunday at Riverside Park and a good game is expected.

6
May

Y.M.C.A. Ball Tossers are Defeated by High School

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 6, 1903

Y.M.C.A. Ball Tossers are Defeated by High School

Lose Practice Game on Tuesday by Close Score of 4 to 3 – Seven Innings Played.

The practice game Tuesday between the high school and Y.M.C.A. base ball teams, resulted in a victory for the high school by a score of 4 to 3. The game was very close, as can be seen from the score, and had nine innings been played instead of seven the result might have been different. Both teams played excellent ball. The line-up was as follows:

High School Y.M.C.A.
Koll catch Barton
Schuknecht pitch Tyrrell
J. Benn first base Boggs
Beightol second base Hart
Art Anderson shortstop Bardue
G. Benn third base Bird
Albert Anderson right field Conkey
De Voe center field Post
McGinnis left field Burnham
8
Apr

Fort Dodge Loses Game to Preston

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 8, 1904

Fort Dodge Loses Game to Preston

Battle for Indoor Base Ball Championship Results in Victory for Visitors.

Decision is Unsatisfactory

Winning Run Follows a Decision at Critical Stage – Return Game.

Company G, the pride of Fort Dodge lovers of the game of indoor baseball and claimant for three years to the championship of the northwest is no longer unbeaten. As for championship claims for a time at least those of Fort Dodge must remain silent. By the right of victory, Preston, Minn., whose claim has been voiced just as loudly as has the claim of Company G., is now the undisputed champion and enjoys the honor of being without defeat.

Preston invaded the local camp Thursday night and in a fierce battle, in which every effort of the invaders was contested with a resistance that refused to know defeat, in the phrase of the game, took the soldiers into camp by the margin of a single run. Preston upheld and Fort Dodge lost its claim to the championship by the score of 6 to 5 in the hardest fought and by all odds the best game of indoor baseball every played on a local diamond.

The invaders went home with Fort Dodge’s scalp, it is true, but at the same time it can be said in justice to the lcoal team that the taking of the scalp will go down in Preston’s history as the hardest task it has ever performed. At several states of the game the Minnesotans saw visions of their own pelts being raised and hung in the wigwam of Fort Dodge, but the fortunes of war said no and today for the first time in its history the local aggregation realizes how it feels to be other than champions.

Preston won the game in the ninth inning when there were two out and every indication for a tie score. Unfortunately the man who made the winning run was the subject of a vigorous protest over a decision on second base, where it was claimed by Fort Dodge that he had been put out. The decision was a most important one and for that reason leaves ground ofr doubt as to the outcome of the game had the umpire called him out instead of safe.

The runner was Johnson, backstop for the visitors, who had been given a lift on Richard’s error. In attempting to make second he was touched with the ball by Colwell but the Preston umpire declared him safe. It was claimed that Colwell was directly on the base and that the runner could not possibly touch the bag before being touched with the ball. The umpire ruled otherwise however, and his decision, although it ultimately decided the game, is not disputed, as the game is such that the position of umpire is by no means the most pleasant.

Fort Dodge was at bat first, and from the appearance of things when the first three men up walked, Preston’s stock went down. It was then that Kerr, the visitors’ pitcher, demonstrated that he is almsot what is claimed for him, as he struck out the next three men and from then on pitched a strike-out game, making no less than nineteen of the locals fan.

Preston made a run in its half of the first on two singles, a stolen base, and a wild pitch. Fort Dodge was the next to score. Three locals crossed the plate in the third on a base on balls and three singles. Preston pulled down the lead in the fourth when Plorf walked, stole second and went home on a bad throw by Richards. Two errors, a wild pitch and two singles in the fifth gave the visitors another run and tied the score.

Fort Dodge took the lead with one run in the sixth on Flahterty’s double and a sacrifice. In the seventh Fort Dodge apparently had the game in hand by making a fifth run to the Preston’s three, but in their half of the same inning, an error and a single and a singe gave the visitors one more and in the eighth a double, a single and a stolen base tied the score. Then came the ninth with its disputed decision and the winning run that gave Preston the game.

The visitors demonstrated that the game is one that calls for constant practice. Fort Dodge has a strong team, which may be said to be the equal of Preston, but Thursday night the want of practice proved fatal to its chances. Preston was especially strong in its battery and team work in general.

A return game will probably be arranged between the same teams to be played in Preston.

The score:

Fort Dodge AB R H PO A E
Hedman, 3b 3 1 0 0 1 0
Bergman, c 4 1 2 8 2 0
Fiene, 1f 3 1 1 0 0 0
Kehm, rf 5 1 0 0 0 0
Richards, 1s 4 0 1 1 2 1
Colwell, 2b 4 0 1 0 0 1
Flaherty, rs 4 1 2 5 2 0
Peterson, 1b 3 0 1 11 0 1
Frost, p 4 0 0 1 3 2
Total 34 5 8 26* 10 5
*Two out when winning run was made.
Preston AB R H PO A E
Johnson, c 5 3 1 20 0 1
C. Kerr, p 5 1 0 1 2 0
Schoenbaum, rs 5 1 3 0 1 0
Joseph, 1f 4 0 0 0 0 0
Vickerman, 1b 4 0 1 5 0 1
Love, 3b 4 1 1 1 1 0
Plorf, 1s 3 1 1 0 0 0
Foote, rf 4 0 0 0 0 0
A. Kerr, 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0
Total 38 6 8 27 4 2
Runs by innings
Preston 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 -6
Fort Dodge 0 0 3 0 0 1 1 0 0 -5
25
Mar

Name Has Been Decided Upon

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 25, 1905

Name Has Been Decided Upon

Local Baseball Team in the Iowa League to be Called The Gypsumites.

Voting Contest a Success

Over Thirty Names Were Sent In and Although Many Excellent Names Were Submitted, Choice of All Was The Gypsumites.

The base ball team name contest which has been going on now for two weeks has at last been closed, and it has been decided to call the local team the Gypsumites. Investigation shows that nearly all of the board of directors favored this name, although they themselves did not cast any votes.

The reason that the Gypsumites was selected by nearly all was that this name cannot be copied by any other team, as there is scarcely a place in the whole country which would have any right to this name. Fort Dodge has become justly celebrated because of its great gypsum industries and in consequence, this name seems to apply to a fort Dodge team very well.

There were several other names submitted which would have made excellent names, but this name seemed to apply to Fort Dodge better than any of the others. Cardiffs also seemed to be an excellent name, and many favored this, but the majority favored Gypsumites, and so this name will be the one by which the local team will be known throughout the state.

L.A. Thorson certainly deserves the credit for the winning name, for he submitted both the Gypsumites and the Cardiffs. The Gypsumites was submitted by one other person also, but the latter did not sign any name. Mr. Thorson submitted both of the names upon which the contest developed and deserves the credit for so doing.