Clipping:Despicable Ansonian tactics

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Date Wednesday, September 10, 1884
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The Chicago-Boston game of August 30, 1884, will long be remembered by the 2,555 witnesses as being characterized by the greatest and most ignominious display of Ansonian tactics ever seen in Boston. The burly and unpopular Chicago captain was ably seconded by his valiant coadjutors, Kelly and Gore, and a well-meaning but weak and easily bulldozed umpires, one Malone. This is the story in part:

In the sixth inning Gore hit to left field and took second on Kelly’s out. Anson hit to Burdock, who fumbled the ball, but threw to Morrill. In the meantime Gore cut across the field, not coming within fifteen feet of third, and thence home, scoring a run. Morrill claimed an out, but the umpire did not allow it while the crowd was yelling and hissing in a perfect bedlam. Malone claimed that he did not see the play. Again in the ninth Burns tried the same racket successfully, too. He hit for two bases, but didn’t go within three feet of first, yet Morrill’s protest availed nothing, though the umpire’s eyes were turned in the direction of the runner. In the third instance again, in the ninth inning, Morrill hit safely and scored, being aided by a wild pitch and a passed ball. Crowley hit for a single. Wise hit to Pfeffer, but he threw wild and both were safe. Hackett struck out, apparently, but Williamson said he dropped the ball, so Hackett started for first, this forcing Crowly and Wise. Williamson threw to ball to Kelly at third, who neither touched the base or the runner, but threw to Anson to put out Hackett. Malone decided both Crowley and Hackett out, while words were thick and talk loud among the player, umpire and audience. The culminating stroke occurred in the tenth inning–Kelly on first, two out, Anson at the bat; as Kelly started for second Hackett started to throw to Burdock, but Anson deliberately got in Hackett’s way, stepping a foot or more over the home plate, thereby preventing his throwing the ball. Morrill protested that Anson was out for stepping out of position, but the accommodating umpire refused to allow it.

Other instances of Anson’s despicable conduct during the game might be given, but the above will serve to show how the Chicagos got a discreditable victory.

Source Sporting Life
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Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

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