In trying to arrange for some amusements in the evenings at the Stadium,
the Olympic Committee wrote us if we would be willing to take part in a
game of Base Ball at Stadium some evening during the Stadium week. As
our club this year was in poor condition, on account of some of our best
players being out on military duties, we hesitated at first, but then
decided to risk it, knowing very well that whoever we would play
against, they would not rub in to us too hard. We pointed out to the
Olympic Committee that it would not be very hard to get a team of Base
Ball players picked out from the American athletes taking part in the
contests, but as they would not be prepared for Base Ball, suits and
other needed articles had to be provided for. We were then told to get
necessary things ordered, and so we did. We ordered suits from a tailor
in this town, after a pattern that I got from Spalding's this spring.
The suits were of gray flannel, with blue trimmings for our team and red
trimmings for the American. I also ordered bats and gloves, and with the
things our club already had, we were very well equipped.
The Olympic Committee, Stockholm, then received a letter from the
Olympic Committee, New York, saying that if a game of Base Ball could be
arranged for during the Olympian Games, they would bring two teams along
on the Finland. The Olympic Committee cabled to come along, and sent us
a copy of Mr. Sullivan's letter. I knew, of course, that if the game
could be played by two American teams, it would be a much better game
than if our team took part, and told the Olympic Committee, and wanted
to withdraw, but as they did not know for sure how it would be, told us
to go ahead with the arrangements just the same, and so we did, and by
the time the Finland arrived, everything had been arranged for.
The Olympic Committee has selected the evening, 7 P.M., of the 10th of
July, for the game, and thought that this would be suitable to the
Americans, but as some of the players had to take part in the contests,
Mr. Halpin would not risk them then, so it was finally decided that a
game should be played the 15th, the Americans to play six innings
between themselves and then six innings against us.
Well, we had a game at the training grounds. We played six innings, and
Mr. Halpin was kind enough to let us have a pitcher and catcher from his
men. The score was 9 to 3, and it could just as well been 9 to 0,
perhaps. Well, at any rate, it was the first Base Ball game, as far as I
know, that ever took place in Europe between an American team and a
European team, with England possibly excepted.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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