President Starts Benefit Double-Header Ball Game
Title
President Starts Benefit Double-Header Ball Game
Creator
Unknown
Identifier
WWP20874
Date
1915 September 9
Description
Newspaper clipping from the September 9, 1915, issue of the Washington Post describes a baseball game played by government employees and local boys to raise money for the GAR encampment fund.
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
Miss Bones, Dr. Grayson, Cabinet Members and Other High Officials Also Attend Games Between Department Teams and Southern Railway and St. Theresa’s Church Boys
________
President Wilson and several members of his cabinet journeyed to the American League ball yard yesterday to be entertained by a double-header between teams representing the Departments of Agriculture and Interior, and the employes of the general office of the Southern Railroad and the boys of the Church of St. Teresa. To add to the enjoyment of the occasion the Fifth Cavalry Band from Fort Myer was on hand to furnish music. The proceeds of the games will go to the fund for the entertainment of the visiting veterans and friends of the Grand Army of the Republic when they come to this city to attend the fiftieth encampment of the GAR the week beginning September 27.
Though lacking in numbers, there was no end of enthusiasm displayed by those who witnessed the games. The proceedings were started when President Wilson threw the ball to Dr. Frank L. Gibson. The President also threw out the ball for the second game.
Cabinet Members Also Attend.
Among those who occupied boxes were Secretary of State and Mrs. Lansing, Secretary of the Treasury and Miss Sally McAdoo, Secretary of the Interior and Mrs. Lane, Secretary of Agriculture Houston, Assistant Secretary of Commerce Sweet, Ambassador and Mme. Jusserand, the Chinese Ambassador and family, Charles S. Hamlin, governor of the Federal reserve board; William PG Harding, of the Federal reserve board, and Miss Alice Harding; John Burke, treasurer of the United States; George R. Cooksey, secretary to Secretary McAdoo; Solicitor General and Mrs. Davis, Assistant Attorney General Charles Warren, Commissioner of the General Land Office Clay Tallman and his assistant, C. M. Bruce, and former United States Attorney Daniel W. Baker.
In the President’s Party.
In the President’s party were Miss Helen Woodrow Bones and Dr. Cary T. Grayson, USN.
As to the game itself, the occasions for laughter were numerous. In their eagerness to bring home the laurels, many of the embryo Ty Cobbs furnished amusing situations, at which the President and other distinguished onlookers laughed heartily. With his usual good grace, President Wilson submitted to the artillery of the many photographers present.
Secretary McAdoo let it be known to a few of his friends that when he was a youngster his reputation as a baseball player was nearly national. “When I hit the ball,” said the Secretary, “I could make first base in a few jumps, which caused the opposing team to insist upon handicapping me. They refused to allow me to run the bases like an ordinary ball player; they insisted that I turn handsprings the entire route, which I was forced to do, but it didn’t affect my batting average in the least.”
“Nothing on Me,” Says Houston.
“You have nothing on me,” said Secretary Houston. “I was such a good player in my country that they amended the constitution, thereby making it criminal for me to engage in a ball game.”
“Mr. Secretary,”asked Secretary Houston of Secretary McAdoo, “what was your favorite position on the ball field?”
“Oh,”replied Secretary McAdoo, “I played any place, but I prided myself on my pitching. But the trouble with it was that I could get no one to catch for me without taking his life in his hands. My speed was terrific. One day the catcher let a swift ball go through his hands, it struck his protector and bounded to the center-field fence. The batter thinking he had hit the ball made a home run on it. Some pitching, that.”
Secretary Houston’s face denoted a little doubt, but he let it go at that.
FIRST GAME.
Runs—Degnan, McBride, Marino, Thompson, McCarthy and Limeric. Error—McCarthy. Left on bases—General Office, 3; St. Theresa, 5. First base on balls—Off Thompson, 2; off Cantwell, 10. Two-base hit—Hager (2). Sacrifice hits—Thornett, Zachary. Stolen bases—Degnan, McBride, Platz, McCarthy. Double play—Degnan to Beard. Passed balls—Hager (2).
SECOND GAME.
________
President Wilson and several members of his cabinet journeyed to the American League ball yard yesterday to be entertained by a double-header between teams representing the Departments of Agriculture and Interior, and the employes of the general office of the Southern Railroad and the boys of the Church of St. Teresa. To add to the enjoyment of the occasion the Fifth Cavalry Band from Fort Myer was on hand to furnish music. The proceeds of the games will go to the fund for the entertainment of the visiting veterans and friends of the Grand Army of the Republic when they come to this city to attend the fiftieth encampment of the GAR the week beginning September 27.
Though lacking in numbers, there was no end of enthusiasm displayed by those who witnessed the games. The proceedings were started when President Wilson threw the ball to Dr. Frank L. Gibson. The President also threw out the ball for the second game.
Cabinet Members Also Attend.
Among those who occupied boxes were Secretary of State and Mrs. Lansing, Secretary of the Treasury and Miss Sally McAdoo, Secretary of the Interior and Mrs. Lane, Secretary of Agriculture Houston, Assistant Secretary of Commerce Sweet, Ambassador and Mme. Jusserand, the Chinese Ambassador and family, Charles S. Hamlin, governor of the Federal reserve board; William PG Harding, of the Federal reserve board, and Miss Alice Harding; John Burke, treasurer of the United States; George R. Cooksey, secretary to Secretary McAdoo; Solicitor General and Mrs. Davis, Assistant Attorney General Charles Warren, Commissioner of the General Land Office Clay Tallman and his assistant, C. M. Bruce, and former United States Attorney Daniel W. Baker.
In the President’s Party.
In the President’s party were Miss Helen Woodrow Bones and Dr. Cary T. Grayson, USN.
As to the game itself, the occasions for laughter were numerous. In their eagerness to bring home the laurels, many of the embryo Ty Cobbs furnished amusing situations, at which the President and other distinguished onlookers laughed heartily. With his usual good grace, President Wilson submitted to the artillery of the many photographers present.
Secretary McAdoo let it be known to a few of his friends that when he was a youngster his reputation as a baseball player was nearly national. “When I hit the ball,” said the Secretary, “I could make first base in a few jumps, which caused the opposing team to insist upon handicapping me. They refused to allow me to run the bases like an ordinary ball player; they insisted that I turn handsprings the entire route, which I was forced to do, but it didn’t affect my batting average in the least.”
“Nothing on Me,” Says Houston.
“You have nothing on me,” said Secretary Houston. “I was such a good player in my country that they amended the constitution, thereby making it criminal for me to engage in a ball game.”
“Mr. Secretary,”asked Secretary Houston of Secretary McAdoo, “what was your favorite position on the ball field?”
“Oh,”replied Secretary McAdoo, “I played any place, but I prided myself on my pitching. But the trouble with it was that I could get no one to catch for me without taking his life in his hands. My speed was terrific. One day the catcher let a swift ball go through his hands, it struck his protector and bounded to the center-field fence. The batter thinking he had hit the ball made a home run on it. Some pitching, that.”
Secretary Houston’s face denoted a little doubt, but he let it go at that.
FIRST GAME.
Runs—Degnan, McBride, Marino, Thompson, McCarthy and Limeric. Error—McCarthy. Left on bases—General Office, 3; St. Theresa, 5. First base on balls—Off Thompson, 2; off Cantwell, 10. Two-base hit—Hager (2). Sacrifice hits—Thornett, Zachary. Stolen bases—Degnan, McBride, Platz, McCarthy. Double play—Degnan to Beard. Passed balls—Hager (2).
SECOND GAME.
Original Format
Article
Files
Collection
Citation
Unknown, “President Starts Benefit Double-Header Ball Game,” 1915 September 9, WWP20874, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.