1896 April Manager Smith The baseball game at Rose Polytechnic park, between the Polytechnic and Normal teams, was one long to be remembered by lovers of that game for may reasons the gentlemanly conduct, fair and skillful playing on the part of the Normal team, the heathenish courtesy, premeditated rascality, and nauseous behavior on the part of the Polytechnic students and team generally. From the moment the game was called, at 3:00 pm it was evident to the Normal team that all the premeditated trickery and insults Polytechnic ingenuity could command would be practiced upon them. Their first attempt was the refusal to pay the gate fee, in violation of the stipulations by them submitted. Police authority was telephoned for and they came down with the cash, with the exceptions of a few unprincipled boys. As the game advanced and it became evident to them that they could not cope with their opponents, their heathenish courtesy was farther manifested by their companions coming on the scene with kodaks to annoy and harass the Normal team. Three times did the umpires, Barnes and Clark, have to call time and arbitrate for justice and the removal of nuisances before the game could proceed. In the face of all this insult and brutish treatment, the Normal team and students conducted themselves in a manner becoming their profession, submitting to all reasonable requirements and relying upon merit and skill for victory. The game closed at 5 o clock the score being 17-12 in favor of the Normal team. At the close of the game the ISN s game the school yell and were retiring from the grounds in order when a few of the Polytechnics mounted their wheels and attempted to run over them, closely following came their comrades and accused the Normalites of trespass and attempted to clinch with them. This was heaping insult upon insult. The Normalites took a firm stand and the obsolete Sullivan training of the RPI s was met by Corbett s revised bone and sinew of the Normal students. After a few fruitless attempts the RPI s slunk from the scene and remained in hiding till evening when they skulked through alleys and entered their rooms via the kitchen. The Normal students remained on the ground till they were ready to go and then retired in order. The most humiliating feature to the Normal team is the heinous trick practiced by the Polytechnics. The Normal team played them last summer at their park and gave them the gate receipts, the Normal students attending largely. Saturday s game being due the Normal team, it was arranged to take place at the city ball park, but the RPI manager and the president tendered their park and grounds, the other stipulations being the same, saying they preferred to play on their own ground. Manager Smith accepted, expecting nothing but honesty and fair treatment, but it is generally thought to be a piece of premeditated rascality, as it is understood much time was spent by the students manufacturing horse fiddles, large tin horns, getting kodaks in readiness to humiliate and cheat the ISN s from victory, and add to this an onslaught of diabolical exhilaration all of which could not be carried out if compelled to play elsewhere.
The Normalites and team should congratulate themselves, not because of victory, but for the good example of honesty given. It is due the manager of the RPI team that he be not censured, as he evinced a willingness to do the fair thing and deplored the nauseating conduct of his fellow students. He has our highest commendation for his evidence of good sound sense. In every way he showed himself to be a gentleman. The RPI team should be congratulated in securing such an efficient manager. Chew tobacco! Chew Tobacco! Chew! Chaw! Brawl! Rose Polytechnic Can t play ball!! (1896 Normal Advance) 1897 Manager Raleigh Elrod (ISN student) From the time of the Normal s foundation it has had some of the best baseball material in the state. Often has a glad shout gone forth from hundreds of throats when the Normal team has stepped out in front of the best pitcher in the state and succeeded in batting him entirely out of the box. The ball team won its first great victory at the time when, dressed in overalls and straw hats, the players met and succeeded in completely defeating the crack Polytechnic team. Perhaps on that occasion the Polys first gave the high sounding title, Oats and Hay. Since then how often have they won victory after victory from the best teams in the state. The percentage of the team has never been less than 400. Many of the old players are still with the boys, and those old veterans Porter, Compton, Early and Langford-always succeed in winning the respect of the base ball fraternity wherever they go. The team this year is composed of nine sturdy, hard-hitting, perfect fielders, who hold the best will and respect of all who know them. On the field they are gentlemen, and no player can charge one of them with discourtesy in any phase. Do they know the game? Ask those who have seen Langford strike out twelve good men in one game, or who have see McCarty land on the sphere for some of those home runs. Ask those who have seen Porter, Early, Compton, Squier, Christen, Headley and Hill make some of those marvelous plays. Well, yes, there is some ginger there. Elrod has made for himself a record as manager both in judgment and courtesy. He will be beyond doubt the man for the same place during the coming year, and under his wise management we expect to become the pennant winner. ( Issue, 1897, Normal Advance) 1898 One of the most attractive features in the way of athletics in the spring term is base ball, and this year our team comprises some of the best players in the state. it is needless to name such players as Lankford, Mc Carty, early, Hill and Headlee, as their reputation for fine playing has long been
established. Among the additions to the team since last year are Hall, of Delphi, who has done some excellent work behind the bat; Lindley, of Kokomo, who played on the regular team of that city, has proven himself to be a most excellent player and has played first base to perfection, and Dunbar, who played second base and aided in the pitching, is all but a professional. He understands the game thoroughly and is noted for his fine plays on the in field and his safe hitting. However, Mr. Dunbar was called home before the season closed by his father s death, and the ball team los a most valuable player. Mr. Kirk was a very efficient manager, but his school work necessitated his giving up the management which was conferred upon Mr. George, who carried it through to its successful close at the end of the season. One thing that the Normal School is sorely in need of is an athletic par, and very little can be expected in the way of out-door exercises until such grounds are secured. We undstand that the board of trustees have had their attention called to this fact and have appointed a committee to see what could be done, but so far there seems to have been nothing accomplished. In door exercises have been elaborately arranged for in the gymnasia, but out door exercises are equally essential and cannot be indulged in without a campus. Following is a list of the players and their positions: Lankford, pitcher; Hall, catcher; Lindley, 1st base; Dunbar & Hill, 2nd base; Early, short stop; McCarty, 3rd base; Chenoweth, left field; Headley, center field; Williams, right field; Ulmer and Kirby, substitutes. (1898 Normal Advance) 1899 February The baseball schedule is not yet completed. We will have a game with Rose Polytechnic May 27, and will probably play Wabash May 20. Hi-hoopity, hitpity ren! What s the matter with I.S.N.? Nothing at all! Nothing at all! She s the school that leads them all! April Normal Vs. Terre Haute High School. On Saturday, April 15, the I.S.N s. crossed bats with the T.H. High Schools at Athletic Park. Rooters were numerous, and their spirits did not seem dampened by occasional April showers. The afternoon was too rainy to give an opportunity for good playing. Both teams showed a lack of team work, but otherwise very good work was done. The pitching of Jeffries, and the quick work in double plays by Pierce and Wilson, were especially commendable. Baseball. Under the able management of Captain Wilson and Manager Blessing the baseball team is gradually getting in condition. Several old players are in, and those who remember the work of Hill, Headlee, Wilson, Lindley and Lankford will have no reason to expect a failure if
the new players do as well as they. Regular practice work is now being done every day on North Center street. In a practice game of five innings with the Polys April 14, the Normals won by a score of 9 to 3. The playing on both sides was rather slow, but the Normal had the advantage in batting. We hope that we may get to practice with them often, as both teams would be greatly benefited. May The past month has been a very active one in athletics, probably the most active and prosperous in the history of the school. With tennis, baseball, track athletics and gymnasium work, certainly the physical needs of the school will have proper care. The prospect in baseball was never brighter. The team has been taking regular systematic practice as far as it is possible, handicapped as we are for want of grounds. The scores tell what is being done. Normal-Polytechnic Game. The first regular scheduled game of the season was played on the Poly campus Saturday, April 29. The Polys were clearly excelled by our boys, especially in batting. But for one or two costly errors the score would have been quite different. An enthusiastic but not large crowd witnessed the game. Terre Haute vs State Normal. The Normal played the Terre Haute team of the Indiana-Illinois League, April 26. As was expected, we were beaten, but some good work was done, and had our team not gone to pieces in the first and seventh innings the score would have been close. The pitching of Wilson was a puzzle to the professionals part of the time, striking out five men, while only one of our men fanned. Wabash- I.S.N. Our boys went to Crawfordsville Saturday, May 6, to cross bats with the Wabash boys. It rained almost all morning and left the grass in the outfield wet, although the diamond was in fair condition. The afternoon was fair, but the score ran high on account of the rain in the morning. Four of our regular men were unable to go, and substitutes had to be used, but nevertheless we clearly beat them, at least in the fielding and team work. The work done by our men was very creditable under the circumstances, and we ought to feel proud of the victory. Only seven innings were played on account of time. Baseball. We have been unfortunate in that we have had so many dates canceled, as we failed to play games scheduled with Wabash, Vincennes, DePauw and Rose Poly. In only one instance did we do the canceling. The last game with the Polytechnic was played on the Rose Campus May 20. The diamond was muddy and the grass wet, and as a whole the game was poor exhibition of ball playing. The Normal team was crippled by the unavoidable absence of Lankford and Jeffries, and was easily beaten by the Polys., as the score will show. Score Poly., 14; I.S.N., 3. On Saturday, 3, a class game of seven innings was played at Athletic Park between the Junior-Freshman and Sophomore-Senior teams. The result was 7 to 5 in favor of the latter. The game was close and quite interesting.
We regret that the faces of Hill and Lankford do not appear in the baseball picture. They were both out of the city when the photo was made.