Typed as spelled and written
Lena Stone Criswell



THE MARLIN DEMOCRAT
Eighteenth Year - Number 15
Marlin, Texas, Thursday, June 6, 1907
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FATS AND LEANS PLAY REAL BALL.
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Some Famous Stunts---Dr. Cook's
Twirling Causes Wrangle.
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       The great game of ball between the fats and leans took place Tuesday afternoon at the base ball park east of town.  The fans who were hungry and starved for something real in base ball, were all on hand.  The grand stand was filled to overflowing, while many people watched the game from their vehicles.
       The line up for the fats were: Claud Haigler, catcher; R L Martin, pitcher; Nat Lewellen, lst base; Will Toler, 2d base; F G Tankersley, 3d base; Chas Oltorf, short stop, while Wiley Davis, Volly Bradshaw, Jim Toler, Bill Turner, F S Heffner, C A Cox and Ben Taylor held down the outfield, literally and figuratively speaking.
       Among the professionals listed for the game were, Dr. McClelland, catcher; B C Nettles, pitcher; R J Reeves, lst base; Dr. Cook, 2d base; F S Hooper, 3d base; F M Burkhead, short stop; Tom Cheeves, Spencer Holloway, Fred Hailey, O E Curry, A Nettles, Dr Monk, fielders.
       The game from the very start showed that it was to be closely contested as the fats opened up with some heavy slugging, while the leans demonstrated that they were invincible in the infield and in the outfield.  The fats seemed to have bought up the fans to root for them on this occasion.
       When the first lean man went to the bat, a nice hit was placed in right field, and the ball fell in the hands of Bill Turner, but not to stay.  Nat Lewellyn did some nice work at the initial sack, and made only three errors in the first inning.  T. A. Cheeves was undoubtedly the idol of the fans on this occasion and received more applause than any other player, being heavy at the stick.
       The game for some time seemed to have become a one-sided affair when the fats became suddenly busy in the first part of the 8th inning and corralled two runs.  It was during that inning Bill Toler made good with a two bagger, bringing in two men.
       Oscar Curry executed a stunt in the field that would offer a suggestion to any other professional outfielder in the leagues.
       The leans opened up in the 9th inning with Dr. Cook in the pitcher's box.  His fine work in this role came very close to causing a difficulty which might have proven serious.  He was throwing kinks in the ball, which the fats could not diagnose, and which the leans themselves could hardly appreciate, when it was decided advisable to change twirlers.
A contention arose as to whether or not a pitcher could be removed in the middle of an inning, and had it not been for the timely arrival of Sheriff Poole, who was specially armed for this occasion, serious trouble might have occurred.  (nit)  (I don't know what the 'nit' means-lsc)
       The proceeds of the game were $86.00 which go to the Marlin Juvenile band for whose benefit, the game was played.
       Marshal Frank Stallworth umpired the game, and at several times during its progress cries of "put him out;  the umpire is rotten" were heard, but on the whole, his decisions were fair and impartial, and judging from them, it would have been impossible to have decided on which side his money lay.
       It was a great game, cheap for the money.

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