On this date in 1896, Crookston easily defeated Fargo 13–2 in a sloppy game marked by Fargo’s numerous errors and lackluster play.
Here is the complete story as it appeared in the paper that day:
Crookston 13, Fargo 2.
The story is briefly told in the foregoing line, and all that remains is the sad details of the game.
The Fargo boys were not playing ball, and there was hardly room on the score sheet for the errors credited them. Schofield started the thing going with two costly errors at the beginning of the game, and then they followed so fast that it was almost impossible to keep track of them. There was not a man in the team playing his game and the result was the poor showing made. They batted and ran bases like wooden men, and the game on the part of Fargo didn’t develop enough life or energy to make even one spirited inning.
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But Crookston hasn’t anything to feel proud of. After Schofield’s two errors and the home run by Page, which brought three runs in the first half, the Fargo team apparently threw up the sponge—and as far as results were concerned the Crookston boys need not have gone to bat again. They made more runs in the first inning, before a man had been retired, than the local boys did in the whole game. It was a case where it might be truthfully said, “the game was theirs from beginning to end.”
A feature of the game was the stop of a hot liner by Muus, and a double play from him to Jess to Wattles in the last of the fourth. The new pitcher, Jess, the visitors have secured from Winona played his first game yesterday, on second base, and made quite a record for himself in the battery line. But all of the Crookston team acquitted themselves in honor in that direction.
Tad Roberts disappointed everybody by the poor article of ball he put up at first. He could not hold anything and his work with the stick showed he had lost his eye completely.
No one can say much against Lee Roberts’ work as pitcher. With ordinary support he would have made a good showing, but as Manager Roberts or Captain Roberts he needs a hot one. As manager he should get better talent in the team, and as captain he should place his men in better positions and try a little team work. It was a serious mistake to put Schofield on short. He is all right in the outfield but won’t do on the inside of the diamond.
An ad as it appeared in The Forum on July 18, 1896. Newspapers.com
The score by innings was:
Crookston…3 0 0 3 1 4 0 2 0—13
Fargo………1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1—2
The game today will probably be a better one, as some new material has been added. The Fargo team will line up with Iyrsh, catcher; Richardson, left field; Tad Roberts, first base; Lee Roberts, pitcher; Wilson, second base; Hesler, short stop; Stranahan, third base; Schofield, right field; French, center field.
The Morris, Minn., ball team will play Moorhead, on the latter’s grounds Monday and Tuesday of next week.
Kate Almquist is the social media manager for InForum. After working as an intern, she joined The Forum full time starting in January 2022. Readers can reach her at kalmquist@forumcomm.com.