21 August 1901
21 August Chicago 0 Washington 8
Win Mercer shuts out the White Stockings. The fielding of Billy Clingman being superb. Umpire John Haskell. Time 1:40. Attendance 1,500. In the fourth inning Jack Katoll and Frank Shugart assault Umpire Haskell.
“The trouble occurred during the fourth inning. Bill Clarke and Pop Foster of the locals were on base when Bill Coughlin came to the bat. Pitcher Jack Katoll was a trifle wild and the Washington was sent to first on balls, although the fourth ball was thought by many in the stand to be a strike, and would have retired the side had it been so decided by Mr. John Haskell. The decision was no worse than many others of a like nature that the same official has made during the previous games in which he has umpired during his visits to Washington, and, under ordinary circumstances would not have given the Chicago players much concern. But the circumstances attending the game were not ordinary by any means. The Chicago Club was leading the league by a small margin, and the Boston team, the second in the race, was beating Cleveland at the hub and Washington was doing the same thing to the men from the Windy City. When Billy Clingman stepped up to the plate the decision by Umpire Haskell, which sent Coughlin to first and filled the bags, had been evidently forgotten, but when Clingman unexpectedly hit the ball out to the center field fence for three bases, and permitted Clarke, Foster, and Coughlin to score, it was quickly recalled by catcher joe Sugden, who immediately stated to vilify umpire Haskell. For a moment or so this fusillade of anathemas on the part of the Chicago backstop continued Mr. Haskell patiently attending to his work in the meanwhile.”
“The second ball that was pitched to Win Mercer went through Joe Sugden’s hands and hit the umpire, and under the rules of the game there was nothing to do but to allow Billy Clingman to come in.”
“The moment Umpire Haskell decided in this manner Pitcher Jack Katoll picked up the ball and hurled it with all his strength at the umpire. Fortunately the Chicago man’s aim was not so accurate as his maddened sense had hoped for, and instead of striking Haskell in the head it hit him on the left leg just below the knee, and with enough force to almost cause a fracture. As the umpire turned around to Katoll and ordered him from the game shortstop Frank Shugart ran up from behind and struck him on the mouth, causing the blood to fly. Mr. Haskell immediately turned upon his assailant, and to his credit, let it be said that he showed that he was quite able to take care of himself against the single Chicago ruffian, but when the entire Chicago club started after him, half a dozen policemen and the members of the local club ran to his rescue. For a moment or so there was a free-for-all fight- a disgusting spectacle that was with much difficulty broken up by the police. The spectators swarmed upon the field and it was with considerable difficulty that the officers managed to get the offending players out of the grounds. They were placed under arrest, and were last night released upon deposit of collateral. Shugart put up $20 and Katoll $19.”
“Fifteen minutes after the disturbance the game was continued, Clark Griffith the manager and captain of the Chicago Club replaced Katoll in the box and Jimmy Burke going to short.”
