Late April 1899. The Wagner’s continue to sell off their best players while the local nine habitats in the basement of the National League. For a brief moment the attention of the fans, cranks no more, turns to opera.
The members of the Alice Nielsen Opera Company hugely enjoyed a couple of hours’ sport this morning in endeavoring to get back into their boyhood days and play the national game of baseball. Two teams were selected, one by Joe Cawthorn, whom they called “Foxy Joe” before the game was over, and the other by Nicholson, the former team winning after three innings play by the score of 23 to 10. Cawthorn very evidently sized up his men before he persuaded Assistant Manager Hale of the company to agitate the question of playing ball, and when the subject came up and it was decided to undertake a game he quickly gobbled up the best players of the company. Big Metcalf, who is a fine player and Eugene Cowles were on his side, the former’s coaching helping out considerably. Miss Nielsen was selected as umpire, with Arlie Latham as her assistant to call out the balls and strikes. The little prima donna was patriotically and tastefully attired in a becoming suit of red, white and blue, and, like “Yankee Doodle,” a tall feather stuck out from a becoming light Fedora. Her dress was dark blue, the waist white and a snugly fitted jacket was of the brightest red. As an umpire Miss Nielsen was a great success, if her inattention to the game can be overlooked, but few decisions being questioned, the only protest coming from her brother, who was promptly fined $5. Richard Golden played right field-they called him “Dick” before the contest went very far, and he was the star of the occasion. Mr. Golden is very well known to the ball players, and as both the New York and Washington teams were onlookers, funny play and comments always followed his appearance at the bat. Richard went to the bat three times and never hit the ball, but he scored two runs nevertheless. At his second turn at the bat, after making first on a base on balls, he was purposely called out at second on a safe play, and then for a few minutes the fun was fast and furious. ‘Dick’ threw his cap on the ground, jumped on it and then walked around a circle with his chest extended, a real ringer for an injured ball player. The professionals yelled with delight at this little bit of realism. Miss Nielsen enjoying the humor of the thing as well as the rest. The feminine contingent of the company was out in full force, and being attired in brilliant and becoming raiment, added color to the occasion, their bright and merry smiles being more impressive than were their yells of delight or encouragement to their favorite side. About 300 other spectators were on hand, and it is safe to say a heartier laugh has never come their way in years. As to the details of the game little can be said that would place the aspect of science upon any play that was pulled off. The different men generally caught a ball by accident, and were always surprised to see the ball remain in their hands, while at the bat it was generally a case of “shut your eyes and bang away.” Joe Cawthorn played third base for his nine, and although he had tipped his companions to the fact that he was a good player, it was always noticed that he kept out of the way of the ball as much as possible. He caught one fly, a nice little pop, that made him throw out his chest, and for which he was generously applauded. Maurice Hale was much in evidence as a batter, his triple to right field being a beauty. Everybody played hand to win for their respective teams, and although their efforts usually went for nothing, they will doubtless remember the occasion for many days to come through the aches and pains that come from unusual and violent exercise. At the conclusion of the game the defeated team was chased, to high timber, and the victors bunched themselves before the Kodak of Mrs. Cowles and were photographed as a souvenir of the occasion. Light liquid refreshments were on tap in abundance, the ladies in the grand stand sharing in this incidental feature of the morning’s fun.
Alice Nielsen, operatic soprano, Broadway performer and early recording artist. She had her own opera company. She died in 1943. Joe Cawthorn, born 1868 made his stage debut when he was four years old. He went to Hollywood in the 1920s and began a long career in the movies. Cawthorn died in 1949. Richard Golden was a famous comedian. His career of success, failure, followed by even greater success would be worthy of a movie. He died in 1909. Eugene Cowles was a popular Broadway performer for many years. He died in 1948. Arlie Latham was the first in a long line of popular baseball comedians for Washington. The Kodak camera had been around for several years and many different models had been built.
