The Great Base Ball Contest Yesterday

TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA TERRITORY, March 7

After spending hours tilling the field of the old high school, which the players have taken to now call Goatshead Park or the Morgan Earp Memorial Ballpark, the clock struck 11 o’clock and “The Reverend” Bill Jensen of Tombstone faced off on a bat toss with Jorge “The Grouch” Gonzalez from Bisbee to determine who would bat when. Arbitrator Pat Kelly thrust the bat into the air, and “The Reverend” reached up his giant limb, seemingly snatching it from the heavens. Then the two captains went hand over hand to decide the winner. In the end, Rev’s hand was on the knob, and Tombstone chose to hit second.

Taking the mound for Tombstone was Jim “Jockey” Sears, a last minute acquisition from Tucson. While the wily, diminutive veteran was unafraid of the goathead prickers, he would count aloud each one as he caught the ball from the backstopper. The final number was 30.

Long anticipating the renewed rivalry, Bisbee did not hesitate, and with the help of a couple of errors, plated four men in the top of the first. It would be all they needed. Tombstone answered with one run, but that was all they could muster. Bisbee added more runs in the later innings, and the game ended 10-1.

In the respite between matches, the members of the two clubs exited out of the right field fence and walked down Allen Street, where throngs of onlookers were thrilled to see ball players walking the same streets as Doc Holiday and Wyatt Earp. Many asked for photos in front of the Birdcage Theater anf the OK Corral.

After loading up on Sarsaparilla at saloons The Oriental and Doc Holiday’s, the players returned for a match against the Bisbee Copper Queens.

Wearing their traditional white short skirts and copper colored caps, the Queens took the field for the first time in The Town Too Tough To Die.

This time, the red stockings of Tombstone made sure their bats were awake. Singles. Doubles. Triples. It was a shootout the likes Fremont hasn’t seen since the bullets were flying four blocks west in 1881. The team plated 8 men before the first inning was over, with Tombstone artist Jimmy Green knocking in two himself.

The match ended 13-6, as the ladies from Bisbee never quit.

There was a great deal of pleasure derived from the witnessing of the players by the Tombstone locals and a contingent from Bisbee. A spotter counted more than fifty people watching the game at one point. One local declared “This is the coolest thing we’ve seen in a long time.” And George Parsons would have appreciated the fact that “many ladies were out.”

The City of Tombstone has been incredibly supportive of the club’s efforts, and we would like to thank Charissa, Tammi-Jo and Dusty for all their help. The ground crew, particularly Jesse, did a great job. The field is truly rising from the dead just like the ballclub. The next games will feature concessions and music and merchandise. But for now, the Tombstone club is off to play some road games in Globe, Tucson and Bisbee.