Jamestown Evening Journal
July 27, 1908
Broke All Records
Bedient of Falconer Struck out 42 Men
Game Between Falconer and Corry Went Twenty-Three Innings, and - it Was Twenty-Three for Corry Sure Enough - Wonderful Staying Powers of Two Young Pitchers - Reports From Both Sides
Falconer, July 27 - Corry was treated last Saturday to the longest ball game ever played in this part of the country and one of the longest games ever played in the United States.This was the third time in which Falconer and Corry had met. The first game Falconer won 2 to 1. The second went 15 innings to a 2 to 2 tie. The third game was expected to be a close one but proved far beyond all expectations.
Falconer went to Corry with about 60 royal yelling rooters who held up their end against the 1,000 Corry people present.
Bedient, the star twirler of Falconer, was on the mound and dealt out an assortment of curves and speed that left the Corry hitters helpless. He sidetracked Corry with only six hits in twenty-three innings, struck out 42 men and allowed only one man a pass. Bickford of Corry struck out 16 men, allowing 13 hits and gave two transfers, hitting one man and letting one man walk.
Corry was in the hole several times but was saved by the fast fielding of the men.
The game was won in the 23rd inning. Falconer had three men on bases and two out. A grounder was knocked to Delury and instead of throwing to first for the third out he threw wildly to home plate and two runs came in. Corry fanned in their half, all three men biting the dust.
It was a hard game to win and lose and both teams deserve praise for the three hours and fifty minutes that they battled.
On the return home Bedient was given an ovation that would have turned any boy's head but his. And well he deserved this praise for in striking out 42 men Bedient broke the world's record. The lineup:
Falconer: Stub Hunt, 2b; Kid Bennett, 1b; Billie Wright, ss; Pete Johnson, rf; Bob Young, lf; Slider Lawson, cf; Bud Young, 3b; Bingo Bowman, c; Rube Bedient, p.
Corry: Carl, rf; Green,cf; Hart, lf; Bachofner, ss; Eckert, c; Crossley, rf; Downey, 1b; Delury, 2b; Craker, 3b; Bickford, p
Summary - Batteries: Rube Bedient and Bingo Bowman; Bickford and Eckert. Umpire, Myers. Attendance, 1,000. Time of game, three hours fifty minutes. Base on balls: off Bedient, 1; off Bickford, 1. Two base hits: Hunt, Young, Larson, Bowman. Singles: Hunt, Bennett, Wright, Bud Young, Bob Young, Bowman 2, Bedient 2. Struck out: by Bedient, 42; by Bickford, 16.
The Falconer lads go to Chautauqua on Wednesday and they play Jamestown at Celoron on Saturday.
From Corry's Viewpoint
(Special to The Journal)
Corry, July 27 - A ball game was played here Saturday on the fairground diamond which will go down in history as one of the longest and hardest fought contests ever recorded in this country. Few who were witnessing the game between Corry and Falconer realized that they were watching the making of a world's record.
As was expected the game drew a thousand people to the grounds, who as the battle progressed, became a frenzied, excited mass of humanity. Business men and small boys vied with each other in their efforts to cheer on their favored ones and as inning after inning was played, the excitement and nervous tension became intense.
Falconer arrived on the afternoon train with a crowd of supporters. All kinds of money was wagered and a large amount changed hands on the result.
It was a pitchers' battle in all sense of the word. Bedient had his drop and outcurve working to perfection and deceived every batter on the Corry team. He struck out 42 men during the game, which equals all records if not establishing a new one. He set the Corry team down with only six measly hits in the whole game which shows what kind of ball he was dishing up.
Bickford also twirled a masterly game and it was not his fault that Corry lost. He allowed nine his and struck out 16 men. He was backed up in grand style for almost every inning but the fatal last.
Corry scored one in the seventh and the visitors tied it in the eighth. Each team had several opportunities to break the tie but some fine playing and foolish base running by Corry lost the chance.
After Umpire Myers had announced that the game would end at the end of the 23rd inning, Falconer went out to win the game. R. Young was thrown out by Bachofner. Lawson sent another to Bachofner which he juggled and the fun was on. G. Young fouled out to Downey and the fans hoped Bickford would again be fortunate with two gone. It was not to be. Bowman singled to center field. There were now two men on bases and two out. Bedient sent a grounder to Bachofner which looked easy but the Corry shortstop, who had played a star game up to this inning, again fumbled the ball and Bedient was safe. Three on the sacks and two out. It was up to Hunt. He sent a slow roller to Delury. Danny forgot himself and threw home instead of to first and the throw was wild. Lawson and Bowman counted. Bedient fanned the three Corry batsmen in the last inning.
The additional financial assistance of the community is critical to the success of the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame.
We gratefully acknowledge these individuals and organizations for their generous support.