|
May 21st 1901
May 21st, 1901
Albany, New York
My Dearest Susannah,
It has been a few days since I last wrote, and I must tell you how much I miss you. The thought of home lingers in my mind, and I am hopeful that our schedule in early June may allow for a few precious days together. That possibility alone keeps my spirits high.
We arrived in Albany this morning after enduring a grueling five-hour overnight journey from Lewiston, Maine, on the Boston and Albany Railroad. The fatigue of travel is ever-present, but the excitement of seeing new teams and stadiums in the New York State League keeps us pressing on.
Our first game here featured the Albany Senators hosting the Binghamton Bingoes at Hawkins Stadium. As with much of the baseball at this level, most of the players are local talent, striving to make a name for themselves. However, there is one promising young player for Binghamton, Danny Murphy, whom we were eager to see in action. The crowd numbered 874, braving the cool 52-degree weather, with a steady 11 mph wind drifting from right to left beneath partly cloudy skies.
The game itself turned into an epic battle, stretching to 14 innings before Albany secured a hard-fought 6-5 victory. Young Murphy had a quiet outing, going just 1-for-7, though he did manage to score a run and drive in another. The Bingoes saw home runs from Lem Cross and Edmund Hanscomb, while the Senators were led by their catcher, Roy Loman, who had an outstanding day at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two walks and two runs scored. The game ended in dramatic fashion, as a local lad—whose name I, regrettably, did not catch—delivered a thrilling solo walk-off home run in the bottom of the 14th.
It was a long day, but one filled with the kind of baseball that reminds me why I embarked on this journey. Still, my heart remains with you, and I look forward to the day when we can share these travels together.
With all my love,
Percival
|