History of the A's

Undefeated A's Face Rough Closer

SATURDAY EXCURSION OF THE ATHLETICS WILL BE A BIG EVENT 

The Daily Standard

THURSDAY AUGUST 24, 1911 

The lacrosse club excursion to Toronto on Saturday on the new boat, Dalhousie City, will be the last big event of the season in sporting circles and it is altogether likely the last game of the season for the Athletics, as the game will give them the championship no matter who wins, and as no more games can be arranged the boys will have to put up their sticks for the season. So all those who want to see the fast Athletics of 1911 in action for the last time can go with the club and see them tackle the Shamrocks of West Toronto on their grounds. 

That the Athletics are determined to win Saturday’s game against the Shamrocks at West Toronto was evidenced last night when all the players were out and had a good workout. The team are prepared to play the game of their lives at the Junction, and are anxious to win the C. L. A. championship without a loss. 

Tickets are now on sale at Tim and Mac’s for the Lacrosse Club’s excursion to Toronto on Saturday and as a big crowd intend taking in the excursion, the management of the Athletics request that tickets be purchased at once to avoid the rush on Saturday morning. The big doings in Toronto on Saturday is the lacrosse game, but there are dozens of other attractions to entertain the crowd, and as the XIX Band (the 19^th regimental band) are playing at Scarboro’ Beach, all who accompany the excursion can take in the band concert at night. The band comes home with the lacrosse club, and a good moonlight sail from Toronto with the band is a treat itself.   

THE ATHLETICS ARE UNDEFEATED SENIOR LACROSSE CHAMPIONS OF THE YEAR 

FAST  AND  SCIENTIFIC  PLAYERS  DEFEATED  THE JUNCTION  SHAMROCKS  ON  THEIR  OWN  GROUNDS  10  GOALS  TO  4 

WERE  SEVERELY  HANDLED  ON  FIELD 

SOME  SPECTATORS  TOOK  PART  IN  DISGRACEFUL  SCENES  ON  AND  OFF  THE  FIELD  –  AN  OFFICIOUS  COUNTY  CONSTABLE  –  TWO  SHAMROCK  MEN  EXPELLED  FROM  C. L. A. 

The Daily Standard 

MONDAY AUGUST 28, 1911   

The Athletics arrived home from Toronto about 3 o’clock Sunday morning after their game with the Shamrocks of Toronto Junction. As was foretold in the brief dispatch sent to the Standard Saturday evening, they left a large quantity of blood and several teeth on the field at Weston, where the game was played, but they also left behind them the conviction that they are the greatest aggregation of players that has ever battled for the Globe Shield, which by the way, will remain in this city for at least one more year. For that matter, there seems no possibility of it ever leaving the Garden City. 

The homebrews did more than win the C. L. A. championship; they finished the season without a solitary loss, either championship or exhibition, being tallied against them. The loss of Saturday’s game would have had no bearing upon the result of the championship, but the Shamrocks had made such preparations to defeat the Athletics that the latter decided they would not stand for and went to the junction prepared for just about what happened. They went there with the intention of playing genuine clean lacrosse, and, so far as they were permitted, they did so. The other part of the day’s proceedings turning out as anticipated, and as the team was given to understand things would turn out before they entered the field. 

There was a constable on hand – a county constable. He wore no particular sort of uniform and displayed no badge or other symbol of authority save and except his mouth, which appeared to be in operation and working overtime at all stages of the game. He was of the most officious nature and was ready at times to stop the game and clear the field of sundry players, spectators and officials. Remonstration had no effect upon him, and while claiming to be endeavoring to do his best to preserve order, he was one of the greatest incentives to the contrary. His actions were resented by the management and players of both teams and by all the fair-minded spectators. The Toronto Sunday World goes so far as to assert that it was the constable’s baton that was responsible for the loss of Art McGlashan’s tooth. The World appears to be a little in error in that respect, as it was not the constable who knocked out the teeth, although his baton was in evidence during the melee, and responsible persons asserted that the constable did hit McGlashan. One thing is certain beyond all doubt and that is that the constable did more harm than good on the field, and his presence did anything to tend to peace and harmony. He claimed never to have seen either team before and that he was partial to neither. No one on the field appeared to have seen or heard of him before. 

The game was played on a field at a place called Weston. It had the appearance of having been the last place on earth created. To reach it the Athletics had to travel to the limits of Toronto street railway, then take a fairly long ride on a “dinky” line, with cars very much similar to those used on the old Symmes line in this city about twenty-five years ago. Then came a walk of about half a mile through sand any depth from six inches to two feet – and then the grounds were visible. The field itself and its surroundings was all right and the Athletics found no trouble in making themselves at home on them. 

The Shamrocks were out for blood or victory with apparently little preference. It was a case of take either one or the other. They were urged on to their work by such cries from the stands as “Get to him!” “Cut him down!” “Lay him out!” and in most instances the injunctions were overdone in the fulfilling. 

The Athletics took a fairly large following with them, and those who went enjoyed the periods of the game that were free from the rough element, if such periods could really be said to have existed. Among the spectators were Mr. And Mrs. Canning of Cleveland, Ohio, whose sympathies were plainly with St. Catharines, and who were disgusted with the actions of the Shamrocks, and more so with those of their supporters. Mr. And Mrs. Canning came over principally to see the contest and expressed themselves as more than pleased with the gentlemanly nature of the Athletics, so well displayed under such trying circumstances. Not that the boys showed a particular lamblike nature. They were visitors at the start and to so played lacrosse, devoting their attention to the play and not to the man, but when driven to it, they showed there metal in real style and took no back water from any of the Shamrocks or their instigators. 

From the first quarter it could easily be gathered that the intention of the green shirts was to slaughter and intimidate them that they would be fearful to play the game as the Shamrocks only too well knew they could play it. The Athletics never cowed nor faltered and played their usual game at all stages, despite the bloody interruptions. At no time was the game in doubt, although the Shamrocks drew first blood in the scoring line as well as in reality. 

The team left the field battered and bruised, two of them with teeth knocked out. Not a man escaped a pounding of a severe nature from the Shamrocks, who are a much heavier aggregation; but they left the field victors and conquerors of a team that has resorted to all sorts of schemes to wrest the coveted trophy from St. Catharines. They learned the lesson that many another team has learned before them. 

The game was called well on time by Referee Donald Hall of Oshawa. He handled it without a dispute for either team, but there were many a punch, a poke and a jab slipped into the Athletics that he did not see. He showed an impartial spirit, however, and whatever he did see was punished. He handled the game well considering its nature, and probably was the best man for the occasion.

The teams:

The contest opened with a rush which resulted in a goal being scored by the Shamrocks after two minutes play. Then the dirty work began. Ramshaw was the first to offend and was given five minutes. Carl was next picked out and was followed by McGrath and Bert Gilbert. Fearing they would suffer while they had the advantage on the fence, the Shamrocks played rag until Referee Hall took a hand and faced off the ball. It appeared to have been Curtis who started the fight in the first place, and in an instance the bunch were in a heap in the centre of the field. It was then that McGlashan was so severely handled, although it could not be ascertained who the guilty one really was. The constable aforesaid figured very conspicuously in this instance. When play was resumed it was of a much better calibre and for fifteen minutes there was some excellent work. Finally Hope evened up and three minutes later Ripley broke the tie. Carl and McGrath then mixed things up somewhat and were given the usual five minutes. The opening quarter ended with the score Athletics 2, Shamrocks 1. 

Three minutes after play had resumed in the second quarter Bert Gilbert again tied the score, but Richards broke it in four. Then Tufford was handed out a penalty, and while he was on the fence McGlashan scored, the playing time being five minutes. Gilbert did it again in a minute and half, and the quarter ended leaping the half-time score: Athletics 4, Shamrocks 3. 

In the third quarter McGlashan scored after nine minutes play, and then the dirty work again became apparent. Curtis, as usual, mixed it up with Aubron, but was not penalized. Ramshaw then gave Hope a very nasty body check and trip and Gilbert was sent to the fence for it. Play was resumed and in five minutes Richards found the net, Harrison also finding it in four. That left the three quarter score Athletics 6, Shamrocks 4. 

In the last quarter the Athletics scored four more goals and the home team failed to get any. Hope scored one in ten minutes and another in one, and Haffey also scored one in one, and McGlashan scored in the final in six. McGrath gave Fitzgerald the worst of a deal, but “Fitz” paid the penalty. Then Curtis again got at Aubron and both were ruled off. As their penalty exceeded the remaining playing time they wended their way to the clubhouse. Once outside the fence Curtis again got nasty and the crowd of spectators standing about endeavored to aid him do to “Bill” what he could not do alone. It was a general fight for a minute, and while they were in the midst of it the final bell was sounded, the game came to a close and the fight was stopped. The rest of the day’s fighting was done with the tongue, although several Junction supporters, finding the St. Catharines crowd peaceable, proceeded to fight among themselves. The final score, it must be remembered, was Athletics 10, Shamrocks 4 – just double and a half, so to say. 

The Athletics spent the evening in East Toronto and returned on the Dalhousie City at 11:30, scared and disfigured, but C. L. A. undefeated champions of 1911. 

The Globe says of the game: 

St. Catharines Athletics best West Toronto 10 to 4 in senior C.L.A. game at Lambton Field Saturday. The game was marred by the dirty tactics of the West Toronto team, and as a result two of the Shamrocks have already been expelled, and further investigation may result in similar treatment being dealt to others. The expelled men are “Whitey” Curtis and Dickey Bond. President Forsythe was a spectator, and lost no time in instructing Secretary Hall of the C.L.A. to notify the offenders of their expulsion. The President of the Association will deal severely with any and all cases of wanton rough play. 

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