As I continue progress toward completing the chronicle of the 1897 Red River Valley League, I thought I would share a fascinating aside to the story. Here's a sampling:
Despite a late 6 pm start, the fans in Enderlin were itching
for more baseball and savored the championship game to be played between the
rival towns, the winners going away with a cash prize. As the teams took the
field, “pandemonium reigned”, and a group of especially passionate Enderlin
fans in the grandstand roared with insane fervor, amplified by dog whistles and
six foot long tin horns, among other noisemakers. Sheldon’s club was up to the
challenge and rose above the intimidation, taking a 2-0 lead after two innings
to quiet the crowd somewhat. At that point, it was time for the estimated 1,500 Sheldon
supporters to show their enthusiasm, as they “filled the air with hats, coats, fans, yells and parasols” and
their team held off a late Enderlin rally to win 11-7. Lee Roberts was reported
to have “pitched the game of his life”, and the Sheldon club returned to their
town heroes, greeted by the “blaze of trumpets and the boom of cannon”. The Red River Valley League clubs should have
envied the display of enthusiasm, particularly those teams struggling to draw
even a fraction of the fans seen in Enderlin that weekend. (Forum June 21, 1897)
