The photo above shows Earle “Greasy” Neale as a Cincinnati Red. The local sports star played for the Reds for eight years, beginning in 1916. (Photo Provided)

Cincinnati Reds here on Friday

The Cincinnati Reds will be here for a battle with the Independents Friday afternoon in what should prove the most attractive drawing card of the season. It will be “Greasy” Neale day and the local fans will turn out in large numbers to welcome the Parkersburg boy who has made good with a vengeance in the big show. The Reds will arrive here sometime Friday and the game on the local lot will be called at 3:30 o’clock, in order to give ample time for all local fans and visitors who want to see the game to get to the grounds.

The Reds have three days off this week. They played Wednesday at New Kensington, Pa., and were scheduled at Clarksburg today. They leave for Cincinnati to open a series of games on their home lot.

The Reds will bring practically their regular team here for the battle. One of the recruit pitchers will hurl. Chase, Groh, Kopf and the rest of the regulars will be in the game, and, of course, “Greasy” will be in the lineup.

Local fans have taken up a subscription with which a very handsome present for the local boy will be purchased and given to him when he first comes to bat for his team.

This is the first time in several years that a big league team has played here during the season. Several times the Pittsburgh Pirates have been on the barn-storming tour, but this is a game during the regular season, when the visiting team is fighting for position and must keep in tip-top form.

Manager Wright has gone to considerable expense to bring the Reds here and is counting on a large crowd to help defray the expenses. The admission price has been raised to 50 cents and a record crowd is expected at that figure to assure the local manager at least an even break on expenses.

The local team will line up as it did for the battle last Monday with Washington, Pa. Starr, first; C. King, second; Huber, short, and Flinn, third, will compose the infield. Latterner will twirl and Dave King will be behind the bat. Kirkwood, Hastings and Carroll or Huffman will be in the outfield.

The Parkersburg Sentinel

Sept. 6, 1917

***

Reds lose

The Cincinnati Reds who are in town for a game with the Independents this afternoon, lost one scalp anyhow, no matter how the ball game goes. Matty [Christy Matthewson] and Jack Ryder played a foursome match with John Romine and Mentor Caldwell at the Country Club links this morning, which was won by the Parkersburgers. The first round was won two up, and the second, one up.

Both the local enthusiasts claimed that Matty was a crackerjack golfer, and said they would have little chance with him if he had been accustomed to the local course. This was the first time either the great baseball hurler or Ryder had played on the local links.

The two famous baseball leaders were entertained at lunch at the club and enjoyed their trip to the links very much. Mr. Romine met manager Matthewson and Mr. Ryder at the Chancellor [Hotel] this morning and took them to the club in his automobile.

Excerpt from The Parkersburg Sentinel

Sept. 7, 1917

NOTE: The locals lost the game to the Reds, 5 to 0.

***

Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.