JAYSON

                          AND THE

                     PHILADELPHIA

                        DIAMONDS

                       MISERABLE

                         SEASON

               STEPHEN POLLARD

Wynnefield Heights, PA

September 25, 1875

The Philadelphia Diamonds had just finished playing their game against the American Conference League regular season champions Washington Eagles.

Having lost the last game of the 1875 baseball season 5 to 3 against Washington capped a very miserable ailment and injury riddled season for the Diamonds whose 3rd place finish left a lot of disappointment among the players, who for the first time ever the team would not be playing in a championship game.

Matthew Phillips started talking to Jayson Gannon about the implications, even though they did manage a 40 - 30 record for the season.

Matthew Phillips was concerned about something that was said to him, Paul Williamson and Jayson Gannon. Matthew Phillips said to Jayson Gannon, “do you remember when we were leaving from picking you up when you left the circus carnival that day and what Landis

Hawkins said to us”. Having a look of painful bewilderment Jayson said “you mean, all of that stuff that he said about us, ans having success beyond anyone’s imagination, and that we would experience the depths of failure, but we would rebound to the top once again, yeah, it has crossed my mind a time or two lately. But it’s no use for us dwelling on it”. 

Matthew Phillips then said, “I am sure that bony fingered Landis Hawkins is well aware of our success and what happened this year. It was like when he said that, he was casting some spell on us all”.

Seeing Paul Williamson passing by, Matthew Phillips motioned him over to join the conversation, Matthew Phillips said to him “Jayson and myself were discussing the disaster we had this year with all of the ailments and injuries and our thoughts turned to what a certain bony fingered carnival circus ring master said to us about what would happen to us when our successful days ran out and we hit rock bottom”. Paul Williamson had the same look of painful bewilderment that Jayson Gannon had earlier when asked the same question.

Paul Williamson response was, “I guess that after nine consecutive championship seasons we were kind of due for a let down season, but all of the ailments and injuries were something totally different”. Matthew Phillips then responded with, “I am the leader of this team, and I am not about to let this be the end, we have all been together for years now and we will rebound from all that has happened this past season”.

“Well guys”, Matthew Phillips said to Jayson Gannon and Paul Williamson, “the three of us as leaders of the Diamonds, we will put all of this behind us and we’ll be ready for the next season to return to our winning ways”.

The three were parting ways and Matthew Phillips said to the others “just relax over the fall and winter and we will be ready to go come next when the baseball season starts up again”.

  (C) 2020