Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-17
The Old bail Player aud His Son.


PIunkins was champion baseballiSt
when the national game first came into
prominence, nigh twenty years ago. Both
hands are crippled up and he has some six
teen different kinds of rheumatism, 81 he
doesn't 20 out 10 see game very often now,
hut there is a spark of the old fire left III
him yet.
The other day he learned that his young
est son, johnny, had played hockey from
school. and, whip in hand, he awaited the
| lads return. resolved TO administer sslutary
chastiSement. At length he caught him
/ slipping warily into the back yard. accom-
panied by a baseball club taller than he Is.
| Aha said PIunkins, trying 10 get
| frmer grip on the rawhide with his stiifened
| fingers. " been running away from school
| have We? Don't want to let the school
master teach your young ideas how to get
'smselves off properly, eli? As the twig is
bent the trees inclined, but you're bent on
foulin' away your time, see, and you amt
inclined to study. But if you don't want
to be taught at school" "(Spitting on his hand
as he grabs him by tlecr lIr)' I'll teach We. y
Johnny began To whimper and moan,
Can't have any fun"
Fun roared his father what dye call
fun?" and he raised his whip to strike.
"PIa-playin' baseball" " sobbed Johnny.
| "Baseball?" said Plunkins, suspending
his arm in the air, where did you learn to
play baseball?"
''Oh. know'd ever so long ago"
And you belong to a nine?" The arm
dropped to his side.
Yes, the Daisy Cutters And we've
/ been playin' the 'High-Lows,' of Harlem"
But it's wrong TO run away from school,
johnny. Couldn't you have put in subj
4 IL. .t.,l.t aI Ia
Sc ing his father sit down on the sawbuck,
! and the rawhide lying at his feet. I'm
short stop. You see il was just this way
The .High-Lows' took the bat, and Stub
: ;oed Joe led of with corking hit into the
right field. Pinky Jones put fly to center
field. which Slit-nOse Mike got under anc
muffed."
He muifed it, did he?" sneered Plunkins
as he breathed hard and his eyes began tC
glisten.
Yes, but the ball split his finger"
e Good enough. But 20 Oh"
''FOg-hOm Pete drove pretty one int
left field and filled the bases. Frenchy made
u a wild pitch and Grind-iron Sam scored ant
the two Harlems advanced bag"
"A bag? What's that?"
r Ooh, you amt fly, dad. A bags a base
;, do cher kuow?"
"HeS, yes, | might have known. Go on.
Furry drove moving machine"
r Moving machine?"
"Yes, a grass cutter-about half foo
y out of Slim Jim'S potato grabbers, and tn
two High-LOw crossed the silver ware"
e The silver ware"
e YES, the plate. Furry was double
with Skinny on his line fly 10 Little Re
and Dickey Bird gave up the ghost on
n swift bounder TO Plunkey."
St ''Plunkey?"
Yes" said the boy with grin, that
me"
II And you took it in?" cried the father.
is "Out of the wet" said the boy placidl,
Come to my arms my SON. eXclaime
Plunkins, springing TO his feet and embra
~ ing him pleasantly. Il was afraid you W.
er foOlin' away your time at school and getti
NJ education, but | see | was mistakel
~ Why. boy, you are fit to enter college tn
very minute. Come right along into Il
IL house and tell about the rest of the game
your mother and me, and they went in I.
ii gether locked in fond embrace.