Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-04-19


"Old Hoss" Flint, the veteran catcher OF
the Chicago team, has pair Of hands that
would make q street-car driver envious.
Covered with knots and Jumps, the result
of foul tips and hard catching, they are
things which when once seen can never be
forgotten. "Larry Corcoran gave me most
of these crooked digits, said Silver, as he
looked at his big paws. "This battered
finger" pointing to the great finger of his
right hand) 81 got in Pittsburg last. t.season.
1t was in that famous fourteen Inning
game, when Clarkson and Calvin were
pitching like "a house on fire. The Pitts
burgs had a man on third, with one man
out. A desperate play had to be made.
Carroll, who was at bat, knocked a still
ground ball to Burns, and the man on third
made dash for home. With one of his
terrific wrist throws Burns sent the ball
toward the plate in o straight line. I
thought could eat it up, it came so straight
and pretty. BY some inadyertence thrust
my fingers instead of my palms toward the
ball, which struck squarely on the end Of
this big finger. OF course, dropped the
ball, and Pittsburg won the game by one
run. That crook laid me up for two weeks.
1t shattered the bone and crushed the flesh
so that blood flowed freely.
Il have but one straight fnger-the
great finger of my left hand. Two Of my
fingers were knocked out before began to
play professionally. The rest Of the
knots, with the exception of the one / got
IN Pittsburg, were given me by Corcoran.
He was the worst pitcher 1 ever caught.
mean by that that he was the hardest on
my fingers. / did not-wear O glove in
those days, and this accounts for q great
many of the knocks / received. Corcoran
gave Goldsmith finger too"
The biggest transaction of the present
month has been the transfer of John Clark
sons services to the Boston Club. The deal
had been long anticipated and therefore
surprised no one, although it has caused
an endless amount of discussion in every
base-ba center OF the country. President
Spalding, for the Chicago Club, last week
received the check of the Boston Club for
$4,000, the amount paid for Clarkson's
release by Boston.
The Spalding Base Ball Guide for 1888
has been placed on sale. This is the
twelfth annual edition of O work which is
generally recognized as an authority on all
matters pertaining to the National League,
containing, as it alone does, its official sta
listics. In addition there are several new
and interesting features, prominent among
which are the explanatory appendix to the
newly revised code of playing rules, and
special statistics OF the series of contests
Tor the worlds championship. This is by
Tar the best edition of the work that has
yet been published, and its variety of in
formation makes IL both useful and inter-
ssting to professionals and amateurs alike.
The Australian tour projected by Presi-
dent Spalding and Captain Anson is still
m interesting theme in ball circles here, as
L doubtless Is elsewhere. Considered
from every point OF view the project is o
Itupendous enterprise, quite in keeping
with the character Of the man who has so
boldly and resolutely taken II In hand; and
4, Tor his pluck alone every base ball lover
must wish Mr.. Spalding all possible sue
sess.