New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-20
MONEY IN BASEBALL.
WEALTHY MANAGERS AND PLAYERS
RARE TALES OF HARDHEADED CATCHER
NOTES AND COMMENTS.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.
John B. Day, the popular president Of the NewYork
Baseball Club has confined TO his house by Illness
for a week Ills sickness resulted from overwork and
too close attention the various business ventures In
which he is Interested Every friend Of outdoor sports
and especially baseball trusts thar the ruling spirit oil
the Giants will quickly recover his usual good health
Mr. Day has probably done mJre to mako oaseoaii
popular in this city than any diving He has been
fortunate too many Of his ventures and has made
good deal Of money. He has also lost much money
IN irving to help along faltering organizations He
said TO have lost many thousand doarsprobaby In the
na,ohhorhood OF s20000on the Metropolitan club in its
last year OF existence baseball nine in this city Mr.
DAYS regular business is that OF tobacoonst ana pY
cose attention to this calling he has made fortune.
probably no is held in higher esteem in the
baseball profession than Mr. Day. He has always been
the players friend and designing managers wishing to
make rules which would work to the injury Of player
always found him obstinate foe TO their schemes
Mr. Days physician has prescribed rest and change
of scene and accompanied by his friend exAssemblyman
rosenh Gordon he will start for Hot Springs IN few
days M Day is an oTd-time ball player hinsdt but
OF the silkstocking order lie was formerly ptcher
NJ anne skill Next baseball, the president OF the
Champions likes bowling lie is one Of the best anna
tsur bOwers in the city and is enthusiastic member
NJ one OF the Harlem clubs Mr.. Day can also knock
tho billiard balls around with considerable Skill In
the National Baseball League his name Is always prom
inent and II he desired an Office he cona have any one
in the gifs Of that organization.
Chris Won der Ahe in Astrachan overcoat and seal.
.sn e,n has frequently OF late been conspicuous figure
IN ,ha corridors OF the Grand Central Hotel lie speaks
Nth strong German twang and is 80 liberal In hts DEAL
ngs that there always great JOY among the WATERS OF
the hotel when It that he has tee&aphed
ahead for rooms Won der Abe is the owner OF the s
Ious club and Is OF the peculiar figures IN baseball
iris club has won championship OF tho Association SO
frequently that the pennant s no longer novelty IN e
rous His team year was generally rateu a 'hiru'
,las one and vet 1t the pennant easily other cuo
Aha,a
ca,noan takes the jeers good-naturedy He pays them
hack for their insoence in his peculiar way ABOUT
ten years ago Won Abe started In business IN 81 LOUIS
With kea Of beer and glasses He set up business
IN little shed near the baseball park and In three years
ned the club and grounds and one OF the best paying
beershops in the Now he owns blocks oil houses III
ST Louis and is also power in local politics. In view
Of his excessive beraiity. his jump TO wealth Is re-
o,.ble IL he has than he wants. he would Just
"A soon share quart bottle oil champagne WIN 'no hs
boy as with the Prince Of Wales
r.o ,-,,ar walked into downtown billlsrd.room the
other day and found William Holbert the catcher ana
ex Manager Harry Spence, OF the Indianapolis cIuo
ing the ivory balls about the green e'o'EcoNercu
when the game was finished they began TO discuss tho
National game enthusiasts VIII when they come '0'
gether. -.
Catching to-day amt what 10 used to be-" said the
veteran Holbert " although It is hard enough now
when rst began catching In 10 VIC did not bsve those
g padded pillows to put on our hands, as they 90 now
WHY after game In those days my hands would be
swollen up to twice thoir natural SIRE while the PAIN
and back Of the would DO blue and black and 50
numb that would not have felt IL IL you had chopped
IL OF with a hatchet. Why, in those days my hands
would become perfectly numb after the second inning ana
after that would catch mechanically actually not feeling
the ball when 1t struck my hands"
at IS fortunate" suggested Spence. that they did
no. have such speedy pitchers IN those days as Crane
the Giants thunderbot"
eyes but they dd." Hobert. 1T was playing
in the Louisville 10 and caught for Jim Devn
Devlln then in his prime and sent ball over the
plate with Just much speed as Crane does now Ho
good pitcher OF the best this county ban ever
produced In my dozen professional player
knocked out but once and that was in rather
peculiar way accident winning OF the best
games on record the first year played there.
and the game with the Cincinnati club. the deadest
enemies Of the Louisville nine. 1t was in the tenth
inning with the score at to O. Deyln patched an APP
parenty hoop ball to the batter and foul tip
suited Tho ball in the middle OF the forehead
and fell unconscious The ball after striking me
bounded high into the air. and Devlin and caught
retiring the side We got the winning run in the next
inning capturing the game by z TO O. I knocked
down by foul tip when playing with tho old Nets
but It did not hurt me much. IL was 1884, and
Giants great pitcher. Timothy Keefe, in the box.
BY the way again pltted against the Porkopoans.
put Of his speedy the plate and
foul tip which resulted hit mo in the head The ball
bounded the air and Eserbrook who then play
ing thirdbasc for the Metropolitan caught ball be.
fore it touched the ground and retired the player"
II all clubs had as many wise heads the New York
club. there less trouble between players and
clubs Most Of the old players OF the NewYork nine
weto-do financially. person familiar with the
men says they are worth anywhere from $1,000 20
$40 900 each. Reefe and Richardson players any
club might be proud Of Each has laid by goody por
lion OF handsome salary for several years. Richardson
q member Of the dry-goods firm Of Shean. Dean Co..
Of Elmra. and may yet be merchant prince. Keefe
will shortly open sporting goods store in Broadway
II Of the many players who put money In liquor
stores would follow the good example OF Keefe and
Danny the profession would be better or 1t is
singular OF the of wellknown
players who have opened liouorstores has
with much success Baseball and whiskey never have
gone well together. and never will
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
Tho Brooklyn players will do less gymnasium work
this spring than usual.
1t is still undecided whether the Gantsiwl be Aken
70 Cuba or not next month.
Wagsnhurst may make a good player. but few people
think that he will be Ward. Williamson. Denny,
Smith or Wise.
The Staten Island Club may wish Catcher
Carr The Nassau club certainly did. Carr received
$5 game when playing with the Indians"
Superintendent Bell, of the Polo Grounds. ofciaten
manager Of the Giants during the time that Manager Mutre
was In Bermuda about three years One OF his ocia
acts was to give Tom" Dessey severe thrashlng and
when he 90. through fined Deasley 5000 for nsubordna
ton. Bell is said to be tho only manager who ever
got the best Of that erratc catcher.
The Brooklyn players will report for duty between
March 10 and o. The will take their early practice
on the Parade Grounds at Prospect Park. Brooklyn.
Timothy Keefe has property in Cambridge valued at
$4,000 He has comfortable sum in the bank, be-
sides 1t may spoil the effect but IL is nevertheless true
that no did not make ell his money out OF baseball lie
inherited about half OF It,
The resident players in Brooklyn have taken 20 bicycle
riding with q vengeance. Generally spin through
Prospect Park is taken, but occasionally Terry and
bushons send their steel steeds clear To Coney Island
and back
The American Association has wisely determined 10
discontinue Its special meetings. The slightest petext
was saneient 10 the calling OF OF these meet
ings They were not only useless. but costly.
Clarke and Smith are the only two Brooklyn players
not signed A slight difference about salary is the
trouble.