Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-15
JAMES q. BLAINE,
Secretary of State
OLD-TIME BALL PLAYERS.
Some Weli-knOwn Men in Washington
Who Were Once Famous Ball Tossers.

Washington Correspondent New York SUM-
Washington is perfect hotbed of base ball
enthusiasts, and in the ranks are men who owe
their positions in the government departments
to the fact that once upon a time they were
identified with amateur and semi professional
base ball clubs. While some of these men en-
JOY good incomes from their places at Uncle
Sans crib, the combined salaries of two of the
best-paid government officials who formerly
tossed ball will not aggregate as much as Kelly
of the Bostons received last year for his
services Talking with one of the broadest-
gagged men who has retired from the dia-
mond, there seemed to be no hesitancy on
his part in declaring that in the good days
OF the game players considered them
selves very fortunate if the honorary
members of the clubs would subscribe sufficient
funds to defray the ordinary expenses of
travelling on a small circuit. Salaries were alb
solutely unknown. Probably the best-known
retired ball player of today is Senator Arthur
German of Maryland, whose salary as law
maker Is $4,000 per annum. As a member of
the National Base Bali Club in the closing DAYS
OF the sixties he guarded left field and first
base without any compensation whatever be-
yOnd the fact that he Was allowed to play on
the nine. He was good player too, and
among his associates on the team was George
Fox, who enjoyed the reputation of having the
longest bat and being the strongest batter in
the United States. For his skillful play at third
base Fox was rewarded with position in the
Treasury Department, and became an inspec-
tor of the customs department., with head
quarters at the Suspension Bridge across the
Niagara river.
Another base ball colleague of Senator Cor
mans was Henry Berthrong who is a success
ful portrait painter at Boston, Mass, where he
located after leaving the Ireasury Department
BerthrOnS, IN addition to being crack catcher
and center fielder, was the champion Splinter
OF the base ball fraternity, and his tour of the
bases III a trifie less than eleven seconds has
never been equalled. Clerical life, however.
had no charms for Berthrong, and he resigned
a 81 400 position to go back to his home in
Boston. When the Nationals made their IA
nous tour of the United States in 1867 the task
OF guarding first base assigned to W. III.
Hodges, a fast-running, heavy batting New
Jerseyman. After leaving the base bail field
Hodges became clerk in the Quar- termaster
Generals Office IN this city and he still enioys
an income OF $1,000 a year.
But It would be like play of Hamlet minus
the central figure to talk OF the Nationals of
1867. and neglect Billy Williams, the famous
pitcher. Owing to peculiar style OF delivery.
Billy in jured himself in such a manner "a 10
prevent his playing ball after 1868 and he
went into the Treasury Department. He is
now assistant teller IN the cash room which is
the United States bank, and his salary is placed
In the blue book at S2.250 per annum Up
STAIRS IN the same department with Williams
Is the ONCE OF director of United States mints
the presiding genius of which is Edward O.
Leech, another famous pitcher in the days that
are gone. His club was the Olympic of this
city, and there wasa great rivalry between that
organization and the National especially in
1869. when excitement was at fever heat in
local base ball circles. AS head OF the mint
bureau Mr.. Leech IS in receipt OF an annual
stipend OF S4,50O. besides his travelling ex.
penses. In the Olympic ranks at the same
time with Pitcher Leech was the president OF
the National League, \. L. Young who was a
short stop and fielder, and n sprinter only
second to Harry Berthrong. President Young
Is a 81 600 clerk i'll the Second Auditors Office
OF the Treasury Department, having been APP
pointed from New York in 1865.
LOUIS u. Martin, now special agent of the
treasury Department. with station at Balti.
more, Nd, was for several years left fielder OF
the Olympics, and his connection with that or
ganlZation led to his appointment under the
government at a compensation Of IS per diem.
Lou was heavy batter and an active base
runner anda model ball player from TEN.
perance standpoint. Visitors to the White Lot
south of the Presidents house, in the early
days Of base ball III this vicinity, will not for
get Harry Mclean, who used TO look after cen
ter field tor the Nationals. He had knack of
capturing flies close to the ground while on q
many hard-fought victory. Life is pretty
easy for Harry in these days as chief clerk and
assistant supervising architect of the Treas
ury Department at salary $3.50 In adj
ditlon to being good ball player Mclean en-
joyed the distinction OF being the best billiard
player among the bail tossers of his day.
When the Cincinnati Red Stockings. the firs
professional ball team. made its tour of the
United States in 1868 and 1869, the star catcher
| OF the country was Douglass Allison, and, when
year later. he was tempted to come to Wash
| Ington he cheerfully complied. Since thai
| time he has lived in this city and was fol
| a while in the Government Printing Office
Now. however. he keeps u chair warm at tn,
| National Museum, for which he is paid S72t
| per annum.
Another old-timer in base ball circles il
| George W. Joyce. who was for years one o.
the mainstays of the jefferson Club, who's.
grounds we're just opposite those of the Ma
| uonals In the White Lot. George has neve
been In public office, but his cigar and new,
stand near the War, State and Navy Depart
ment building is the resort of all the base bal
| cranks IN those Offices
On the pay rolls of the Senate Of the United
States there appears the name of Thoma
| Quantrlil, ball player who fourished in 1851
as short stop OF the Unions of thiA city, an,
who divided days with the Jeffersons on tn
| White Lot. Tom was the Glasscock O
those days, and he was terror to pitchers an,
| basemen.