The Washington critic., 1890-05-20
BALL PLAYERS IN OFFICE.
Government Officials Who Were at
One Time Professionals


Washington is a perfect hotbed of
baseball enthusiasm, and in the ranks
are men who owe their present positi ms
in the Government service to the fact
that once upon time they were indenti
fed with professional ball playing at
the nations Capital, says the Boston
Globe.
Senator ArthurP German of Maryland
is probably the most conspicuous retired
ball player in existence to day. His sal
ary as United States Senator is 5000
per annum. In the closing days Of the
sixties Senator German guarded left field
for the old Nationals and played first
base. He was general utility man,
and could play in almost any position
from pitcher to right field.
George Fox was one of the Senator'S S
associates ON the old National team, and
1t was he who had the reputation of
swinging the longest bat and being the
strongest hitter in the United States.
For his skillful play at third base he
was rewarded with a position in the
Treasury Department and subsequently
became an inspector of customs, with
headquarters at the Suspension Bridge
across Niagara Falls.
Another baseball colleague of Sena-
tor Gorman's s was Harry Berthrong, who
is now successful artist in Boston. He
makes specially of portrait painting.
For several years he was an employe in
the Treasury Department while playing
behind the bat for the Nationals. He
was the champion base runner of his
day, and his tour of the bases has never
been equaled. Clerical life, however,
had no charms for Berthrong, and he
resigned 81 400 position to go back to
his home in Boston.
When the Nationals made their
famous tour of the United States in 1867
the task of guarding first base was as
signed to w. IL. Hodges. fastrunning,
heavy batting New Jerseyman. After
leaving the ball field Hodges be.
came clerk in the Quartermaster-
Generals office In this city and is still
drawing a salary of 81 900 per year.
1t would be like play of Hamlet
minus the central figure to write of the
Nationals of 1867 and neglect Billy
Williams, the famous pitcher, who first
astonished the baseball world with his
remarkably swift pitching. His only
| Of the Philadelphia Athletics. Owing
to peculiar style of delivery, Billy in
| jured himself in such a manner as TO
prevent his playing bali after 1879, 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 $2,250 per annum. He is one
Of the best story. .tellers in America, and
he has an ineXhaustible stock of base
ball anecdotes.
Up stairs in the same building with
Williams is the Office of the director OF
the United States mints, the presiding
genius of which is Edward O, Leech
another famous ball player. He was
pitcher of the Olympics of this city
and there was great rivalry between
that organization and the Nationals
especially in 1869, when excitemen
was at fever heat in local baseball
circles. AS director of the Min
Bureau, Mr.. Leech is in receipt of al
annual stipend of $4,000, besides hi
travelling expenses.
In the Olympic ranks at the sam
time with Pitcher Leech was the presi
dent of the National League, N. i
Young, who was shortstOp and out
fielder. Nick was base runner of NJ
mean proportion, and it is said that b
was second only to Harry Berthrong OF
the base lines. 1t is for this reason tina
Mr.. Young takes such an interest Ii
base.Tunning and does so much to max
that one of the conspicuous features o
the game of to-day. President Youn
draws annually from Uncle SAM cash
box 81 800 as clerk in the Secon'
Auditors Office of the Treasury De
partment, having been been appointe,
from the great State of New York i
1869.
Lewis G. Martin, now special agen
Of the Treasury Department at Balti
more, was for several years left fielde
of the Olympics, and his connection
with that organization led to his ap
pointment under the Government at
compensation of $8 per day. Lew wa
heavy batsman and an active base run
ner, and model ball player from tenn
peTanee standpoint.
Visitors TO the White Lot, south o
the Presidents House, in the early day