The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-01
TALK OF aCRANKS. =
How 1Con" Strouthers Engaged
q Phenomenon.
A TEAM THAT COULD PLAY BALL,
Umpire stanton's winnings At s'Craps"-
BnIy Earle the Mesmerist-Abe
Powell's Wealth.

number of cranks who imagine themselves
undeveloped wonders as ball players, and
who harass the life out of the local and
visiting managers for a trial. "Con"
S.routhers. while captaining the Sandusky
team in 1888. met one of this species while
playing series of games at Kalamazoo.
One morning he was approached at the
hotel by an individual who confdentialiy
informed him that he was '.phenom" rs
a pitcher.
"Indeed2o said Con. 'Got . good
curve2"
Nothing but an eightfoot DROP" re-
piled the stranger, sententiously. Strike
out twenty men every game"
Well, well; how's your speedf"
"0ut of sight, and I'd like an engage
ment."
Ths Tacoma first-baseman was fully as
cold-blooded in those days as he is now,
but always enjoyed bit of fun. He in
formed the crank to report at the grounds
a half-kour before the game started and
show his drop" The fellow did 50 and
the life was batted out of him by the San
duskys. His curve was q mere rainbow
dew-drop thrown high in the air. Every
time the batters slammed the ball out OF
sight Con remarked, Just scratch hit;
you're dandy. sure"
Strouthers then asked him to run bases,
and the poor fellow, to the merriment of
the crowd, flew around the diamond until
his tongue stuck out yard.
"So far you are very satisfactory" re-
marked Con. Now show me how you are
at sliding Regardless of his brand-new
clothes the would-be professional started
around again. slid to every base and ended
up at the home plate looking like tramp.
He was informed 10 report at the hotel for
an engagement. A bogus contract calling
for $175 month was fixed up. which the
fellow signed in the evening. The new
pitcher was delighted, but said he would
be unable TO report for week.
"That1l never do, " said Strouthers. "You
must 60 to Toledo tonight"
But can't, possibly" he persisted.
81 see your game, young fellow"
Streuthers said, you've signed with some
one else and will try and give me the slip.
Now you will go or I'll have you arrested.
Or, if you deposit $40 as guarantee that
you'll be on hand in Toledo in three days,
I'll let you stay over"
The new pitcher rustled around town,
borrowed the money, and Con and his boys
had SO good time that night that some of
them were fined the next day for being out
late.
The team went to Toledo the next day,
from which place Strouthers Immediately
mailed a release to the man left behind in
Kalamazoo.
No ball player in this League is supposed
to be up in his business unless he carries q
couple of dice in his pockets and shoots
craps on all occasions-in hotels, on rail-
road trains and even on the players bench
for sums ranging from nickel up to q
quarter. Tom Stanton, the umpire, is also
an expert. On his last visit here he won
S140 one night in q Washington street
place. He hied himself to the postoffice,
bought a $40 money order. which he mailed
to his better half. and then went back and
lost the hundred.
Abner Powell, the Spokane left fielder.
has invested in 81 500 worth of real estate
in and around Spokane. Powell is said to
be worth $50. 600, all of which he has made
since he began playing ball. He has been
frugal and has made many fortunate
speculations. He will probably manage
the Spokane team next season.
France ard March, pitchers.
Suyder, catcher.
A Hernon, first base.
Team thinner, second base.
Named Fender, third base.
by Turner, right Fl i'd.
Manassau center field.
Crank. Rhue left field.
Fiaherty, shorJstop.
Fitzgerald, Wright and Reidy, subs.
Frank March, the Adonis of the Tacoma
team, who pleases every audience before
whom he twirls. will accept a position in
the Security Bank of Tacoma at the close
of the season. March's parents are among
the first people in Minneapolis, and are
said to be wealthy.
The black-faced son of Africa down at
the lett fence and Rockwell's magnificent
hound, Duke who ran across the diamond.
were not enough to chase the hoodoo of
the field yesterday.
Germans predominant in the Pacific
Northwest League. The Seattle team fur
nishes quite number. This, of course. is
not a shot at Patricius Flaherty.
Billy Earle is mesmerist, and the story
is told down East that on one occasion he
put young lady to sleep aud stuck her
tongue full OF pins and needles.
Manassau's grounder, which bounded
over Flaherty's head in the fourth inning.
was an ugly bali, and might almost be re-
corded as safe hit.
"Whitely flied to Manassaun IL bacor,-