Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-05-04
KING SHORT STOP.
THE BASEBALL CAREER OF "PEBBLY" JACK
GLASSC0CK.
A Champion Player Born and Reared in Wheeling
His Work on the Diamond General Sports
Pugilistlc News-Turf Notes,

The greatest short stop in the business,
taken as short stop only, is John w.
Glasscock, somestimes called "Pebbly
Jack" universally known as Jack. His
habit of picking up pebbles, clOds of grass
and other things that he can seize when in
his position earned him the nickname of
''Pebbly Jack"
There are onlo two short stops who can
approach Glasscock in fielding. These are
Ward and Williamson; only one who can
equal him in brilliant plays-Ward; none
that can excel him in batting, and only one
Ward again-whO can equal him in base
running. Aside from short stops Kelly is
the only base runner | know of that can
touch GlasscOck for daring on the bases
Many people think Ward and Kelly use
better Judgment, but on this point | am
doubtful
GlasscOck is a peculiar man any way you
take him. On the field he is never in re-
pose Always on the move, anxious, en-
thusiastic, squirting and inspiring, the uni
versal opinion has always been that on a
great team in a great city he would be the
greatest ball player of the day. He IS now
in Just that position, and as captain of the
New York team it is my opinion that he
win prove that, as ball player, he is as
great as any in America. Not even Ewing,
Ward Kelly or Arson will excel him.
Glasscock's disposition is little under
stood. He appears to be man OF morose
and Surly disposition, but this is but his
outward semblmce He is uncouth, per-
haps rough, but not near so black as he has
been painted. Speaking of him, Charley
Bassett. of the New York team. says
Jack is hard man TO understand. When
/ first played with him his apparent surli-
ness used TO break me up. But | soon
| learned TO know him."
Beneath his rOughness Jack is good fel-
low. and can give some of his detractors
points on manliness. He is good friend
and "a bitter enemy. | have seen him when
he appeared TO be in bad temper, when |
knew he was just the reverse. When Jack
was made the velvet was left off. Hence
he cannot gild his words like some other
men, whose hearts could not be seen II
placed alongside of his
Glasscock is the most enthusiastic base
ball player l ever knew. His peculiar tenn
permanent hides much of IL. He is the ball
player and nothing else when on the field.
He is trickey-all great players are-to
the verge of unfairness, and his anxiety to
win, as is the case with Ewing, Kelly, An
son. Ward and others. often leads him be-
yond it; he seldom lets point escape him;
he has very little use for what he calls
/ "mildneSS' in base ball; he believes in win
ming, fairly if you can, unfairly If you must
and can get away with the umpire, but WIN,
no matter how: a hard man to manage, and
vet a good man to manage others; driver
always, and seldom a persuader; during a
game lost to all but the thought OF winning
and the methods for doing so. Such is
John Glasscock on the field. Away from
il he is quiet and deep, not over laxative,
not always agreeable, but on the whole an
everyday, decent sort of fellow, gentle
manly and fairly entertaining.
GlasScock is a resident of Wheeling. W.
Va. having lived in that city since young
man. He is now about "a years OF age. As
a ball PLAYER he came into prominence when
plaving short stop and second base for
the famous "gilt-edged Cleveland team in
the wears 1851 and 1852. Previous to this
he PLAYED with numerous minor or
carnations, none OF which were OF any
prominence. With the Cleveland team he
was Immediately recognized as superior
fielder i'm the above positions. and II was
here that he gained the title of king OF
Short Stops" His famous jump from the
Cleveland team 10 the Cincinnati Unions
is still fresh i'm the minds of base ball
cranks. With the Cincinnatls he played
only for a few months, being transferred
from that club TO Henry V. Lucas famous
aggregation in St Louis. This club was
known as the MarOOns, and under TINS
name in 1855, was taken into the League
In 1856 Glasscock was transferred TO In
dianapolis. where he has since remained.
Last season during the closing months he
was manager of the HOLSTERS and got bet
ter work out of them than any one had ever
been able 10 do previously. He is now cap
tain and short stop of the New ork
.eague team.
Glasscock's punishment for his Cleve-
land iump was a fine of - 900 and the ne
cessitv of PLAYING for tail enders ever since
at a less salary than other men not hall his
equal were earning elsewhere. Surely ne
eXpiated that Offense, which has always
/ been the regret of his life. Glassc0ck Is
not ungrateful He knew he was wrong
and he realized that the League had treated
him with great leniency. He hestated
when the Players League scheme was
presented to him. Finally he decided to
remain with the League.
/ Glasscock and the Players league men
differ materially in their stories OF ms re
/ latiou with the Brotherhood Ward and
others contradict him. They say he lies,
and GlasscOck returns the compliment.
/ AMONG batsmen he stands foremost. He
/ has always been well up in the averages,
/ and generally stood quite as well from a
utility and reliability standpoint. In 1850
/ he stood sixth with .32j. In 1881, the year
when ghost hits" were in vogue, he stood
/ t,ventv-ninth. but in actual base hits ne
] was No near the top. He was twenty-slXth
| i'm ISIS and second in 1889 with Bob, having
made the largest number of hits, 2O9, made
| Inv any PLAYER for many years, and finally,
| Glasscock. during his eleven seasons OF
| League service. has played l,Os6 games
| been .43l times AT bat, made DPS base hltS'
/ has grand average Of 20 ana stanus SlN-
teenth among the League veterans
! GlasscOck's attitude at the bat IS chaIdc-
| teristic of the intensity with which ne plays
! ball. He stands in a slightly crouchlng AZ
/ titude. so much so that he appears rouhu
shouldercd he favOrs his left foot some
thing as a horse does when he has a spawn
uuder his hoof. and swings his suck
| clear of his body with a sort of menace that
makes "a pitcher hate to give him Dau thaI
| he can hit. When he hitsit square the pail
goes TO the field like shot. and the man
who gets in front of it is often sorry Tor
what he has done" GlasscOck, with ms
/ heart i'm his work as il was last year, as 1t
| is this wear. ranks with Arson, Ewing,
| Frontiers. Kelly. Tiernan, H. Richardson
and Conner as giant with the suck. ne
/ is a more scientific hitter than any, barring
! Arson and Ewing, and fully the equal OF
either His worst enemies admit tnat as d
I ball PLAYER he is a king. In my estimation
\ he is the equal if not the superior OF any III
| fine land. w. l. HARRIS.
PUGILISTIC POINTS.