Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-04-19
DIAMOND ANNALS
The Life Of Harry Wright AL
most an Encyclopedia.
ACCURATE RECORD or MS pRRDA

Than Hals the Credis to Mr.. Rrank
Hoseh. sf the Philadelphia North Ansr-
No man IN baseball today Ia moro popular,
moro honored, more respected by players,
magnatss and public than Harry Wright,
the veteran manager and player. His careee
b one a vast interest 10 ALL and It Is of itsslf
sort Of encyclopedia Of the national game.
THIS record Of his life and services, though
condensed, b the most complete ever given,
and b absolutely correct a. to faCta Il was
written IN collaboration with Mr.. Frank
Hough. Of The Philadelphia North American,
than whom mo- ono knows Mr.. Wright better.
take pleasure In according Mr.. Hough moro
than half Of whatever credit Il due the pro-
duction.
Harry Wright was born in Shsfleld, Eng
land, In 1885. When he was about eighteen
months old his parents removed to the United
States, where Daniel Wright, who has been
located in California for years; George, the
greatest short stop tho game ever had, and
now successful sporting goods dealer Of Bos-
ton, and Sam, who Is associated IN business
with bis brother George, were born. From
childhood Manager Wright took q keen in
terest In all outdoor sports and pastimes, q
trait that be inherited from his father, who
was one Of the first, II not the first, profes-
donal cricketers in this country.
While serving his apprenticeship with
manufacturing jeweler In Maiden lane, New
York, he devoted considerable portion Of
each summer to playing cricket, and In 1851
he Joined the Knickerbocker club The latter
organization broke up during the war, many
OF Its members going to the front.
In 1864-65 Mr.. Wright joined the Gotham
club, Of New York, playing third and short,
and occasionally going behind the bat He
also played cricket with the st. George club
on the Red House grounds, First avenue and
One Hundred and Second and One Hundred
and Third Streets and in 1865 he made an
agreement to play with that club, but he was
released from his engagement at his own re-
quest, and Joined the Cincinnati Cricket club
as professional at a salary Of el,200. Some
OF the best known citizens of Cincinnati, in
cluding J. w. Johnston, Capt H. A. Glass.
ford, A. b. Champion and Charles Scanlon,
were members Of the club. They soon tired
Of cricket, and on July %, 1860, the Cincin-
natl Ball club was formed. The uniform was
gorgeous affair, consisting Of red caps, blue
trousersand white shirts The new club played
i've games with the local amateur teams, win
ming three.
In 1866 Mr.. Wright received an advan-
tageous offer from the Germantown Cricket
club Of Philadelphia, which he would have
liked to accept, but the Cincinnati people
would not let him 60, and though they had
no legal claim on his services, only his prom
tse, he declined the offer. Think OF that In
those days of cast iron, air tight contracts
In 1867 A. T. Goshorn, John Mclean, John
Joyce and others held q meeting and resolved
to take the grounds back of Lincoln park.
Cincinnati, and they were opened ON July 4,
Louisville being taken into camp by the score
Of 70 to "a. On July 10 Cincinnati was de-
feated by the National club SO to 10, and that
30 depressed Capt Glassford that he re-
signed the presidency. That was the only
game the club lost that season, winning II.
In 1868 President Champion declined the
presidency, and A. I. Goshorn, afterward
director general Of the centennial exhibition,
was elected. This year marked the adv OF
professionalism In baseball and the introduc-
tion of the knickerbockers as part Of play
er's costume. The Buckeye club of Cincinnati,
which was composed Of teachers and pro-
fessors, was anxious to down Wrights team,
and sent an agent east, who secured Dockney,
Cherokee Fisher, Sweasy and Leonard.
Wright was compelled to strengthen, and
John Hatfield, Fred Waterman, Asa Brai-
nard and Doug Allison were engaged. The
s~eSS~y
the first game Harry Wright appeared on tho
field clad In knickerbockers and long red
stockings, and caused sensation, few Of
the more prudish Of the women folk ctarac-
terizing bis make up as indecent. Cincinnati
won all the games from the Buckeyes.
The Buckeye people were anxious to win
the second game, and the night before they
took Hatfield, Brainard and Allison out and
got them drunk. The next day Wright would
not permit Hatfield to play, although the d.
rectors coaxed Wright to change his decision,
but he would not.
In 1869 the famous Cincinnati Reds were
organized. This was the first entirely pro-
fessional ball club. Before starting out on that
campaign Manager Wright laid down set Of
rules which have since been the basis Of all
club discipline The members were to report
at certain hours in the morning and after
noon, were to practice so long time and were
to retire at a certain hour. Drunkenness or
excess Of any kind was not to be tolerated, and
infringement Of any Of the rules meant a fine.
The writers of the day attempted to ridiculc
Mr.. Wright and his methods, and the players
were referred to as ''Wrights Babies" But
both Mr.. Wright and his methods were vim
dicated The club went through the season
without defeat in fifty eight games played
-"ioco'u 'noU "o "'o"' cah eVen now eAPeco
TO equal.
In 1870 the Reds received their first defeat
at the hands OF the Atlantics, and the interest
In ball in Cincinnati died out, although the
CLUB finished the season. Boston parties then
commenced negotiations with Mr.. Wright,
and notwithstanding MIR. Murat Halsteads
oner TO back him IN the formation OF new
club he departed for the Hub in II. His
relations with Messrs Adams ana Apoiionis,
tnen running the bostons, were not OF the
pieasantest character. Inc playing rules
having been made from time 20 time were
luii Oh contradictions ana distresslngiy prolix,
and IN 1870 Mr wright assisted by Mr..
APanohis, Tewrote tnem
When Messrs' Soden, biiiings ana Conant