, 1891-11-29
UMPIRE JENNINGS
His Name Is Alfred Gordon, but
He's Known as Alamazoo.
HE'S LEFT THE DIAMOND FOREVER

vi NAA Az HNobo - II VI n
baseball field that OF the autocrat OF the
game ranks first. He Is monarch of all he
surveys according to the rule books, but
the truth is the umpire's subjects are al
most as explosive as a lot of South Amer
lean patriots. Umpires are supposed TO be
a bit different from the ordinary run of
mortals. Hthey have feelings which should
command respect they are expected to
carefully conceal them from press, players
and public. Upon their devoted heads is
poured the wrath of the baseball gods in
season and out. Only a small percentage
become hardened to the abuse that is their
lot and each campaign sees some new vic
tim ready for the sacrifice.
For over a year one of the most famous
characters who ever handles an indicator
behind the plate has remained off the grass.
The name of Alfred Gordon Jennings will
attract very little attention from the grand
army of the cranks, but 'Alamazoo" Jen
nings lives in the memories of enthusiast
in half the states Of the Union, while those
in the other half nave heard of him. 1.-The
Parched Corn King of America" Is the
new title given to this worthy, who is the
father OF a new and unprotected industry
in the Queen City of the west. While nib
bling a grain of roasted corn one day the
idea struck Alamazoo that the city was
hungry for that article of food, and Dor
lpNluB SA=OO hc NChb lhbO INC DuSlutSs.
From a route supplied by basket # grew
until until he travels by chariot. covering
three cities-Cincinnati, C~ovington and
Newport-and netting every day ten times
the amount of the original capital invested
in the enterprise.
The diamond has seen Alamazoo for the
last time. He was born in Porkopolis
forty-one years ago, and began his ball
playing career as one of the Red Oaks in
TEn0 49, - --- L. A. ALL - ~
Buckeyes in the days that Cherokee"
Fisher posed in the box and Joe Dockney,
afterward carved to death in a fight, was
behind the bat. For a couple OF seasons
Jennings had been managing the team at
Delaware, o., and catching n twirler
named Hill. When the Milwaukees, then
in the League. arrived in Cincinnati dur
ing the season of 1875 every one OF the
catchers on Jack ~Chapman's staff was
crippled Billy Holbert, Charley Bennett
and Billy Foley. Jennings was hunted up
and Mike Golden put in to pitch.
I'VE were all mixed in our signs" de-
clared Jennings to me in telling the story.
81 signed for an outcurve and got an in
shoot which broke n couple of fingers, Go
ahead, / said, I'm stay here all day even II
Ihave to stop 'em with my elbowsl You
can't drive me awayI' Well they didn't,
but l had seventeen passed balls that af-
%ternoon, and next morning o. p. Caylor
gave me the nickname that has stuck
to me like wax for sixteen years. His
headlines were The Coming Catcher;
Alamazoo Jennings makes his debut; his
hands gave out, but his gall lasted l
read a few lines and wanted to fight. I
read a few lines more and had to laugh.
The first game / ever umpired WA in the
Millcreek Bottoms in 1875. / had a broken
thumb and was put in to officiate by the
Ravens and Our Boys. Somebody told me
was a good umpire and 1 kept at it."
From that time till 1884 Alamazoo
was on the Cincinnati list of ~subumpires.
That year Horace Phillips brought his
Grand Rapids team to Covington to play
the Kentons, and when Jennings declared
a Michigander out for interfering with a
play, Phillips vowed vengeance. He rec
commended Jennings to Sam Morton, and
he was assinged TO Fort Wayne in the
Northw estern league to succeed Charley
Cushman-Milwaukee's manager today
who had Just been mobbed and laid out
with a clinker hurled by a angry partisan.
Alamazoo was a bowling success, and
says he was interviewed by press, chief of
police and mayor TO prove that Fort
Wayne's enthusiasts were not hoodlums.
There was one town in that circuit-Still-
water-that couldn't boast of a single
newspaper or n street car, but 1t had a
5000 u month team and soon accumulated
n lot OF bad debts. John Clarkson. Dave
Foutz, Bob Caruthers, Charley Camel
and Kid Baldwin all played in that
league. but 1t toppled in August and Ala
mazoo finished the season with the Union
association.
And Pm still waiting and watching for
a check for my salary" he declares. 1t was
in Washington that Alamazoo made his
first and last play to whip an editor. One
OF the Sunday papers had, metaphor
ically speaking, ripped him up the back"
and he took it upon himself to call and
correct the false impression. The editor
was in, and Alamazoo is willing to make
an AFFIDAVIT that there were twelve or IF
teen other member of the staff who tool
turns at using him for a doormat, and
when the performance was over somebody
hit him in the neck with a pot of paste,
and he was waited swiftly down the stairs.
Next day the gods of the bleachers made
life a burden for him and called ain Paste
pot Jennings" The next season found Jen-
nings in the Southern league, and as his
salary came in ten dollar installments he
jumped Into the Blue Grass league, and
made his Kentucky debut at Harrodsburg,
where Danville was playing. One decision
of his aroused the animals, and one OBJ
streperous gentleman was called" by Mr..
Jennings.
Pm here to umpire this game," re-
marked Alamazoo to the boisterous citizen.
Yes; and Pm here to see that its UNI
pired rightI' responded the Kentuckian,
as he pulled out a six shooter as long as
his arm.
MY friend" called out Jennings, don't
get excited. rn see that it's umpired
right"
The last year in harness was a stormy
one, and it was spent in the Interstate
league. On one occasion Alamazoo ad-
ministered a rebuke to a kicking PLAYER
that restored peace to the diamond for that
afternoon at least. A bad decision had
been given and the growls were loud.
Turning to the protesting captain, Jen.
nings asked, DO you ever make any err
rorst"
o course 1 doI' was the response.
$50 do l." retorted the umpire. "Now
close that hole in your face and play ball
OF Ill fine you an *"
The good deeds of Rhines and Harring
ton at Davenport and Malachi Kittredgs
at Quincy were revealed to major league
managers by Alsmazoo. Umpires in minoI
leagues send many pointers to "headquar
tiers" that bear fruit.
Rem MILFORD, JR
Worthy Of a Trial.
If you are troubled with rheumatisr
or a lame back, bind on over the seat q
pain a piece Of flannel dampeDed wit