The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-02
UMPIRE JENNINGS
His Name Is Alfred Gordon, but
He's Known as Alamazoo.
HE'S LEFT THE DIAMOND FOREVER

A Career Punctuated with Brick Bats,
Guns and Unkind Newspaper Men Has
Been Deserted for the More Peaceful
Life of a Parched Corn Seller.
Umpires, like poets, are born, not made.
OF all the thsnkless posts of duty on a
baseball field that of the autocrat of the
game ranks first He is monarch of all he
surveys according 10 the rule books, but
the truth is the umpire's subjects are d.
most as explosive as lot of South Amer
lean patriots. Umpires are supposed to be
a bit different from the ordinary run of
mortals Ifthey 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 handled 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 kalamazoo" Jen
nings lives in the memories of enthusiasts
in half the states of the Union, while those
in the other half have heard Of him. "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 grain of roasted corn one day the
idea struck Alamszoo that the city was
hungry for that article of food, and Dor
rowing $50 he went into the business.
From route supplied by basket it grew
until until be travels by chariot, covering
three cities-Cinciunati, Covington 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 bail
playing career as one Of the Red Oaks in
1865. Later ne was in the field for the
Buckeyes in the days that Cherokee"
Fisher posed In the box and Joe Dockney,
gfterward carved to death in fight, was
behind the bat For couple of seasons
Jennings had been managing the team az
Delaware, o., and catching a twirler
ne,ned Hill When the MilwsuEees, then
ing the season OF 1875 every one OF the
catchers on Jack Chspman's staff was
crippled Billy Holbert, Charley Bennett
and Billy Foley. Jennings was hunted up
and Nike 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 couple Of fingers, Go
ahead, said. III stay here ali day even II
have TO stop 'eTn with my elbowsi You
can't drive me away Well they didn't,
but l bad seventeen passed balls that a.
ternoon. and next morning o. P. Caylor
gave ne the nickname that has stuck
to me like wax for sixteen years. His
headlines were The Coming Catcher,
Alamazoc Jennings makes his debut: his
han gave our, bat his gall lasted. !
read few lines and wanted 70 fght
read few lines more and had 70 laugh
The first game I ever uTapirsd vas IN the
MJ.lcreek Bottoms in 1870 had brokeo
thumb and u2s put in 20 odiciate by tae
Ravens and Our Boys. Some6ody told re
vas good umpire ard ] kePz al t.
Prom that tine fIG ISL AlSmazoO
was en TIE Cincinnati list q subump ires
That year EoEaee Philips orogGh. LIS