Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-07-09
ON THE DIAMOND.
Gossip of the National Game
from an Old Timer.
SOLD ANsrs" MARROW ESCAPE.


ribIe Hayseed-Duryea, the Cyclone
Pitcher" and How He Got Into the
National League.
When the Chicago and New York teams
met at the Polo grounds on Manhattan
island the other day the sun poured down
with more than tropical fierceness, and
two or three players succumbed to the
heat. But the battle went on, despite ca
tastrophes and caloric, until the deciding
run had been batted in. The audience
cheered, perspired and departed, all save a
few of those devotees to the game known
as 'cranks."
They curiously watched the players leave
the field and noted with amazement that
Adrian c. Arson, the iron duke of base
ball, the mainstay of the Garden City club
for years, Jagged somewhat behind and
seemed without that springiness of step
and that defiant, unconquered mien which
is always his after either victory or defeat
At night the rumor spread about the
hotels and sporting centers of Gotham
that "Old Anse" had come mighty near
having sunstroke,p and many were the
expressions of solicitude and sorrow there
at. But the effects of the terrific after
nOOn nave hOn nteAig paSHtA away anu
the veteran still holds his own at first base
Or behind the bat.
sold Anse" they call him nowadays,
though he has yet to see his fortieth birth
day. | can remember him = indeed, |
played ball with him-when he was young
Anse, ambitious, capable and fresh-fresh
not only with the bounding vigor of youth,
but with the sense of his own value as a
ball tosser. He had just emerged from the
obscurity of Marshalltown Ia, to take a
place in the once famous semi professional
club at Rockford, Ills, known as the For
est Citys
It was at Rockford that he began his
career as first baseman al Spalding
was the pitcher-the champion underhand
twirler of the day. George King, now a
bank cashier stood behind the bat. Ross
Barnes was the second baseman, and big
hearted, bow legged, profane Bob Addy
covered the shortstop's position.
Two of the fielders whom recall were
Fred Gone, now night manager of the
Grand Pacific hotel at Chicago, and Adon-
IRAN Stires, better recalled as the terri
bic hayseed." Stires was the phenomenon
of those days He knew nothing Of "head-
work, but he had the strength of a giant.
The places under the arms where the
shoulders join the body are usually hollow.
In Stires' case they were filled with mus
Gle. The man could run like a deer, and
had hands like hams covered with hide
No fly passed him, and his field record was
generally errorless save in the matter Of
throwing. When he returned the ball TO
the diamond it was always at lightning
speed, and no one could tell whether the
sphere would reach the catcher or 20 over
the fair ground fence
But it was at the bat that Stires won his
name of the terrible hayseed" He was
not like Arson or Barnes a sure base hit
ter, but when his club and the ball did
meet the result was nearly always a home
run. once saw Harry Wright, the Phila-
delphia veteran. who then played center
field for the Bostons climb ten foot fence,
wade Kent's creek and toll up a bluff be-
yond to recover the sphere after it had col
lided with Stires' six pound bat
OF all those old timers only Arson re-
mains in active service see that it is the
custom of late years to style the men he
employs colts" In one sense the term is
a misnomer; in another it is properly APP
piled. | know of at least one 'colt" who
owes his advancement in professional base
ball to the "old man'sn judicious dis
elimination. His name is Duryea, once
noted as the Cyclone pitcher Of the North
western league In an exhibition game at
st, Paul, few years ago, the Chicagos
were pitted against the local nine
Duryea was in the box for the home
team and struck out Arson three times,
the St Pauls winning the game in hand |
some style, and much TO the delight of the |
crowd Spalding witnessed the contest /
from the grand stand. That evening "the /
cyclone sought the Chicago magnates at
the Hotel Ryan and stated his case in these
words:
81 want place in the National league.
You saw what | could do this after
noon. of course | wish to succeed as a
player on my own account Besides that.
my father, a wealthy farmer, is stuck
on me and stuck on the game He has
promised to deed me an improved farm of
24O acres if do well during the next three
years. VIII you help n.e9"
ayes, replied Arson.
And be did
AT present it looks as though the fight
Tor the National league pennant lay be-
tween Chicago Boston and New York. but Ii
re last OF these three apparently has the
Do0r,~'t chance because Of its persistent i'll 4
NGk- On many Nl iNS members are crlnnlpd
II on The Sick list that those who retain
heir activity are worked nearly to death.
However, it is quite while yet to the
ma % the ssason, and things may yet
brighten up for The Giants, although
weeks are sure to elapse before Buck
Ewing can hope again to be In good form. !
Boston, St. Louis and Baltimore remain to
he fore in the Association, but Cincinnati y
las yet a good show if Kelly keeps his head
and attends to business. /
Some excellent records are being made
Dy the clubs belonging to what are known
As the minor leagues. In fact both base
ball and the weather are now at their
hottest. More emphatically than ever the
game is the nationai pastime, and long
may it hold its place. F. X WHITE
Joseph Jefferson's Son Married.
Joseph Warren jefferson, youngest son
Df Joseph jefferson, the famous comedian, {
MAS married the other dav in New York | ;