The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-03-12
MICHAEL J. KELLY.

other inspiring legends. Kelly himself
suggested the beauty" attachment, mas
much as he one day announced to the oc-
cupants OF the bleacheries, with whom he
was engaged in one of those wordy war
fares that are so characteristic of the man;
"Oh, Pm beaut; you can bank on that,-a
regular $4,000 beauty. l come high, but
they had TO have me-"
Up to that time, 1887, no player had ever
received the advertising and booming given
to Mike Kelly. All Boston expected him
to win the championship by himself, and
were greatly disappointed when he didn't
do it, For all that he played great ball for
the club. But to win n championship re-
quires champion team, and Kelly soon
found he didn't have one behind him, grew
careless, and his own work fell off in con-
sequence. Kelly is man who needs an
incentive to spur him on, and one who in a
strong team will play grand ball, and in a
weak team, although brilliant always, his
work on the average will not be what he is
really capable of doing.
"hels" first appearance abroad in Bos-
ton uniform was mt Baltimore, in the spring
of 1887. The Bostons played four exhibi.
tion games there, which were about as ex.
citing and interesting as any | ever wit
messed. Barnie's grounds mot the present
park were taxed to their capacity on the
first day. The local papers called the
crowd 10000, but Manager Morrill, was
paid for something over 5000. It was a
tremendous crowd anyway for Balti.
more, and every man and boy present
wanted the home club to win. They
cheered Kelly at first, but after he got to
quarreling with Capt. Tom Burns, of the
hn a.. n
the Only" and gnyed him terribly for drop
ping couple of easy flies. remember
that Mr. Barnie ''rung in" as Kelly called
it, man named Marshall as umpire, and
he robbed the Bostons on every possible
occasion. "Kel" wouldn't have him the
second day, and got man who was quite
as bad. Boston got two Of the games, and
would have had all four, despite the um-
pires, had the balance of the team shown
the nerve that Kelly did.
kelly's first appearance in Chicago was
memorable one, The papers devoted
columns to it, There was a tremendous
crush at the Leland hotel to see him. The
teams went to the grounds in carriages,
and the streets along the route were filled
with people, and the "ling" got cheers
enough to tlatter his cap to jump from his
head. The crowd at the grounds was an
immense one. Kelly played great ball, but
his team was beaten and Mike" himself
was stricken with Charley Horse" He
ought not to have played the next day, but
Anson persuaded him to do so, promising
to let him have runner, a promise he for
got at the most critical stage of the game.
A business firm sent silver service to the
grounds, which was to be given to the cap
tain of the successful team. This service
was moved from players bench to players
bench according to the score, until "Kel"
alleged it was Jonah, and refused to
have 1t on his side Of the diamond.
Il seemed "Kel's" property sure with
Boston three ahead, but Anson saved his
bacon by making a home run with the
bases full and two out. Then "Kel," not
to be outdone, made three base hit,
bringing in the run that tied the game,
and would have won it but for the bad
base running of Madden, who was caught
mapping at third base. In the last inning
"kel" had chance to win the silver, and
really made hit that would have done it
under ordinary circumstances, but, having
to run for himself and being awfully slow,
Williamson got the ball In left center, and
had time enough to run in and throw the
only" out at first, and the silver went to
Anson.
Kelly is man of moods. He is royalty
magnificent from a baseball standpoint
when in the midst of success. He is nervy
always, but is u hard loser and sometimes
quitter in certain way. If he thinks a
game Is lost sure he often leaves it at the
seventh or eighth inning, and have seen
him do this in games that had he remained
in them, as it turned out, his individual
skill as a batsman might have won. Kelly
himself has admitted this to me, but he
says it happens seldom, and he might us
we'll save himself. OF course he can only
do this when captain, and | have some
times seen Ewing do the same thing, but
Buck does it more often when he considers
the game won.
Kelly Is today most popular player,
and one Of the best there is when he plays
ball with his whole heart in it. Ewing is
the only man who excels him, and only
such men as Glasscock and Ward come
near to his standard. But one never knows
when Kelly is going to do his best. have
heard him over and over again say, watch
me today and see what game Pll play"
and then go ON tho field and make melan-
choly exhibition. Under man like An
son, KeiL Is king of players Under
himself h'' is not more than half as formid-
able, except on occasions. Kelly's nature
Is generous and open hearted.