Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-05-12

How Anson Pere aud Anson Fills Answer
the Charge That They Are Too Old For
the Postoftce and the Diamond Respeo-
tiveIy-GeneraI GUss.p.
Robert Carruthers, for whose release the
Brooklyn Baseball club few years ago
paid Mr.. Won der Abe 5000, has signed 70
play during this season with the Grand
Rapids team OF the Western league. Ii
was at Grand Rapids that Carruthers
sprang into prominence ~ a great pitcher,
which fame gave him an engagement with
the st. Louis Browns. There is much food
for reflection, therefore, in the fact that
now, In the decline Of his baseball fame. he
returns To the city where he professionally
arose. 1t H. another instance TO which
Goldsmith's simile may well be applied;
As a hare HON horns and hounds pursue
Pants 90 he place from whence at first he flew.
The case Of Carruthers Is the history Of
baseball players in general They usually
20 out Of public favor as quickly AS they
came into IL. There are other instances
equalyexpressve The League and Amer
lean Association In 1891 quarreled over the
possession of two star players-llarry Sto-
yey and Louis Bierbauer. The quarrel re-
suited in IA rupture and a year Of bitter
warfare, which resulted in the loss Of more
than 100000 TO the various hackers OF the
two organizations and the fnal disruption
Of the American Association. And now one
Of the two bones Of contention-Stovey-
has dropped through the trap into semiob-
livion. Last year he was released by two
League clubs and this year he becomes a
member Of minor league team.
The death OF Ed Williamson removed
from earth the third mem Der Of the famous
Chicago team which won the League cham
pionship three times in succession-in 1880,
1881 and 1882. During these three trium-
phant years the Chicagos were virtually a
united whole. The team consisted OF Cor
coran and Goldsmith, pitchers; Flint, catch
er; Anson, Quest and Williamson on the
bases; Burns, shortstop; Dalrymple, Gore
and Kelly In the outfield.
What great team that wasi Flint was
the first OF the 10 TO go TO the great beyond.
Corcoran followed year later, and now
Williamson has Joined them. or the other
seven Anson Is the only one remaining with
the National league. Goldsmith Is a sar
loon keeper In Canada; Quest was an um-
pire in the west last season; Burns is man.
aging the Springfield club of the Eastern
league Gore has signed TO play In the Troy
team Of the same league. and Kelly Is
hanging on by the outside edge, with no one
to claim his services for 1894.
or the players who won the League cham
pionship last season only three-Ganzel,
Bennett and Carroll-were known profes-
sionally when that three times winner"
Chicago team made fits wonderful record.
IL IL generally agreed by all close obsery-
ers Of the national game during the last dec
ade that Williamson was the greatest all
around player ever seen on ballheld.
H., Lto faa hat he
did not at one time or another fill, and I'LL
with credit. He frequently went in and
saved his club from defeat by pitching suo-
cessful ball. He often donned the NIT and
mask and went behind the bat. Every in
field and outfield position was from time to
time occupied by him. AS batsman,
thrower, base runner and strategy player
he excelled in each respect. AT the close OF
the season of 1852 the Chicago club held a
sort Of carnival, during which prizes were
offered to the players who excelled In Ger.
tain specified feats. Williamson won near
ly all OF them. He was wonderful throw
er, and on Sept. Q, 1852, he threw the ball
distance Of 132 yards l foot, being only
yard ~ inches shorter than the famous
throw made by John Hatfield in 1872.
Speaking Of that three years record OF
the great Chicago team reminds me that
their accomplishments in 1880 have never
been equaled by any League team. They
won that year 67 games and lost only IL.
Let us come back to Anson. Baseball
without Anson would be like Shakespeare's
play Of Hamlet" without Hamlet. Mr..
Anson was a conspicuous figure at the late
League meeting In New York.
lie looked so young, fresh and skittish
that had the temerity to ask him to tell
me in confidence just what his age, accord
ing to the records In the family Bible, was.
snow, look here, young man." said Anse,
"I'm going TO tell you a story about my fa-
ther. You know he lives at Marshalltown,
Ia. He has lived there a good many years
and In that time has contributed largely to
Marshalltown's fame by gifts Of several
kinds, including a boy who knows little
about playing baseball.
"Well, now, pop Is a riproaring Demo
crat and always has been. Therefore we all
think he should be recognized by the pres
ent administration at Washington. So we
persuaded him TO put In a claim for the
Marshalltown postoffice, and he did. have
been twice to Washington to see the presi-
dent In the old mans behalf, and each time
Mr.. Cleveland treated me tiptop, talked
baseball fuently and promised to consider
the old gentleman's political claims with
uue TcRdIu W Tue COuuILy . sdltJy.
"But on my last visit to the capital
learned that some OF pops enemies were
urging his age against him in the struggle
for the appointment. Then telegraphed
to him, They say you are too DID, This is
what he replied, i am not kid. nor am
decrepit, but | don't ask any concessions
| from any blankety blank blank on account
| of age, and don't you forget itp Now, that
was pops reply to the charge that he was
too old, and guess the same answer will
| do for mef"
If president Cleveland wants to win the
eternal gratitude Of the rising generation
Of baseball lovers, be will appoint Anson's
pa postmaster Of Marshalitown.
"Will Anson play first base for the Chi
Cages this yeari" l asked that question.
"Not unless you newspaper fellows say
am too old to play II" was his reply. "Then
| I'll have To go up In self defense and prove
you are all liars"
The release Of Tommy Lovett by the
Brooklyn club is another Of the many OBJ
feet lessons we get in baseball from time TO
time. Two years ago Lovstt was idle all
year because he wanted q, 800 salary, and
the Brooklyns offered him only 5000.
We've all read about the toad which want
ed to be an OK.
The Western league seems TO be charged
with the vitality that wins. There is no
Worlds fair TO cool the ardor of the cTanks