Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-06-20

CARL BREITENsTETN, ST. LOUIS.
fFor whose release Manager Won der Ahe
wants cool $4,000.
men In the latter team. There was time
when tho New Yorks were peaches" for
the "south paws but several Of the left
handed Giants learned to turn about and
bat right handed on such occasions, and
tho handicap was In that way partly over
come.
Tho left handed pitchers in the Nation
nj league are Bretenstein with st. Louis,
Esper with Baltimore, Killen with Pitts
burg, McGill with Philadelphia, Inks
with Louisville and Knell with Cleveland.
New York tried Knauss, but he wouldn't
do. His arm, which failed five years ago,
had not recovered, and he has gone back
into retirement.
OF the six named above Breitenstein is
without question the greatest. Since the
days Of Richmond, Ramsey and Kilroy
no left handler has been more successful
than this young st. Louis German, Carl
Brcitcnstcin. He is particularly St. Louis
product, for he was born in the city on
June /, 1862 and his first games were
played with local amateur club called the
Home Comforts. Thence he joined the
Browns reserves, where he worked his
way into professionalism and finally was
given place on the st. Louis nine. His
work during the last three years has placed
him at the head Of the left handed pitch
ers of the present output. He has great
speed, splendid control and good curve,
which, however, he does not use as often
ms most pitchers because he says he desires
to play ball for years to come, and pitch
ing too many curves Is sure to ruin the
arm. Breitcnstcn is fair batsman and a
good fielder. He has on several occasions
this season played the outfield for his club
with success.
OF tho left handed pitchers who have
passed out of the profession am inclined
to award tho palm to Tom Ramsey, who in
tho early eighties did such wonderful work
for the Louisvilles. His low incurve and
drop was the hardest ball to hit that was
ever sent across the plate. 1t seemed to be
coming hip high straight across the mid
die of the plato, but would suddenly take
an incurve and a quick dip and whiz dan
gerously near the ankle Of the batsman.
So long as he kept his health his value to
a club was almost inestimable. But, like
many other stars Of the diamond, Ramsey
let q love for stimulants knock him out.
Mat Kilroy, who rendered such excellent
service for tho Baltimore club about the
time Ramsey was at the height of his
fame, was another successful left handler.
But Ramsey's nearest rival was probably
John Richmond, who about 1879 and 1880
made II remarkable record with the Provi-
dcnce team. He was a most intelligent
well bred young man, and took an early
opportunity to study medicine, and get
out of profession which at best is preca-
rious and of short duration. Richmond is
now practicing in one of the cities Of
northern Ohio.
Elmer Smith, who is Pittsburg's left
fielder and hard hitter, began his career on
the diamond as left handed pitcher for
the Cincinnatis in the early eighties. He
was very successful for few years, but
his arm began to weaken, and on account
of his strong batting he was transferred to
the outflcld, where he has made himself a
most useful man to the profession
The season of 1895 thus far has been re-
markably full of accidents to prominent
ball players. Among those who have al
ready been put out of the game by misfor-
tunes are Rusie. Meekin, Davis, Doyle,
Herman, Stafford, Long, Robinson, Nc
Graw, Taylor, Lyons Miller, McPhee, Hal
liday, Vaughn, Oliver Tebeau, Childs,
Lange, Ryan, Glasscock and Stein. In an
experience Of Is years as n chronicler of
baseball history have not Known a season
SO full of injuries to star players.
The New York club has been the great
est sufferer of tho IL. Its big four-Rusie,
Meekin, Davis and Doyle--were all dis
ablcd at one time and in such degree that
the team was left nearly helpless. Davis
injury was in the muscles of his right
shoulder, Doyle's was sprained ankle,
Meekin's sprain of the large nerve in the
forearm and Rusie's the tearing off of the
nail to the index finger Of his right hand.
No other club in the history of the game
ever suffered such heavy loss by accidents
at one time. In spite of it all, the Giants
made game fight to hold their own until
the wounded stars could recover from their
injuries.
The Phillies-the incomprehensible Phil
lies-have been experiencing one of their
characteristic slumps. They returned from
tho west with the best record Of any of the
eastern teams. and great things We're
prophesied in their favor, especially as Tay-
Tor had recovered the use Of his pitching
arm. Then came nearly dozen successive
defeats, and rooters in that city began to
repeat the old annual query, what is the
matter with the Phillies"
Another remarkable reversal OF form In
baseball is shown by the Cincinnati team.
On the 22d Of May they won their tenth
consecutive championship game, which Is
thus far the seasons record. Foiiowlng
that date they lost ~ of the next ofed.
The Bostons returned from ern
trip with Q rather dlsa1 sat49