The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-20

CARL BREITENsTETN, ST. LOUIS.
[For whose release Manager Won der Abe
wants "a cool $4,000.
men in the latter team. There was time
when the 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
the handicap was in that way partly over
come.
The left handed pitchers in the Nation
al league are Breitenstein 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
Brcitonstcin He is particularly "A st. Louis
product, for he was born In the city on
June /, 1869, and his first games were
played with local amateur club called the
Homo 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
as 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
4 t. 4 1,o,te n
good fielder He has on several occasions
this season played the outfield for his club
with success.
OF the left handed pitchers who have
passed out Of the profession / am inclined
to award the palm to Tom Ramsey, who in
the carly eighties did such wonderful work
for the Louisvilcs His low incurvc 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 plate, but would suddenly take
an incurvo and 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 a love for stimulants knock him out.
Mat Kilroy, who rendered such excellent
service for the Baltimore club about the
time Ramsey was at the height of bis
fame, was another successful left handler.
But Ramsey's nearest rival was probably
John Richmond, who about 1879 and 1880
made remarkable record with the Provi-
dence team. He was a most intelligent,
well bred young man, and took an early
opportunity TO study meticine, 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 IL pittsburg's left
fielder and hard hitter, began his career on
the diamond rs 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 outhcld, where ho has made himself q
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 Rusic. Meellin, Davis, Doyle,
Ticrnan. Stafford, Long Robinson, Nc
Graw, Taylor, Lyons, Miller McPhee, Hal
liday, Vaughn, Oliver Tebeau, Childs,
Langc, Ryan, Glasscock and Stein. In an
experience of rs years as "a chroniclor of
baseball history have not known season
so full Of injuries to star players.
The New York club has been the great
est sufferer Of the IL. Its big four-Rusic,
Mcckin, Davis and Doyle-wore all dis
abled nt ono time and in such degree that
the ream was left nearly helpless. Davis
injury was in the muscles Of his right
shoulder, Doylc's was spraincd ankle
| Mcckin's u spruin of the large nerve In the
forearm and Rusie's thbtcaring of of the
nail to the index finger Of his right hand
| No other club in the history of tho game
ever suffered such heavy loss by accidents
A. ana time. In spite of IL ALL the Giants
mndc a game fight to hold their own until
tho wounded stars could recover from their
injuries
The philies-the incomprchensiblc Phil
nes--have been experiencing one of their
characteristic slumps. They returned from
the west with the best record of any Of the
eastern teams, and great things wero
] nranhnslsd 40 their favor, especially as Tay-