The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-03

tho end Of the season and put him under
reservation. During the following winter
or spring Hanlon of Baltimore wanted 10
get Brouthers' release from the Brooklyns,
and he offered Tredway in exchange. The
Brooklyns needed third baseman, and
they came back with the proposition to ex-
change Brouthers for Tredway and Shin
die. Hanlon wanted Brouthers powerful
ly bad, F" as they say in Kentucky, but the
idea of giving two men for one was not in
accordance with his ideas of commercial
flnesse, so he told Byrne that he must also
have two players II he gave up two.
Mr.. Byrne Of Brooklyn at this juncture
remembered Keeler. Billy was not an ele-
ment in the Brooklyn prospectus for 1894,
and the club had already made up its mind
to release him. A happy idea entered
Byrne's head. "We'n give you Keeler al
So" said ho. Hanlon had his other man,
and that point being settled the transfer
was made.
Right In the start circumstances COM
pelled Hanlon to call upon the "boot" to
take q place on the Baltimore nine. He
looked around and determined to put the
boy In right field, tho place where all
questionable players are tested The result
In Keeler's case was not promising at tho
start. Indeed no made such "mess of it,
that after few games he. went to Hanlon,
almost choking with emotion, and begged
for his release. II am out of my class in
the big League" he said, land 1 want to
get back to the class where / can hold up
my end, and want to get there before 1
ruin my chances even In that company by
bad record here"
Hanlon jollied the boy along and re.
L. lxs n
pleaded to no purpose, and Hanlon finally
stand mo, Billy. You are going to play
that field right along every day even If
you miss half tho balls that come out your
way So the quicker you dismiss the idea
that you can't play on this nine and get TO
work doing your best the better 1t will be
for you and for the club" Keeler went
back to his work despondently, but from
that day his fielding improved Confidence
had been his lacking ingredient. As soon
rs he gained that he went right up TO the
high place IN the ranks to which ho was
fitted by ndture. Before the season was
half over Keeler's fielding and batting
were the talk of admiring thousands and
his fame was established throughout the
broad land. To Manager Hanlon he owes
everything.
Keeler Is young, and his baseball future
must be bright and long. His habits are
good and his health of the best. He Is not
q large man. Indeed his height Is under
the average. His face il rather thin, his
complexion Is dark, and his weight is but
moderate.
A strange phase Of that Baltimore and
Brooklyn swap" Is the fact that now,
less than two years after 1t was made the
star of the exchange is retired from the
profession and the man who was "thrown
in" to I'LL out the trade stands at the head
Of the batsmen In America.
More college pitchers are entering the
professional ranks. Sexton Of the Brown
university nine has begun his professional
work for the Bostons, and McCreary Of the
Georgetowns Is playing with the Louis
villcs. Tho last Of them 10 join the Nation
nj league ranks is Pond. Baltimore tries
him. He has n great record of striking out
batsmon In college games. 1t remains to
be seen whether ho can fool batsmen of
the League rs well. College batsmen, as n
rule, are easily deceived by curves and
will nip at nearly everything. Pond may
find his new task not such an easy one.
Should League players refuse TO 20 after
his curves he'll have TO shoot them over.
Then it will be seen what caliber he pos
sesses.
am told that Priest Is also willing to
play professionally II that be true there
Is scarcely any doubt that he, too, will be
doing work for National league club be-
foro August, for, next TO Carter, / consid-
or him the greatest Of the present lot Of
college pitchers. There has not been
week during the last two years In which
Cartor could not have signed contract at
~, 600 a year To pitch for q League club,
But the great Yale star did not even listen
TO tho temptation.
Boswell has failed and drops out Of
League eompsny. This trouble was faint