The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-02

clubs. The Washington offer, however,
seemed 10 be tempting beyond his power
of resistance. 1t is the very general opin-
lon that he is strong enough 10 hold his
place in National league company.
Very fcw college players succumb to the
tempting offers with which National
league clubs beset them. Carter Of Yale
could have written his own salary in either
of half "a dozen League contracts Ma
honey Of the Georgetown university,
Schoenhut, Thomas and Goeckle OF the
University OF Pennsylvania, Ward of
Princeton and Prcist Of Cornell were all
besought by National league managers to
sign professional contracts, and all refused
The ex-collcge players who are now pro-
fesslonally enrolled in major League teams
are Smith, with the Washingtons; Lewis
and Tenny, with the Bostons; Pond, with
the Baltimores, and McCreary, with the
Louisvlles. Tho latter Is, in my opinion,
the choice Of tho 6ve. From player of
no particular prominence he has developed
into n star of the first magnitude
McCreary Is not 30 years old, and his ca
reer on the ballfleld is quite brief 1t be-
gan as second baseman for the Young
Mems Christian association team in Wash
ington during the summer of 1898. The
next year he became professional by
signing with the Norfolk club of the Vir-
ginia league, where hc played at second
base, in the outileld and pitched some In
1895 he was member Of the GEORGETOWN
college team till the summer vacation be-
gan, when no accepted an offer made by
the Louisville club. 1t was not till the
present season was pretty well advanced
that McCreary got n chance To prove that
he is one OF the best batsmcn in the coun-
try. In April his release could have been
purchased for $500. Now $4,000 offered
would probably be rejected This is an.
other case ~ here opportunity came by
chance and made star McCreary was
engaged by the Louisville club for pitch
er, but an injury TO Holmes and the sick
ness Of Mcfarland placed him temporarily
In the outileld, whore he soon established
his superiority ms n batsmGn and fielder
Thus is added another name 10 the long
list Of players who started as pitchers and
won famo i'm tho outilcld and as batsmen.
The others havo mentioned before, most
prominent among thcm being Tiernan,
Van Haltrcn, Smith, Burkett and Parrott
After giving q fair trial to Hulen ms
shortstop the Philadelphia club has laid
him of. His trial on the infleld was gen-
orally regarded as losing experiment for
no other reason than that the young man
throws with his left hand. That peculiar
lty Is believed tO bc an insurmountable
obstacle to any inAeldor except first baso-
man It certainly acted as serious handi
cap to Hulcn. who lost many runners by
being compelled to turn before he threw
after stopping tho ball on his right side. i
mover knew more than ono inilcldor who
was left handed and made any considerable
success IN bis playing, and that was Car
pointer. tho once famous third haseman of
the Syracus, etlrs, and later OF the Gin
clnuatiS Bccklcy uses his left hand In
throwing, but ls wor, ot first base re-
qrircs very lttlo use OF it in that way
Spoakirqc cg players who have remained
under their managers eyes as undiscovered
sturs Tor months or seasons and then sud-
deuly burst ou3 with stellar attractions,
We must rot fo--ct Denver ~ the IT Paul
club Tho veteran Comiskcy regards him
rs n wonder part OF last year and carly
In this season young Dcrzcr played occa-
sionally for Col!iskcy without attracting
even o suspiciou that hc was hall player
or pitcher Comisl,,y even now wonders
why ho didnt mcko The mistake cf rcloas-
INK him on ,bc dcncrit Of his carlv work
for tho ST. Paul club But Denzcr. like
the band. played on. some time in the first
half Of this season he boagn 10 show, rs
thev say at the race track, and In few