Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-04
INJURED BALL PLAYERS,
Some of the Mfshapa That Have Oc-
CURED This Year.

The injury of George Decker, whose
wrist was broken by thrown ball at Ma
tloral Park the other day, is the most re-
cent OF strange series of similar misfor-
tunes. the list of which, fully recorded
would go down In base ball history as max
ing 1896 the most disastrous year on rec
ord. observes a writer on the Chicago
News.
Never since the sport began have so
many capable players been injured, dis
abled and put out of the game Just when
their clubs needed them. The string Of
accidents has kept steady even pace ever
since the opening of the campaign, and
there has been scarcely a week unmarked
by some physical misfortune to one or more
prayers. Under such circumstances substi-
tutes have been kept busy teams have
been wrecked Just when they were riding
the wave OF prosperity, and the bill for
arnlca and medical attendance has been
enormous.
AEscn's men have had their share. Light
ming struck not only twice, but several
times In the case Of Tim Donahue, who
mas had wrist spiked. hand spiked
a she t'der blade dislocated and a finger
split SO far this year. Kittridge has had
$" ollen and utterly useless arms still
laid up with 1T. Lange has had several
attacks OF lameness. Dahlen has been Ill
at critical times In the campaign. Ryan
was hit once on the foot with a foul tip
ana was out of a big game next day.
Decker broke finger early in the season.
and now breaks his wrist, which will nut
MIN On the hospital list for the rest of the
season. TRULY was retired with a spiked
ankle and never regained his playing form
The champion Baltimores have been very
lucky. only one man has been badly hurt,
Lut ne was star-Robinson. Robbie had
a nrger mashed blood poisoning set in and
the doctors had to amputate the member
JACK Doyle hurt an ankle in q Chicago
game and was laid up for two weeks, but
The injury did not prove serious
with the Boston team Bobby Lowe broke
MS collar bone and has been resting at his
nome ever since. Jimmy Collins has been
hurt again and again. Herman Long was
out or the game for a while with ba
weeks.
For Brooklyn. Ed Stein has been done I'D
ny strained shoulder. Tom DAILY has been
Ken finger, Tom Mccarthy was injured
early In the year and Anderson has been
slightly crippled two or three times
On On Cfncinnatfs team slight accidents or
Ewing, McPhee and Smith out of the game
when most needed, but none of the Reds
have been seriously crippled
McAleer the unluckiest of players, has
been laid up for long time this summer.
much to the injury of the Cleveland club
ard Zeke Wilson had the ligaments of his
leg badly hurt by line drive the other
Gay. Chief thinner was out of the game
has been laid on the shelf when he was
most needed.
Pete Cassidy Of Louisville had his wrist
broken before the campaign was fairly
under way. Jack O'Brien was hurt the
very day the deal for his transfer to Wash
1ngton was completed. Dexter was dis
abled by collision with Bill Lange.
For New York, Doheny hurt his arm.
Zearfoss got sand or sun in his eyes and
was out of it while the club was doing its
toboggan slide: Jim Stafford had his leg
hurt and then got his wrist broken
Pittsburg has been hampered by the
strained ankle of Louis Bierbauer Jake
Beckley was hurt and out of the game FOR
some weeks before his transfer to New
York. Jake Stencil has been disabled:
Lyons was hurt once in the spring
Billy Nash of Philadelphia has PLAYED
but little since he was hit in the head
with q pitched ball. Hallman and Dele
hanty were in the hospital for awhile-of
course, just when most needed-and Sam
Thompson retired long enough to give
Geier show In the field. Dick Cooley was
also in quarantine for awhile before he
came from st. Louis. Orth, the clubs
winning pitcher. was out Of 1t for weeks
when he might have saved the team from
dropping down the scale.
Joe Quinn was knocked out shortly be-
fore his release by st. Louis. Otherwise
the Browns have been quite lucky
For Washington Crooks was useless Tor
long time this spring: Abbey was put to
bed by a blow on the head from a pitched
ball; Tom Brown hurt his ankle, and Maui
has been able to play but little.
1t has been bad year for ball players
and a great season for the doctors.