The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-07
Base BALL OF LONG AGO
Yarns Spun by Some Of the Old
Time Magnates.
TRICkED BY PALMER O'NEILL
How lie Succeeded in Selling Sunday to
Colonel Rogers-The Great Eye
Vt Umpire Billy Mclean
WuS u COrker.

]. Palmer O'Neill. who became IA
nous in the base ball world as the lead
er of the Pittsburg National league
town recently, says the New York Sun,
and entertained u number of cranks
with stories of the Brotherhood war.
"One dGy" he said, the PittsburgS
arrived in Philadelphia with only five
players. That's all we could bring on
account Of lack of railroad tickets.
When we had put up at cheap hotel, l
hustled out and picked up some local
semi professionals to help us out.
Among the latter was 'Peek-a Boo
Veach, the first baseman. We went out
to the grounds and found big crowd
there. Before the game | tried to sell
the release of Billy Sunday to Colonel
Rogers, but the latter couldn't see it..
Then j bought a big basket of flowers
and waited for developments.
SUNDAY AT THE BAT.
I've played great game. and Veach
hammered the ball all over the lot.
When Sunday came 10 the bat in the
fifth inning. | rushed man out to the
plate with the basket of flowers. The
crowd appauded moderately. but went
wild when sunday carried the flowers
over to poor Harry Wright and made
him Il present of them. That convinced
Colonel Rogers that Sunday was ia
vorte in Philadelphia. and he quickly
offered to give me 81 900 for his release
Did grab it? Well. l guess 50, and We
all smoked perfecto cigars that evening.
The best joke of all was, though. that
we won the game, and when we finally
left Quakerville for New York. l had
money to burn. 1t was a great year
for empty pockets. but we We're just
as happy as the Brotherhood people"
Arthur Irwin, manager of the New
Yorks. tells funny store about the
veteran league umpire, BILLY Mclean.
"The players were constantly kicking
on McLean's decisions" said Irwin the
other day. "and finally persisted in
telling him that he was growing old
and consequently near sighted. This
80 nettled Mclean that he used to sit
alone In the hotel after a game and
brood. He was simply heartbroken.
MLEAN GOT EVEN.
"One morning, however u happy
thought struck him. He got UP at sun
rise and walked mile down the street
to q place where there was sign read
ing: Carpenter and builder Then he
hurried back to the hotel and waited
fast. When they were lounging about
the front door of the hotel Mclean
suddenly approached a group and ex-
claimed:
SAY, you guys said yesterday that
was near sighted Well. ! amt as
near sighted as you are, and l can
prove it,
''One Of the boys took him up. and
asked him to read a sign across the
street. But Mclean turned on him
with a look of dlsdain and said:
"'That's dead easy In fact, it's so
easy that l wouldn't think Of reading
it for you. But I'll tell you what I'll
do. DO you see that big brick building
a mile down the street? | mean the
one with the tall chimney The gang
all saw it. Well, remarked Billy. IN
bet anybody q suit of clothes l can
read the sign over the door
"'Then Mclean shaded his eyes with
his hands and said slowly. Carpenter
and builder The gang roared. but
were induced to walk a mile and find
out how good Macs eyes were. No
body tumbled until several days af-
terward. and then Macs life was made
miserable"