Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-04-16

ing the high school at Fltchburg Mass
during the 1886 term. His professional
career began when he was eighteen
years old, when he accepted an engage
ment with the Rutland (Vt) club for
the season of 1887. In 1888 he was one
Of the catchers of the Portsmouth team,
of the New England league, taking
part in only fifteen championship
games that season. and ranking fourth
in the official fielding averages Of that
organization. In 1889 he Joined the
Quincy club, of the Interstate league,
which championship season began
April q and ended Sept. q, the Quincy
team taking part In one hundred and
eleven championship contests, fifty
nine Of which resulted in victories and
official record of this league could not
be obtained, never having been made
up by the secretary. For the season
of 1890 he was engaged by the Chicago
club, Of the National league, taking
part that year in ninety-six champion
ship games, and ranking seventh in
the official fielding averages Of that Or
ganization with a percentage Of 1886,
while his batting average for the same
number Of games was POI. In 1891 he
took part in seventy-nine champion
ship contests, and stood fifth in the
official fielding averages, with a per-
centage of .906, while his batting aver
age was .202. In 1892 he ofTlciated as
catcher In sixty-six championship
games, and ranked third in the official
fielding averages, with percentage OF
1921, while his batting record was 1877.
In 1893 he took part in sixty-seven
championship contests, and ranked
fifth in the official fielding averages,
with a percentage Of .9O5, and had a
batting average Of .245. In 1894 he
caught in fifty championship games.
and stood twelfth in the official field
ing averages, with percentage Of 1888,
while he had a batting record Of .317.
During the season of 1895 he OBLIGATED
behind the bat in fifty-eight cham
pionship contests, and ranked eight In
the official fielding averages, with a
percentage of .924. while his batting
average was .244. He is a steady and
reliable player, swift and accurate
thrower to the bases. and faces all
kinds of pitching with the greatest APP
parent ease.
Five of the major league teams will
play on their home grounds on Harry
Wright Day." April 10. They are the
New Yorks, who will have the Jersey
Cltys for opponents, Philadelphias with
the Athletics, Baltimore with Syracuse,
Cincinnati against picked team of
veterans, and the Louisvilles, who will
have good attraction on that memoir
able day.
Manager McCloskey, Of the Louis
vile team, has succeeded in signing
Eddie Boyle, who caught last season for
the st. Paul team, Of the Western
league.
Some Of the new rules adopted at the
major league meeting, held recently in
New York city, will add additional
work on the umpire, and If he fails to
perform his duty there will be lots Of
trouble for him. For instance, the
new section 2, of rule 80, reads: "a
balk in any delivery Of the ball to the
bat by the pitcher while his pivot
foot is not in contact with the pitchers
plate, as defined in rule 49," Old sec
ton is made section 4. Now the ques-
,tion is how is the umpire going to
watch the pitchers foot and the ball
at the same time. He is obliged to
watch the ball to see whether or not
it "cuts the corners of the home plate
at the proper height" To do this he
loses sight of the pitchers foot. The
latter knows this and Of course takes
advantage of it. Therefore, this new
rule is bound to cause no end Of trouble
during the coming season. Another
change that was made is in rule 20,
and is as follows: And all players
Of the side at the bat must be seated