The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-11

\ EN%NA
WILLIAM A. HUBERT, FATHER OF THE Ma
TIONAL LEAGUE.
ing the rules. It was decided to change
the mum Der of strikes from four to three
and a batter was declared to be out on q
third strike il the ball hit his person or
clothes. The League meeting that year
was unusually Interesting and long the
session lasting three days. Much legisla-
ton of a valuable sort was consummated,
and committee from the Brotherhood of
League Players was received, and the con-
tract offered was substantially adopted.
The Brotherhood war of 1890 and its
consequences are too familiar to sport
lovers to demand recapitulation, and the
formation and growth OF the Eastern,
Western, Southern, Interstate and various
state leagues and associations are also
matters extended reference to which would
be redundant
Prosperous Retired Players.
OF all retired players mono has been so
successful as A. 6. Spalding. When he
left the diamond and went into the sport
ing goods business in Chicago, he had
only a very small capital, but his capacity
for business was something wonderful,
and IN a short while his trade became the
largest in that city, and now, with his es-
Establishments in New York, Chicago, Bos-
ton and nearly all the other big cities of
the country, his business has become enOr-
nous. He Is considered to be worth fully
81. OOO. 600 Next to SpaIding the ex- base
ball player who has made the greatest name
in the business world and the most money
is A. J. Reach, second base man Of the old
Athletics. BY industry, application, good
Judgment and energy Mr.. Reach has also
become q millionaire. A few years ago he
sold to Spalding his sporting goods bust
Loo 1-1~, III, n-H
Since then he devotes himself to his i'm
mense manufacturing interests wherein
twO-thirds Of all the baseballs used in the
United States are made. This factory
employs the year round several hundred
operatives. and baseballs are turned out
by the tons Of all grades ranging in retail
prices from 10 cents to $3.50 1t may be
surprising news TO some that the Spalding
League ball and the Reach Association
bali, between which thore is so much
rivalry p, come from this factory Mr..
Reach is also the proud inventor and man
ufacturor Of she fighting gloves which Cor
bett used when he whipped MitoheIl
Probably the most prominent of all the
old time players IL Senator Arthur P. Cor
man Of Maryland and 1t may be that his
rapid rise to fame was in no small degree
due to the energy developed in him by his
hard work at the bat or running bases
while playing with the old Nationals Of
WEdAl04EOQ- rs IS Stal0 60 nave D66A q
most enthusiastic player and an excellent
coach, and to this day he is so fond of his
old pastine that he will put himself to all
sorts of Inconvenience and break impor-
6ant engsgem ents in order to witness
good match game.
George Wright, brother of the lAmented
Harry Wright, is another prosperous grad
uate from the League. From 1869 until
his retirement, in 1880, no man in Amer
lea played better bali than he. Mr. Wright
became loading member of the firm of
Wright & Dibaop and, like Spalding and
Reach, began to make money in the sport
ing goods line He has been very success
full and still keeps himself before the pub
lie by reason Of his prowess at cricket
The Oldest Living Team.
The Atlantic team Of S63 is at this late
day, SO years later, the most notable in the
history of the game, because every member
is still alive and prosperous. This was
famous team Ia its day, and the old veter-
ans who formed it still very proudly refer
to their hard fought battles and many vic
tories. 1t was composed of Thomas T.
Pratt, pitcher; Frank Merton, catcher;
Joseph Start, first base; F. II. Crane, sec
ond base; Captain Charles Z. Smith, third
base; r. F Pearce shOrtstop; Sid @.
Smith, right field; John Calvin, center
field; John O. Chapman, left field, and
Pet9r o 'Brien, manager.
VI Ibis laECly b6t1An captain OAia1Aos
Smith is the Oldest. He was regarded as
ono OF the best third base mon that ever
played ball He is a VOL to do nan anan-
oially and lives on Long Island.
Tom Pratt, who pitched the speediest
ball of bis timebis now in business with
his brother in Boston and IS wealthy
man.
Frank Norton married a rich girl and is
a prosperous landowner in the interior Of
Long Island.
Every body who knows anything of the
history of baseball is familiar with the
name Of the great first base man, Joe Start.
Since his retirement from the profession
he has made money. he resides a short
distance out Of Baltimore
Fred Crane is engaged in the mAnufac-
ture of machinery IA New York and has
made his Pile.
Chapman, as Is well known, 10 still in
the business. This year he viii manage
the Scranton club Of the Eastern league.
The rest Of the boys, though getting
pretty well along in years, are in comfort
able circumstances. So much for baseball
- the past The present nnds it in full
possession Of the sport loving people Of
America. Its future osn be nothing but
successful The three wars Of 8S4 1890
and 1891 through which It passed and
/ which IS survived had the sfect Of esta5-