The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-14

stopped and held liners that almost
made him careen. Hoffer IL probably
the nearest approach to him in this re-
spect OF all the present day pitchers.
1t looks as though Strattons ball play
ing days are over and 1t probably
doesn't worry him very much as he has
a big and paying store at Taylorsville,
KY. where he was born and raised.
Bob Allen. the ex.Philadelphia short.
stop grew up with the greens and cab.
bages at Paulding, O., until the Tri.
State league sprang into existence
With 1t he made such a reputation that
he was eventually signed by Philadel-
phia. He would probably be in the game
yet but for one OF Chamberlain's wildly
pitched balls. which struck him on the
Jaw shattering 1t. That was enough
for Bob. and ne decided that a position
in his fathers bank was better than
playing ball.
AN ANECDOTE.
Danville, Ind, n small place about
forty miles from Indianapolis, claims
the honor of Sam Thompson's nativity,
and his birthday Is as much of holi-
day with the tOwIspeople as Christ
mas or the Fourth OF July.
In this connection a rather amusing
story is told. 4 Danville belle, who
is Dious as well as pretty. had a class
of small boys at the Presbyterian Sun
day school. One Sabbath morning she
was Quizzing the scholars on the West
minister catechism.
Who made you?" she asked of one
freckled-faced terror. expecting OF
course the answer God
But the expected doesn't always
happen. and the lad who had been
dreaming of home runs and the like
shouted loudly, sam Thompson"
The original big 4" was a diadem
Of 1aspers. as all the members. Rowe
excepted. were countryborn and bred.
He wasn't much better. as ne hailed
from Harrisburg, the sleepy old capt.
tai. That city by the way Is the home
of "Midget Miller Of the Louisville
and Drauby OF the Providence team
To get back to the big L." the good
Deacon White was born In small
village near Corning. while Wappinger
Falls has been immortalized as the
birthplace and present home OF Dan
Brouthers. If Gloucester. N. j., had
reason TO blush. for the vile race track
conducted some years ago by Duke
Thompson. 1t can solace itself by the
recollection that it gave to base ball
the great Hardie Richardson.
NED HANLON's HOME.
NoTWlCH, u little SOHIectlcut Town,
Is happy for two reasons. First and
chiefly because Ned Hanlon. manager
of the Baltlmores, Is one of her native
sons. and secondly because Jerry
Denny. once the king of third base
men. has recently become one of her
citizens
Eagle Eye" Backley halls from
Hannibal. Mo. a town otherwise ia
nous for the Hannibal 4 st. Joe Rail
road.
Bert Inks. the Phillle's new twirler.
comes from a little town in Indiana
called IIgoner.
Now to be down right honest who
would have ever heard OF GAINESVILLE,
o.. but for the fact that Larry Twitchell
played with its team and was thus
discovered by Manager Watkins of the
Detroits? Nobody certainly.
Harry Vaughn, of the Cincinnatis,
comes from an Ohio town In Ken
lucky. Fred Clark and "Ducky"
Holmes are Kansas hoboes. as is
Buck" Weaver of the Milwaukees. Ed.
Mexican. of the Clevelands. hailed from
a small town, and so does Cy Young,
of the same team. 1t had some such
unpronouncable name as Guadenhuten.