The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-06
RODY WALLACE.

base lines by the hair or their heads or
their mustaches. Just imagine Arson put
ting class of neophytcs through "A course
Of Belascoian instructions. He would
probably feel very much at home while
thus engaged, especially If stray umpire
or two could be run in among the students
When Anson's playing days shall be
Overt What an indefinite date Every year
we speak of il as If IL had arrived, and ev-
cry year the Gladstone Of the diamond post
| pones the event This spring we were
sure that Unc.e Arson had made his last
| professional championship base hit. But
ono day Chicago player gets hurt and
| several of the young candidates lose their
| courage in their new class. The old man
sees his -duty.-Ihe- news flashes over the
| wires and sets tho cranks TO talking. An
| son Is back on first base. The sound Of his
| bat Is heard throughout the land. 1t Is he
| who bats home runs when they are needed.
| There is but one I2sson. There may never
| be another. So let us all hope that the
season Is far off when his we'll known form
| will be missed from tho championship field
| of the National league.
This man Is tho human bridge between
tho baseball of our boyhood and baseball of
today. Young men who go home to tho
evening meal and speak of the excitement
of game in which they saw "old Anse"
hammer In the winning run are apt TO in
| terest their respective fathers. Perhaps
| these fathers may tell the sons how %
years ago, before the latter were born,
| they, the fathers, saw this same Anson
| ripping out timely base hits just as he is do
| ing today. 1t Is altogether probable sup
| position.
Anson himself told me an anecdote sev-
nxyh 81 f.Nct De MI
| OF long service most forcibly. II was on
train one day." said he, engaged in con-
versation with my seat mate, and we final
| ly drifted into baseball. just In front of
Us sat gray bearded gentleman who had
been taking passing interest In all that
| we said. He did not interrupt, however,
until we touched upon the subject Of base
ball. Then, choosing a favorable opportu-
| nifty, he turned to me and asked il was
| ball player / replied affirmatively. I've
not seen game of baseball, said he, since
| was young man. That's many years
| ago 1 lived at Rockford, Ills, then, and
| we had a great player there by the name Of
| Anson. Perhaps you've heard tell of him..
i caught my BREATH but managed to muir
mur that the name sounded familiar.
THAT was n good many years ago, contin-
ued this pioneer, and ] guess Anson has
been dead and buried some time. Maybe
! you've got players who can play all around
| his way, but still he was right smart
| performer in his time and generation.
''Thnt fellow mnde me feel so blamed
old In the three minutes no was talking"
said Anson, "that could almost imagine
wrinkles forming on my face and my teeth
| falling out The driveling old idiot got
out soon aftorward, convinced that the An
L., Il k,n haI
| put under the sod and not dreaming that
he was talking to the very same man, or
performer as he put it. Well, when they
run up against me that way, guess I'm
past 81"
Among tho young pitchers who have
taken their places in first class professional
company Is Wallace Of Cleveland. His ex-
cellcnt work last season helped materially
TO put the Spiders in the Temple Cup Sc
rios This season he shows continued inn
provement In his work. Wallace's future
appears 10 be assured.
Tho Rusic case promises 10 60 down in
baseball history rs n causa cclebra The
board of directors OF the National league
have been requested by the national board
to take up Rusic's petition and decide
whether the 5000 fines imposed by the New
York club were legal III the board find for
the club that will DO the end II they find
for Rusic, the appeal then goes 60 the ma
tional board on tho question of the players
release or continued reservation by the New
York club.
II Is beyond question or doubt that the
club will lay before the board yoluminous
evidence OF Rusie's continued breaches Of
discipline during last season, much more
than sufficient offcnsc In bulk 90 cover tho
s200 OF lncs. The only question that can
arise is as TO whether the nncs were assessed
at the proper time ana In the required
sums specified by the contract which il
$50 as tho maximum amount for each Of
fcnsc Rusic will try 90 prove that lac was
fined 5000 and only for two olfcnscs. The
club will nsscrt that tlse a4s,-- 7--r-rr cr1TTu-
lhtiyc and covered more than tho ncccssary
number II infructions OF discipline.
1t Is not probable that tho board ~ di-
rcctors will uphold tho players technical
points Baschall adjudication has Dovcr
been conducted on that limo. The magnntcs
havo cvcn oycrrddcn the plain letter of
their laws I'm order 10 carry our practices
which they considered necessary 60 main.
tain tho arbitrary structure of their ma