The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-29
RoDY WALLACE.

base lines by the hair Of their heads or
their mustaches Just imagine Arson put
ting q class Of neophytes through q course
of Belasccian Instructions. He would
probably feel very much at home while
thus engaged, especially if a stray umpire
or two could be run in among the students.
When Anson's playing days shall be
over What an indefinite datei Every year
we speak of it as If il had arrived and cv-
cry year the Gladstone Of the diamond post
pOnes the event. This spring we were
sure thai Uac-e Arson had made his last
professional championship base hit. But
one day Chicago player gets hurt and
several of the young candidates lose their
courage in tncir new class The old man
sees his duty The news flashes over the
wires and sets the cranks to talking An
son is back OF first base. The sound Of his
bat is heard throughout the land Tt is he
who bats home runs when thcy are needed.
There is but one Arson. There may never
be anothor. So let Us all hope that the
season is far of when his well known form
viii be missed from the ch2InpiO field
of the National league.
This nlgn is the human bridge between
the baseball of our boyEood and baseball Of
today Young men who so home to the
evening meal 2ld speak Of the excitement
Of q game in which they saw cid Anse''
hammer in the winning run are GpJ to in
terest their respective fathers. Perhaps
these fathers may tell the sons how %
years ago, before the latter were bora,
they, the fathers, saw this same Arson
ripping out timely base hits just as he is do
ing today. 1t is altogether probable sup
position.
Arson himself told me an anecdote sew
eral years ago which illustrates this point
OF long service most forcIbly. Il was on a
train one day, " said he, engaged in con
versation with my seat mate, and we final
~ drifted into baseball Just in front OF
US sat q gray bearded gentleman who had
been taking passing interest in all that
we said. lie did not interrupt, however,
until we touched upon the subject Of base
ball. Then, choosing q favorable Opportu-
nifty. he turned to me and asked if was a
ball player. replied aff1rlnativcly- I've
not seen q game of baseball, said he, since
was a young man. That's many years
ago I lived at Rockford, Ills, then, and
we had a great player there by the name of
Arson. Perhaps yOu'v heard tell of him.
I caught my breath, but managed to muir
muir that the name sounded familiar
That was n good many years ago, contin-
ued this pioneer, and I guess Arson has
been dead and buried some time. Maybe
you We got players who can play all around
his way, but still he was right smart
performer in his time and generation. -
ssThat fellow made me feel so blamed
old in the three minutes he was talking, y
said Arson, 90 that I could alElCst imagine
wrinkles forming on my face and my teeth
falling out. The dwelling old idiot got
out soon aftcrward. convinced that the An
son he saw play ball had long before been
put under the sod and not dreaming that
lie 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. j"
Among the young pitchers who have
taken their places IN first class professional
company is wallace Of Cleveland His eX-
cellent work last season helped materially
to put the Spiders in the Temple Cup Sc
ries. This season he shows continued in-
provement in his work. Wallace's future
appears to be assured
The Rusie case promises to go down in
baseball history as a csusa celebra The
board of directors Of the National league
have been requested by the national board
to take up Husie's petition and decide
whether the 5000 fines imposed by the New
York club were legal If the board find for
the club, that viii be the end. If they ind
for Rusie, che appe2l then goes to the na-
tional board on the question Of the players
release or continued reservation BY the New
York club
1t Is beyond question or doubt that the
club viii Icy before the beard voluninOus
evidence of Rusie's continued breaches Of
discipline during last season. 1auch more
than sufficient oIense ia bulk s. cover the
5000 Of fines. The only question that can
arise is as to whether the Aneg were assessed
at the proper time and la the required
sums specified by the contract, which is
$50 as the maximum amount Tor each Of
tense Rusie wiz try to prove shat he WAS