The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-28
DIAMOND DUST.

Pitcher DUSTY" Rhodes. of the Paw
tucket team of the New England league,
has Jumped" his contract with that club,
leaving, sngularly to say, three weeks
pay, which amounted to $40 behind him.
Uncle Ansons strength AS IA hitter, it is
claimed. Is due to the fact that he is IA
vored by the umpires. who. knowing his
Weakness on a low ball, will call a ball on
every low one pitched over the plate. The
reason why Ans. is favored is patent ~
any one. He is a power in the league.
Says the Springfield News: ITS good
W. are not to see Mr.. kettrick again for
some time. We have been inflicted with
him long enough. He is about the worst
umpire We have had here for some time"
Well good umpi res don't suit every one.
There are Eastern league cities where
Doescher and Swartwod weren't wanted
and where even the grand old Gaff wasn't
a pronounced success. II Larry kettrick
isn't a good umpire, as good as Swartwood
and Doescher. then We will have to get
machines to adjudicate the games.
Manager Irwin. of the New York club.
says that President Freedman has not
the slightest intention of disposing of the
controlling interest in that club. Irwin
also says that the statement that the New
York club had not been making money
man. in lrwln's opinion. was not man
to be driven out of the business, and has
just that force of character which will
keep him in ii until he has made a success
of the club. Speaking of his own case
Irwin took Il rather gloomy view of things
He stated that everything had gone
wrong with him this year. Accidents
which he did not anticipate and could
not control kept his best men off the team
nearly all season. At times when he
| thought Things We're shaping themselves
Well, something would turn up to upset
| his plans and put his team to the rear.
All he could say was that he had done
the best he could. He said. however that
| a manager was judged by his success and
| not by his misfortunes, and while he did
| not say so in words, intimated strongly by
| his manner that this would be his last
season with the New Yorks. He was
asked to give his opinion of the Philadel-
phia club with which he was connected
| a long time as u player ana as manager.
| He declined to say Il word about the un-
| fortunate Quakers.
| "Dickers in base ball players are about
as much of u gamble as playing the hors-
es, and sometimes there is sort of shell
game mixed up In these dickers,' says
j. Earl Wagner. The shells are Spelled
on you when you buy Il dead one or a has
been. In 1890 | received Il letter from an
ambitious young shortstop in the West
| tern association who wanted me to give
| him IL chance to play in Washington lie
was willing to work for SO a month.
never sign u ball player unless have seen
| him work. and | couldn't break my rule
| by signing this ambitious young appli-
| cant. whose name is Dahlen. and who is
| now playing the short field for Uncle
Anson. Another Western player wanted
an opening on my team in 1890 He fixed
his salary at $50 per month. He had rec
| concentrations to show that he was Il
promising young player worthy of trial
in fast company. But ! couldn't sign him
on the Endorsement Of those | did not
| know. ! wish ! had. for he came fast, and
| is now one of the cracks of Ed Iianlon' $
| championship Orioles, and his name is
| Joe Kelly. Still ! have heard II said that
| luck doesn't cut any figure in base ball,
and those who affect to believe that ii
| joyed "A large share Of luck. The purchase
| of a young ball playereis as big u risk as
buying an untred 2-year-od race horse
And players. like race horses, have theil
| good and bad years
| "A king one day, devil the next. That's
the life of base ball player says Man
| ayef Billy Mctiunnlsle. IN the spring
| of 1880 ! was instrctued by Gus Abel. oi
| the Brooklyn club. which managed that
year to sign Harry Stovey at any price
| The Brotherhood was dckering with
| Stovey, and, knowing he would give the
| brotherhood the preference over the
! league If both organizations offered him
the same salary, ] was obliged to exercise
all possible diplomacy in order to carry
| out my deal. | called on Stovey at his
home. in New Bedford. Mass, and, in
accordance with my instructions from Mr.
Abel. offered him 5000 to sign with
| Brooklyn. and a three-year contract foi
| 5000 year. He was to get 5000 simply
to write his name on contract, and SIS, 90,
was to be deposited In bank by Mr.
Abel and paid him for three years work
Stovey and his wife were paralyzed witt
establishment at the oeffr, and stove,
| knew that Abel would fulfill the contrac ct
to the letter, and that $1,000 was as good
as gold. Ii was impossible for him to sign
with me. however. for the day before h.
had signed contract with the Boston
Brotherhood club. That was StOvey's last
year in fast base ball company. He wen
| to pieces after that season. and IL today o
policeman working for $50 a month. II
that isn't base ball all over then my name
isn't McGunnigle.''