davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Yale expositor., 1896-06-19
METHODIST PROTESTANT.

CERVICES alternately ut 1880 o'clock a. m.
- and BOD. m. Rev. T.. w. Cooper, pastor.
Sunday School at 300 p. M, A. GOheen, Supt
Prayer meeting Thursday evening at Z 80 En-
deavor meeting Sunday at g p. IN.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15

struggle against being last. 1t was al
most as generally predicted that Scran-
ton was, on paper, about the weakest
club of the eight. Leaving Scranton
out of the consideration The Tribune
has contended that Toronto instead Of
Buffalo should be included among the
four popularity supposed winners.
OF Scranton's chances we prefer not
to give any definite opinion until the
regular season has opened. From the
individual records of the men we see
no reason for placing Scranton be-
low the average quality of the eight
clubs. Including Power, who has not
yet signed, McDermott will have
twenty men including eight pitchers to
choose from at the close of two weeks of
practice. Now, If it Is found in exhibi-
tion games that NOSE of the unassigned
players are suited for only one or two
positions and the other places In the
field have to go begging for occupants,
then 1t would be reasonable to view
Scranton's chances as unfavorable. But
II the candidates fit certain untitled
positions, then the team can be judged
favorably and compared with the
others according to relative team work
and team strength. To make the point
palmer, ScrantOn's prospects are bright
If there are positions for the present ap-
parently good material, but II the men
are assigned positions for which they
are not suited the result cannot be sat-
isfactory.
There are two important conditions
in Scranton's favor. Base ball players
the country over are known to do phe-
nomenal work for O manager who they
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15

believe Is a winner and in whom they
have confidence; and the same results
are obtained In cases where the finan-
cial backing is gilt-edged and the play
ers have the best of care and treatment.
Manager McDermott before coming to
Scranton was manager Of the Fall Riv-
ers, of the New England league, which
club has won the championship three
consecutive seasons, and the Scranton
owners are business and moneyed men
whose reputation Is more than local.
Under such encouraging surroundings,
the moral is self-suggestive.
For first base Power is sadly needed,
not so much on account Of the position
itself, but owing to the absence of any
man who would make a fighting cap
tain. The players themselves want
leader who will fight for victory up to
the last of the ninth inning, and Power
is just that kind of a hair-pin. He Is
quibbling for more salary than has
been offered him, but 1t Is predicted
that he will be seen in the first cham
pionship game. However, If it should
!! happen that he fails to come to terms,
Chiles will play the position. He could
do 1t well as far as hitting and the
duties Of the position are concerned,
| but he does not compare with Power in
base ball knowledge and in the quail
tiles which make a successful captain
Ward will play second. Combining
his hitting, base running and fielding,
he was easily the leading second base
man in the league last year.
For third or short, Mcguire. Heller
and Sweeney, and possibly Chiles, are
candidates. 1t looks as though Ma
guire would be chosen for one Of the
positions and that the other rests be-
| tween Chiles and Heller.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15
BRIEF SKETCHES
OF TnE PLAYERS

Whatever kind Of practice season
collection Of players this city has had
in past years, there is a rare selec-
tion to choose from this year from
among ,9b stock which played for
Scranton or in other professional COM
pany or with semi professional and
amateur clubs. Their pictures and rec
ords are given on this page.
Manager M. H. McDermott possesses
q record as a pennant winner that has
not been excelled and is equaled only
by Anson, of Chicago, and Selee, Of Bos-
ton. The feat of the three was in man.
aging clubs which won pennants for
three consecutive seasons. McDer-
motifs record was made with the Fall
Rivers Of the New England league. He
Is but thirty-four years old and was
born and raised in the Massachusetts
town whose club he managed into the
three successive championships. In adj
dition to his experience as a manager.
McDermott has had the benefit Of a
long experience as a player, which gave
him q valuable insight into and prac-
tical knowledge of the game. When 20
years Of age he began his career as a
player and pitched for the following
clubs: 1884, Milwaukee,; 1886, New
buryport, Mass; 1856, Poughkeepsie;
1888, Manchester, N. H.; 1889, Auburn,
N. Y, and Louisville; 1890, Jersey City.
In 1891 he found his arm was weak and
he took years rest, and in 1892 pitched
for Jacksonville, Ill. He managed the
Fall River champions during 1893, 1894
and 1895. He strictly abstains from the
use of tobacco and intoxicants and care
fully watches the use of narcotics and
stimulants by his players. His peculiar
success as q winning manager has been
attributed to his good judgment and
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15
h <>* SCRANTON AND THE EASTERN LEAGUE RACE.
Sonehin of Intaestfo for NonC Canks

Johnstown in aSS7 and later played at
second as follows: Shenandoah and AL
lentown, 1883: New Orleans. 1883: GAL
weston and Spokane. 1890; Sacramento
and Minneapolis, 1891; Milwaukee and
Baltimore. 1892. In 1898 he played
right field for Baltimore and Cincin-
natl and in 1894 he covered second base
for Washington.
Thos. G. johnson is one Of Scranton's
's5 pitchers, and one who Is relied upon
to do much of the teams most effective
box work this year. He had a fielding
rank of ninth among thirty of the East
ern league twirlers and in batting
ranked above twelve of the thirty.
He vies with Ward for coaching hon.
ors and when on the lines Is a terror to
nervous pitchers. He Is one Of the
young contingent. but gave such prom
ise last year that Chicago and Pitts
burg fished for him during the middle
of the season. He was born and raised
nj San Francisco, where he works ut his
trade OF boiler-making during the win
ter He pitched the shortest nine-in-
ming game on record for Oakland
against San Francisco In 1893; the score
was 10 In favor of Oakland. and lasted
only forty-three minutes. He pitched
for the Marinettes Of the Wisconsin
league In 1892; for the Salems (Oregon),
1898; for the Lincoln (Neb.), 1894.
Richard p. Brown, Of Baltimore, Is
one of the eight pitching candidates
who Is certain OF being retained. Last
season he had a misunderstanding
with Barnie and took French leave to
go into the Cumberland Valley league
whehe he pitched marvellous ball for
Chambersburg. Brown is left-hander
and was born twenty-four years age
in Baltimore and in 1893 and 1894 occu-
pied n regular position In the pitching
| department of the Orioles. He IL
| speedy and has a choice assortment OF
| curves. 1t is believed that he will prove
| one of the most effective of this years
contingent of Eastern league pitchers
John Horner has been SO certainly
selected for the pitching corps which
will begin with the club when the regu-
lar season opens that he will not &C.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15

Wilkes-Barre has always been late
In getting on its baseball clothes and
this Is true of this year. Diggins. Earle,
Charlie Smith. Bonner, Abe Lezotte,
Pop" Lyttle. Sandy" Griffin, Luckey
and McGroarty are among the clubs
present material. The absence OF II,
manager as Jack" Chapman who has
found" more players on vacant lots
than any man in the business, Anson
possibly excepted. Chapman has been
skirmishing around New York recently
and 1t may be expected that he has
procured some good material which has
probably been stumbled over by many
a manager.
Never before in its history has the
league begun q season under more ia
vorable circumstances. Individually.
each club has good and lasting financial
backing and the spirit Of baseball in the
eight cities seems to have increased
to q great extent. All Of this means
that there will be none OF the disturb
ances which surrounded the transfer Of
the Toronto franchise last year and
which witnessed the transfer from
Troy to Scranton in 1894. In addition,
there Is no disposition to antagonize
President Powers during the playing
season. A spirit Of independence Is all
right in its place but works serious
I consequences II pushed forward in mid
season. Happily, there are no evidences
of such a thing just now, and IL 1t ex-
lists, 1t will be suppressed until the
proper time and place after the season
has ended,
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15

that his arm Is gone. During his sew
eral weeks OF recent outdoor and indoor
practice he has given no indication OF
such weakness; on the contrary he ap-
pears destined to be one of the strong
est players on the team. He had a con-
ditiOnal contract with Carbondale last
year or Scranton would not have been
able to obtain him. He ranked Thu
in the State league in hitting and was
third in fielding among the catchtNs.
A. NJ. 'Stemmell, pitcher. had his
first professional engagement last year
with Chambersburg, of the Cumber-
land Valley league. In Mondays game
with the Young Mems Christian asso-
citation there was nothing to indicate
that his chances for being retained
were not favorable. The opposite was
really the case. He is a fast runner
and is said to hit better than the aver
age pitcher. His home Is In Woodsbor-
ough, Md.
Pierce Chiles. who has been signed as
an extra infielder. will be played on
first base II Power fails to materialize.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15

Buffalo's aggregation Is similar to
that of Scranton's. The practice sea-
son of the Bisons opened with only
two Of last seasons pitchers and five of
last years infeld and outfield. Pitch
ers Wadswbrth and Herndon are re-
tanned as are Leewe, Bottenus, Wise,
Urquhart and Field. Manager Rowe
will have ten more to choose from, pitch
ers excepted, when the regular season
opens.
Up In Rochester Dan Shannon has
gathered around him lot of baseball
candidates whose faces are strange in
that city and will play most Of the
practice games there. He has bigger
collection Of tried and untried players
than any club In the league and will
have quantity If not quality to pick
from on May /.
The Torontos have been playing ex-
hibition games In the western part of
the state and winning most of them.
The clubs five former Pittsburgers are
proving O. splendid balance to the team.
Buckenberger has the best Of the '95
men and several phenoms under con-
tract and II his pitchers pan out we'll,
the company should be q strong one.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15


umpires. SEARCH the Orioles and
Spiders for concealed weapons" woulo
be the proper thing after that occur
renee at Petersburg.
The st. Louis team is more than clear
ing expenses In the South. The Browns
therefore need not fear any fines.
Andy Freeman says that he has re-
ceived letters Of congratulations from
President Soden and other league mag
mates regarding his stand toward Ru-
another city, would write Andy 6,666
New York Recorder.
The Atlantic League clubs will starvs
at the Polo grounds.
Comiskey is being commended all
over the country for doing away with
the candy and peanut vender nuisance
in st. Paul. Other cities will follow
suit.
A peculiar play was made at Cincin-
natl. Miller was on third base and
Smith on first. Miller started to walk
toward the home plate while the pitcher
held the ball. OF course the ball was
thrown to third and the Mobile team
started in to run Miller down. On the
play Smith started to make the circuit,
and while some seven or eight members
Of the Mobile team were engaged in
trying to put out Miller, Smith passed
third and scored. Eventually Miller
succeeded in getting back to third. Um-
mir w
out, as he had run out Of line in pass
ing Miller.
Mark Baldwin's father has purchased
the controlling interest in the Auburn,
n. Y, base ball club. Mark will man
age the team.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15

tory and unavoidable excuse will cause
a heavy fine, departure that will be
thoroughly appreciated by the patrons
and endorsed by the officials Of the
league.
Heller and Johnson are expected on
each train from the west.
Mcguire and Meaney will join the club
in New York today or at New Haven.
Yesterday the players practlced in the
morning and afternoon and showed no
i'll effects from Mondays game with the
Y. M. G. A. team.
Says the Wilkes-Barre Record:
Scranton is really disappointed in the
failure of Tom Power to acquaint the
management as to his purpose for the
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15

practical methods rather than to "sys-
tens" or theoretical playing.
Pat Meaney was last year probably
the most popular player on the team.
He ranked ninth in the league in hit
ting, was fourth in fielding among
,thirty-six outflelders and can pitch a
winning game If not used too fire.
quently In the box. Notwithstanding
his value, he was somehow missed by
the National league draft. He was
purchased from Harrisburg with Peter
Eagan and Huston on June 13 of last
year. Meaney's success with Scranton
did not serve to make him vain; on the
contrary, he remained the same mod
est, clever and honest little player as
before, and this department probably
accounts for his great popularity. He
will be played in the outfield and put
into the box in any emergency.
Meaney's home is in Philadelphia.
Frank G. Ward, second baseman,
was one of the unique characters of the
'95 team, but, what is better, he ranked
second among the Eastern league
batsmen at the close Of the first half Of
the season and stood sixth when the
season ended. Considering the many
trials of Scranton's players last year
Wards. batting record is better, COM
paratively. than that Of the players
who excelled him with the stick. For
the same reason his fielding rank as
sixth among the fourteen second base
men Is q very creditable showing. He
knows every trick and subterfuge Of
the game, but has never been accused
Of being vicious. He will weigh about
1856 pounds in mid-season, but is one Of
the fastest men in the business on the
bases and slides after a fashion that
brings delight to the rooter. AS a
coacher he is equalled only by Tommy
Johnson. Ward was born thirty lone
years ago In Chambersburg. Pa, and
in his youth was a railroad brakeman.
His present home is in Altoona, where
during the winters he works in a pro-
duce market. He played first base for
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15
CHARLES H. FLACK,
Outflelder.

will be Connaughton, Van Haltren and
Tiernan. Meekin, Dad" Clarke, Ger
man and Rusie Of he signs) will do tha
bulk Of the pitching, while Farrell, VIII.
son and Zearfoss will do the backstop-
ping. Stafford and Fuller will be the
subs" It's q strong combination.
President Powers has a special con.
tract with John Gaffney, the king Of
umpires, whereby Gaffney Is to forfeit
three-days' pay for every game he alb
sents himself from without leave.
OF two evils-pitching ball for s2,4oo
or carrying a hod for 81 a day-Amos
Rusie will not be paretic enough to
choose the worst.
Base ball has not been dead in Scran-
ton; 1t has simply been In cold storage.
This was proved by the presence Of six
hundred spectators at Mondays prac.
| tice game with amateurs.
"Mugsy" McGraw, the Orioles third
baseman, who was stricken with ty-
phoid fever at Atlanta, Is said to be I'M
proving. He is still at the hospital In
that city. McGraw Is one Of the snap
piest players In the business, a fine field
| er. a good hitter, and man who can
play the game with his head as we'll as
mechanically. No matter how good
Donnelly, his understudy, is, it will re-
quire much time to get broken into the
clock-work play of the Oriole field.
Catcher Often. who was dropped by
the st. Louis club, Is playing a fast
| game and hitting the ball hard with
the Newark club Of the Atlantic Asso-
citation.
| During the row at Petersburg, Capt.
Robinson, of the Baltimores, drew his
revolver, but did not use 1t. Nick
Young should issue q new order to the
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15

company the team on the practice trip.
but will be left in Scranton with Brown
to get in good physical condit. He
was Baltimore experiment durL.. e
practice season Of last year and "
"farmed" to Atlanta. Of the Souther.
league. That club won the champion
ship and Horner was purchased by Nc
Dermott from Baltimore. He Is said
to be one of the most promising pitch
ers Of last years minor league corps.
Atlanta Is his home. He ranked ninth
among twenty-five pitchers and had a
batting average Of .278 in the Southern
league.
viii nrobabiv he retained He ia one ~
the quietest men in the business, is fast
In the field and on the bases and last
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15

There are four candidates for the OUT
field, Mesney, Eagan. Bradley and
Flack. Meaney Is certain to be chosen
and Eagan's chances for left field seem
good. In any event a choice among
Eagan. Bradley and Fiack for the two
outfield vacancies would not be a mis-
take. as they are all fast and sure.
The club seems bound to be especially
strong in its pitching department. So
much has been written Of Johnson,
Brown and Horner. who will positively
begin the regular season, that further
comment is unnecessary. One, and pos
sibly two other, twirlers will be select
ed from among Stemmell. Herr, Cro-
min and Gets.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15
LITTLE NOTES
OF THE GAME

Horner and Bradley reached hereyes-
terday afternoon.
President Powers expects to call his
umpires together-probably at Syra-
cuse-and give them thorough instruc-
tions as to their duties. Absenting
themselves from q scheduled assign
ment this season without q satisfac-
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15

year had a batting average Of .3O4. He
lives in West Troy.
Edward Rafferty, caught last year for
Gloversville, in the New York State
league. He was the best backstop in
that league and Is said to have throw
ing and hitting ability which will make
him q valuable man to Scranton.
Charles H.Flack, right fielder, ranked
eighteenth among forty fielders in the
New England league last year. His
batting average was 1868. He played
with Lowell in 1893 and with Portland
in 1894. From his practice work here it
might be reasonably inferred that he
stands fair chance Of an engagement.
John Hess, Scranton's backstop, will
be especially valuable because Of his
hitting. It has been incorrectly stated
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15

season. He is wanted for first base
very much, and yet may not be landed"
Power is more needed as q captain.
The team will leave at noon today for
the opening practice game in New
Haven.
Chicago still has thirty-one players
on its list, which includes nine pitchers.
The National league season opens
tomorrow.
Mat Kilroy, who pitched for Syracuse
last season, has resigned and will play
In the outfield.
Harry Davis, Gleason and George
Davis will take care of the three cor
ners for the Giants, while Pfeffer will
probably be kept at short. In the field
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15
SCRANT0N'S
OPPORTUNITIES

The opinions of sporting writer's OF
the Eastern league circuit have not
materially changed during the last few
weeks. Az soon as spring weather
opened the newspapers Of oil the league
cities, excepting Scranton, Wilkes
Barre and Springfield, began tipping
their respective clubs as sure winners.
The general opinion was that Syracuse,
Providence. Springfield and Buffalo
would: finish in the first division and
that Scranton. Wilkes Barre. Roches-
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15

Springfield and Providence began in
earnest on Monday; Wilkes Barre is
ready. Scranton opens in New Haven
tomorrow.
No little interest has been attached
to the work of Syracuse: not that
kuntzsch's team was any more entitled
to consideration than the others, but
owing to the balooning that has been
given the club by the baseball writers
of Syracuse and other cities. This was
In part due to the presence on the team
OF First Baseman Carey who played
with Baltimore last year, and Third
Baseman Charlie Reilly who was with
the PhillieS, 1t WAS nredicted that the
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15

tlcally the same make-ups which
made the Grays such a dangerous fac
Pitcher Eagan has jumped the
club or that he will play in
the Pennsylvania State league. The
other Providence pitchers are Hodson,
Ned Crane, Knorr. Rudderham and
Friel, strong contingent which alone
influences many in the belief that the
club has chance equally as good as
some other teams to win the flag. Joe
Knight. Lyons and Murray will COM
pose the strong outfield.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15

club would be the fastest in
fielding In the league and II
its hitting strength was a lit
tie better than ordinary Syr-
acuse would get the pennant
without playing for it. For
over q week only one victory
had been won In the practice
games up to Tuesday. The
field work has been first class
but the batting has been
weak. The Syracuse Post
says Carey is not as handy
with the stick as was Power
who has not yet signed his
Scranton contract. Except
ing Delaney, all of the Syra-
cuse pitchers are unknown
quantities.
The Springfield champions
were supposed to have been
seriously weakened by the
loss of four Of the best of
their number through the ma
tional draft, but this view
cannot be accepted as posit-
I've, excepting the position Of
third and short. The clubs
pitching corps is very strong
and there Is q great advan-
tage In possessing SO capable
and brainy a manager as Tom
Burns. The teams practice
schedule Is completely filled
up to May l. Manager Burns,
in an interview with q corres-
pondent, stated that although
he had sold several of his best
players, he has got others in
sight who are wonders. He
further said that his team
may not win the pennant, but
still he is willing to wager
that they will finish no lower
than third. Burns expects
to attach a string to Gruber,
Gilbert and Schefiler.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15

Chiles Is a big but active fellow and a
heavy hitter. He played second base
on the st. Joseph, Mo-, team of the
Western association in 1894 and filled
the same position with Galveston, Of
the Texas league, last year. He was
second In the league in batting with
an average of AL. and in fielding
ranked eleventh among twenty-five
second basemen.
George w. Gets, of Waterloo, Ind,
Is q mi-professional pitcher. Little
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15

Western Pennsylvania. His home Is
Cold Spring, o.
William Heller of Fort Wayne. Ind,
last year in the Michigan league, had
his first professional experience. He
made good fielding and hitting aver
ages and showed himself to be active
and speedy.
Edward Herr, a candidate for pitch
Ing honors, Is also a one-year profess
sional. He pitched last season with the
Norwalks of the Virginia league. st.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15

Louis is his home. He is large man
and good sticker.
z. l.. Bradley last year played right
field for the Richmond champions of
the Virginia league. His home is In
that city.