The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-23

f6 years OF his work on the diamond and
by judicious Investments has acquired
property from the usufruct of which he
can maintain his family, He therefore Is
not under the humiliating necessity of
taking service I'm minor league clubs ut
much smaller salaries
As n batsman rather than first base
man Brouthcrs' usefulness was made APP
parent. For l2 years I've either led the
country at batting or stood well up among
the leaders During the last few years his
good eye' failed rapidly, and he was no
more terror TO pitchers. 1 first saw
Brouthers play i'm 1870 on the old Cincin-
natl grounds near the stoclyards. He was
in the heyday of his profCsional life. 1t
was the first time that VIII White as a
pitcher ever faced the tall, awkward young
fellow. A pitcher in those days had more
latitude with bad balls than he does now,
and 1t was Whites habit 10 merely toss the
first ball across in n parabolic curve three
OF four feet above the hatsman's head. He
did not vary his custom for Brouthers, but
Dan never let anything no by in those days
which he could reach. So he merely raised
his six feet one" on his toes reached up
with his long hat, and the ball went sail
ing over right center field fence.
As I've already said, Brouthcrs never
ranked very high as first bascman. In
deed, / may go so far rs to say that tho
first bascmen of today are far inferior as
fieders 20 some OF those who have passed
out" McKinnon Of tho famous Syracuse
Stars, back in the seventies, in my judg-
mcnt, was the greatest first basem0n since
the gamc has been played. "Chub" Sulli-
van Of the Cncinnatis and Worcestors was
the best man who ever stood on that bag
when catching n thrown ball was the
measure Of merit. His record of playing n
season without dropping ono throw has Ger
tainly not been cqualed. Long John"
Reilly Of the Cincinnntls, Comiskoy OF the
four timc winners, the st. Louis browns
and Carey Of last years Baltrmorcs were
among the best flcldcrs Of their POSITION Of
the later first hnscncn. But Reilly and
Carey were veal: hatsmen, and that pushed
thcm out of League company.
The best FIRST bascman In the big League
today is Tucker. Yet he WAS listcd for tho
bench corly in the ycpr because his batting
last year was rather weak. For some rca-
son his batting picked mp, and now he Is
doing tho most timely hitting of his team.
And there Is that wonder OF baseball, An
son. He, too. has made "A record by play
ing 30 games without ON error, while his
batting Is something which even his Chit
cago enemies arc bound tn applaud
Since Lachancc established himself in
thc National league only ono other minor
league first bascman has secured q berth
Ia tho samo company. That Is William H.
Clark of the New York club. Tie oxccls as
n fielder and is improving steadily as u
batsman. So that he bids fair 20 reach tho
Bop of his class within year or two
Clarke is u western pcnnsylyaniau. His
homo Is IN PittsburG
Cnmiskcy established " style " fielding
al first base which Is not now followed by
any Of tho mon who play tho position In
tho National league. IL was his custom TO
play from 30 20 30 feet beyond first base
and dcpeDd half Of thctimc on his pitchcrs
o. cover tho h0g on n hard hit toward
right. Foutz. Cnruthers, Hudson and
King considered n half of thhlr duty %
start toward FIRST hasc the momcut n bill
wns battcd toward Coniskcy This style
Of playing tho haso cut OF many balls
which nt this Inter day would 20 mloly to
tho out0cld. Then, too. it was almost an
ilnrossihility for fy 90 fCll betwccn tho
IN and out fold on that siGc ~ the dia-
mond. Pitchers at this stage OF the game
cover first base much lcss than they did
when the Comiskcy style was i'm vogue
Speaking Of that noted team of Brown