The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-05-20

mans work cannot be oyer'Etimated ID
casting up results, but II he keeps the
opposing teams from winning games
be In not expected 10 develop ehcep-
tlonal prowess at the bat. Yet IN the
season Of 1888, II memory IL not A.
fault, one man and pitcher at that
won the nag Of the western league Io'
bis team with a timely bit In the eishth
Inning. This man war Elmer smith'
the gouth.paw blacksmith, once
famed az twlrler In the big league
Elmer played with the Kansas cry
team that season. He had left the big
league because Of the failure OF his
pitching arm. lie was and IN, one OF
the most conscientious players thai
ever donned a uniform. When In form
he was a speedy and skillful twlrler
Ne was always a free hitter. yeritablo
terror 20 opposing boxmen. He had
few auperlors In the outneld, 40 his
Judgment was excellent. HE throwing
p accurate and his batting ~ good a.
they find In a days journey. lie sign
ed with Kansas City ~ a change pitch
er. but expected 60 play In the left gar
den most Of the time
The contest was an extremely close
one. 81. Paul. Minneapolis. Omaha aud
Kansas CITY were punched near the top
IN the last two weeks 81 the season a
fouple Of games won or iost might dis
place any one Of the four from tho cad.
Smith had been tried 10 the box early
In the eight and showed such good form
that instead Of remaining a mere sup
ply twirler he came 10 be looked on 90
the malnstay u the team He had all
the heavy hatterF-and there were
plenty Of them ruesslng from the frst
f.. game. A. the season wore on be- made
Il still worse This was the situation
when he last week dawued g. Paul
and Omaha had lost and there was
practically G ne between Minneapolis
and kanfas City -Four Fnut Il the
remaining fix were between these
clubs Three we're 10 be- played 90
Kansas City The fourth vas never
played. o. Il was al over before the
time came 70 play Il On
Two a. The Kansas city rames were
played Smith pitched he fret aud
won. The next day two pitchers tviri-
ed for Kansas city bot the game was
lost by a dose ere IN the lafi Inning
The third and deciding game wac CALI
ed aud jimmy Manning cent the
blacksmith 10 20 pitch araln. 10 ~ &c
Of the fact shat BE- had been oyerwofk
ed. The result was a sensible let,lug
down ia Elmef's work To- tlo hfsi three
Innings Minneapolis made Owe Nuns
TO but three for Kansas City Then the
blacksmith settled down aud s'rlck out
man after man. Minneapolis kept up
her winning gait and succeeded boz
swelling the score by one run. AtiLe
end 81 the seventh inning the score
stood Z 90 Tor the visitors.
Kansas CITY went 10 bat frlt and
Manning var getting desperate. Ne
began the eighth Inning with bic lest
balters. Dan siearns. frat hsseman.
was FIRST. he waited patiently and
finally smashed a hot one down into
short right, heating u out by fcani
nose. The second man caught the hrft
ball squarcly and dropped % out into
deep right II icll into the feeders
hands. but stearns. by O hard sprint.
made third on the play. 40 the tall
was dropped by the third hafcmnn
Then Manning made a scratch BIT. hut
vas caught leading too far On lrsi
This made two out. with oue man on
third and the score sin two 60 "a, bid
The fourth man was little Hugh Nlrol.
The famous lhortstop Of the Cincinnati
Reds lie hunted ana outran tle hsll.
landing safely on first ~ Elmer wa.kod
10 the plate
Away back In center near the 'oacc
stands naFsiaff No man had ever
been able 10 drive tull beyond IA s.