Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-01-02
BASE BALL GOSSIP,
Small Talk That interests the
National Game Lovers.
Jesse Burkett Returns With His Fund Of
Stories Augmented by His California
Trip-other Items About the
Players.

I
days of 20 years ago. will be one of the
men that President Nick Young will APP
point on his staff of umpires for 1898.
George has been promised the place and
he is correspondingly happy. Wood be-
gan his career as a ball player in the
city when Worcester was managed by
Frank Bancroft, who is now the busi-
ness end of the Cincinnati Reds. When
Bancroft took charge Of the Detroits in
1881, he took Wood, Charley Bennett
and Lon knight to that city, where
Wood remained for five years Then he
went to Philadelphia, playing there I'M
til 1890, the year of the Brotherhood
teams. Wood cast his lot with the new
organization, and year later found
him manager and captain of the Phila-
delphia American Association under the
Wagners. Since then he has played on
both Baltimore and Cincinnati, and has
umpired number of games in the big
league. His last appearance as umpire
was in the Baltimore and AlI-America,
game at Cincinnati Park last fall.
George has been making his home in the
lated city for the past few years.
Speaking of umpires, the new rule
adopted at the meeting in Philadelphia
will make it necessary for President
Young, who has sole charge of the UNI
pires 0lnless Old Man Arson has berth
created for him as supervisor of UNI
pires), to select just twice as many as
were ON the leagues pay roll year
ago. Applications for these extra places
have been pouring in to Young's office
by the hundred. Umpires in minor
leagues, ball players who have lost their
usefulness, and men who never UNI
pired, but who have an idea how it is
done, have all asked to be remembered
in the distribution of the plums. Tony
Mullane even presented his endorse
ments in person. The staff will not be
made up for several weeks yet, but it is
safe to say that nearly all of last years
officials will be indicator kings in 1898
Rumor has it that Tim Hurst, who is
now refereeing squared-circle contests,
would be turned down. Nothing to that
effect, however, has been given out from
league headquarters. Tim will probably
stand behind the catcher in '9S, but be-
fore he gets his appointment it is likely
ne will receive a lecture on the etiquet
OF criticising league officials.
The Pittsburg Post pays a most de-
served compliment to Connie Mack of
Brookfield, who is now managing the
Milwaukee team. Connie, as is we'll
known, caught for the Pirates for a
number of years, and this is the opinion
the Pittsburg followers entertain Of him
as echoed in the POST
In looking over the list of catchers
who have served the Pittsburg Club
since 1882, the scarcity Of good men is
noticeable. Connie Mack, who was
with the team for six seasons, from 1891
to 1886, inclusive, was undoubtedly the
has fHtaT %f.1z,
not only splendid backstop, but one
of the most intelligent catchers in the
National League"
In the summer months, Jesse Burkett
scoops in flies and is occasionally called
upon to chase base hits in one Of Cleve-
lands gardens. After the season is
over, he comes back to Worcester, where
his wife and friends are located He
always brings home with him an as
sortment of good stories and interesting
personal "reminiscences that more than
equals the collection of Chauncey De-
pew or any other after-dinner speaker. !
This year his stock in trade seems prac-
tically lmitless for after the national
season closed, he went to California
with the All-America- Baltimore combi- |
nation. While on the Pacific slope en-
joying the perpetual spring weather
and Incidentally the crowds that
thronged to the games-Jesse added ma
ter1ally to his collection and since then |
the boys have been listening with evil |
dent interest to stories of Californian |
base ball life and luxury. And yet, not +.
withstanding Jesse's stories of luxury |
and elegance, each man quit ahead of
the game and came home with some
thing like $341 to the good.
There was nothing too good for the
baseball tourist, while either en- route
or at the hotels. The hotels were al
ways the best. At the Baldwin Hotel,
in Frisco, the party was quartered in
suites with baths and all modern con-
Yeniences. The Baldwin is on the Euro
pean plan, but arrangements were made
so that the American plan prevailed for
the tourists The party had a private
dining room besides arranging to have
meal for all in the grill room at mid
night. All the expenses of whatever
kind were borne by the MANAGEMENT.
but eventually came out of the common
fund The players had nothing to pay
for except laundry and absolu sly pri-
vate bills. The party travelled in Pull
man palace cars used no buses, but six
and eight horse tally-ho coaches from
hotels to grounds, and lived like lords
generally.
the teams played to the biggest crowd
that ever assembled for a game in Cali
fornia The gates were closed Is
minutes before the hour for calling the
game had arrived and it took the police
and players some time to clear room
enough to play. The managers took
away from the box office $50 pounds of
| silver in a ticket box, and in addition
there was some gold and few dollars
in notes, but bank bills are very scarce
out there. After that first game there
was enough money TO pay every ex-
pense and bring the party home.
The Chicago correspondent, w. A.
| Phelon, Jr., of the Sporting Life, says
something very pretty about Jimmy
1 Callahan Of the Chicagos in this weeks
issue Callahan who is F1tchburg
1 boy, signed with Anson's team last
year as a pitcher He was, however,
played in about every position on the
team, but whatever his position, his
work was excellent. Here is what
PhelOn says:
4 Jimmy Callahan is our prize baby.
! There is the wonder of the year He
was the first of our players5t 10 introduce
| a new and daring system of base run
ming, that is to say. making good hard
single to halt at first While the fielder
was picking up The ball and then dust
like a flash for second. He did this five
times that / saw and won out every
time, the period while the ball was
travelling from the outfield to second
proving ample for the trick 1t Is real
/ ly a simple play. The outfielder seeing
| him stop at first would Invariably re-
| turn the ball in leisurely sort of way.
1t would come into the diamond several