The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-10
REVERSES OF BASEBALL
TWO LOCAL STORIES WHICH ILLUS
TRATEs THE UPS AND DOWNS.
Amos Rusie's Revenge on Pat Muir
ply, Who Was frying to ''show
Of"-Scery's Case.

A ball players life furnishes greater ex-
perience in the way of ups and downs than
almost any other condition of life. This
city was once the scene of the beginning
of such an experience in the lives of two
men in the profession.
1t was in the days when the old National
League team was located here before the
brotherhood revolt and the New York
Giants" under BREAD and Butter Buck
Ewing's guidance were playing an engage
ment here that Pat Murphy, their whilom
catcher laid off one day. Pat was anything
but a wonder, being engaged simply be-
cause the great pitcher Titcomb imagined
that he could catch him better than any
other man. One thing Pat had, however,
and that was an overpowering coneeit in
his own ability and a love for dress that
for time ecIpsed Arle Latham In the
course of his wanderings on this day ne
landed in a lot back of the ball grounds
where some youngsters were pracuclnS.
Here was Pats golden opportunity to
make an impression and he grasped it.
Seeing young man of generous build who
was doing some pitching he came up and
offered to catch for him. His offer was ac-
cepted and to show that he was the real
thing he refused to put on the gloves offered
him. The youngster sent in a hot one and
Pat WINGED, but tried to be game. Another
one hotter than the other came in and Pat
got hot and in his pain sent 1t back with
such force that he lifted the boy off his
feet. The young man, however, kept up a
hot tattoo on Pats hands and before the
latter could retire with honor had made
them look like hams with swellings
Before a year had gone by the two were
fIeaI fnr
was member of the New York team, which
at that time of revolt was without the
services OF Ewing.
In practice new catcher was appointed
to handle the delivery of the boy hurricane
but he failed and as a last resort Pat was
brought out to hold him in regular game,
but after enough passed balls to lose two
games he was summarily dragged out and
never more appeared in a league game. A
serious problem confronted the New York
Club. 1t had wonderful pitcher, but no
one to hold him until Dick Buckley stepped
into the gap and for years afterward he was
supposed to be the only man who could hold
the delivery of the young man, whose name
is Amos Rusie.
To-day the latter is king, but Pat, who
in his glory tried to humiiate him, is for
gotten.
LITTLE SEERYS FEAR.
Manager Bancroft, once the leader of the
Indianapolis National League Club, told a
strange story some time ago TO the writer.
Emmett Seery, remembered as the best and
most conscientious Outfielder Indianapolis
ever had, was the subject of conversation
and his sudden loss of form and ability was
commented on by the writer with wonder,
as he was in good health and of abstemious
habits. .'Banny," however, gave the solu-
ton of the problem according to his views,
but could not understand the reason of it
himself. He noticed that Seery was terribly
afraid of him and without reason. When
ever Banny's presence was announced Seery
Immediately became scarce. When he drew
his salary it was with the air of man
momentarily expecting release. If he made
an error he would shrink from the sight
of Bancroft for days afterward.
Finally this overpowering fear had its eff
feet on his nerves and he lost his brilliant
eye and judgment and finally his confidence
in his own ability to such an extent that in
lease here ne was tried and released by nine
clubs ranging down to the proverbial
watermelon league class. The strange
part of it all is that "Banny'' says he AL
ways had genuine liking for Seery, both
for his ability and character, and his fatal
hallucination is therefore all the more in
exDlicable.