The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-09
The Dude Catcher
Was a Surprise,


the travelling man. when the impress
sion was current that man who was q
dude and generally fastidious in his
habits could not play ball. This senti-
ment was somewhat strong In Kansas
City in the early eighties. At that time
the town was very much alive, and the
stranger within the gates could get any.
thing he wanted from pitch and toss to
manslaughter. All he had to do was to
name his game.
Sunday baseball was feature. and
delegation from the stockyards in
variably attended in order that the
proper amenities should be made mani
fest. The games were generally between
amateur teams, and what was lacking
in technic was more than compen-
stated by the ginger the players put in
their work. Willie Bill Hutchison was
then resident OF the city and under
the name of Brown generally did the
twirling for one OF the teams. Decker.
who caught for the Detroits in their
heyday. did the receiving.
Hutch in those days had a world Of
speed and always had to let up when
Decker came up to the plate. On this
particular Sunday a big crowd was pres
ent, nine from Sedalia opposing the
locals. The stockyards contingent was
decidedly numerous and was backing
Hutch against the world. 1t was nip
and tuck for four innings. when a foul
tip disabled Decker. Time was called.
and a hunt began for some one who was
willing to take the hot shot that Hutchi-
son was throwing over the plate. Suit
able material was a minus quantity, and
apparently the longer the hunt the less
likelihood there appeared to be of get
ting catcher, and the stockyards ele-
ment was disconsolate.
"At this Juncture a tall we'll built
man. wearing q lah de dab overcoat, q
silk hat. then rare in the town, two
watch chains. buttonhofe bouquet and
other accouterments that bespoke the
effete east, arose and went under the
grand stand and spoke to the captain Of
the local team. The crowd began to
guy and hoot. ani the howls and Jeers
were intensified when a few minutes
later he appeared In an i'll fitting uni
form and put on the mask and gloves.
The gentlemen from the abattoir dis
trict saw in their minds eye q total
eclipse of the money wagered and al
most precipitated a riot. ~
The game. however proceeded. The
gentleman from the east stood up and
took his medicine. Hutch put them over
like a cannon shot but the receiving
end never finched. In those days the
Association and the National league
were playing under different rules. In
the Association a foul caught on the
first bound was out. In the big league
Ii had TO be caught on the fly. The new
catcher had been playing under the reg
ulations as laid down by the minor or
ganization and was greatly surprised
after being heartily applauded for a
brilliant run and catch on the bound OF
a foul fly to have the umpire call not
out.
ITO make long story short, the new
man caught everything that came his
way, hit safely every time he came to
bat, ran bases like a deer and coached
the players In enjoyable style. The
game was won by the local men, due
chiefly to the easterner. Everybody
wanted to know his name, and IL finally
became known that he was Johnson,
the second base man and change CATCH
er for the crack staten Island club of
New York that used TO make trouble for
all the professional teams I'm the coun-
try. Johnson had received many offers
to enter the ranks Of the professionals,
but steadily refused. He had the free
dom of the city that Sunday night after
the game"