The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-10
BILLY HAMILTON.
Most Talked of Ball
Player in the
Country.
FORMER WORCESTER TOSSER
Learned the Game in
Clinton and Prom
ised Well.
FORMER WORCESTER TOSSER.

Probably the most taIked-of ball
player in the country the last few days
is Billy Hamilton of the Bostons, who
got back into harness recently, after
an absence of several weeks.
Worcester people take an unusual in
terest in Hamilton, because it was in
this city he first showed signs of the
ability which has placed him at the top
OF the list. Previous to his coming here
he was not rated very high, and when
he played here in 1888 he had a great
zeal TO learn. But he gave evidence
OF having ability in him to such an
extent that the management of the
club sold him to Kansas City, and his
reputation began to go up.
hamilton comes from Lancaster and
learned the game in Clinton, which
nao several good ball players within
us limits in those days. Hamilton
managed to get into the professional
game and his playing attracted the
attention of the triumvirate that owned
the orcesters-Edward Goulding, E.
,. PIERCE and H. S. Seeley. They en-
gagged MIN and he played centre field
lot the Worcesters until he was sold to
Kansas City. His sale netted the Wor-
oase Dali a good investment that year.
When he played here Hamilton
wasn't what could be called a good
nelder, but his ability to cover ground
gave MIN an advantage over other
nelders. He was a careful player and
Always made 1t a point to get under
the pail, Which he could do by his
speed; He invariably caught the bail
! over ms head when he had time to do
| L., manV times
knee on the ground in the exercise of
great care
IN those days Hamilton was a good
punter and beat many a ball that he
dumped toward third He did not at
tempS long hits as much he has since
ne got into the league, and the con-
tlnued bunting practice gave him a
great eye for the ball
| Speaking about Hamilton Tranl.
Pears, st. Louis player. said Of his
base running abilities to a st. Louis
| republic writer: Base stealing. like
| most other things in base ball, is en-
! tlrely a matter of practice. When I
was with Kansas City in 1889. Billy
Hamilton, now the ADMITTED best base
runner in America, was breaking into
the game. He could run and bat, but
| ne could not slide or field lick. Wat
klns saw that he possessed the mater
laI OF great ball player, so he set
out to teach him to slide He made aim
Put on a catcher's inflated protector
and had him practice every day for a
month. Hamilton did not want to try
it, kicked time and again, but Watkins
made him stick to 1t. In two weeks he
could beat the world on a head-frst
| slide. Hamilton owes a deal of his sue
| cess to Watkins. He could not field a
| bit, though he could cover a world Of
ground. The simplest of fly balls would
hit his hands and bound 10 feet away.
| Watkins kept coaching him, and lie
made quite a fielder. I am quite sure
that many players lose a great deal by
not trying to strengthen their weak
roints as Hamilton did. Managers
should see that they do it. The great
trouble young players experience is
that they have to find things out for
themselves. 1t is not often a young
player finds a man who takes interest
enough in him to give him pointers.
Hence, if he is weak in any particular
he remains that way unless he can
save himself by tumbling to his faults
and the way to correct them. Of course
the young players themselves are often
responsible for this. Some of them re-
sent an attempt to point out their fail
ings. and naturally the old-timers get
tired of trying to do them any good.
The old fellows do not have to coach
youngsters to get them, and when
fresh kid rejects the we'll meant advice
he hurts not only himself, but other
youngsters who may come DIP later"
Capt. Ewing of Cincinnati said the
other day to an Enquirer reporter, that,
in shis opinion, Billy Hamilton was the
strongest man on the inside in the his
tory of base ball.
Hamilton can get to first base more
frequently than any other player" said
the leader of the Reds, and once there
he can get around to counting territory
on less opportunities than any man in
the business. Send Hamilton to the
plate in a pinch when one run is badly
needed and his very appearance at that
stage has a disconcerting effect, not
only on the opposing pitcher, but on
the players behind him. He has a
splendid eye, and will not go after any
thing that is not a strike He is a
great waiter and a hard man to pitch
to. He is so fast that the infielders must
play in and be on the alert. If ball
takes two bounds, it is hit for Hamil-
ton. The infielders are forced to play
so close that they do not cover the
ground that they do for other players.
Consequently, Hamiltons percentage
for making clean hit is increased.
When in the humor, he can steal sec
ond and third on nearly any catcher in
the business, and once on third, with
only one out, the man at the bat has
but to tip the ball on the ground any
where, and Hamilton will score. His
absence from a team is a big handi-
cap"