The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-11
The Worcester Ball Player Who Has
Signed With Cambridge.

qualities are the kind which tend TO
the makeup of a crackajack base bail
player. He possesses all the qualItlcd-
lions necessary in the makeup Of
ball player and some Of them exist III
him to a far greater extent than in
out of 10 National League men. He Is
exceptionally fast in every department.
He fields sharply and surely. He is a
smashing hitter, both safe and hard.
On the bases he ought TO lie blue rid
bon man, for he is very feet IF foot.
Probably the only reason why Eaeder
was not the best amateur Splinter OF
Worcester in his athletic days was De-
cause he did not train.
Zaeder is "a years Of age, feet J12
inches tall and weighs when in playing
condition, about 175 pounds. He is q
trifle over that now, inasmuch as he
has not taken exercise to any extent
lately. Ever since he was a youngster
he has been regarded as one Of the
best ball players of Worcester. He
played with the high school teams
when he attended that school, from
which he graduated in 1852. Then he
went to Tech, from which institution
he graduated and now holds degree
as electrical engineer. He was captain
of the Tech team for three years.
First base is his regular position, but
almost any other position. In his last
year at the Tech. he had to play third,
there being no other man who could be
relied on. What success he had can
be imagined when he led the team in
both fielding and batting. When a
third baseman leads his team in field
ing. he comes pretty near making a
worlds record. for it is the hardest po-
sition on the diamond.
nFTpfnpr his Gphnni- hhv daUE Iab6np
showed great abilities as an athlete. He
still holds six records Of the high
school. including throwing the ball.
While a little shaver attending high
school. he threw the horsehide 303 feet,
which is about as far as many league
players want to throw it. At Tech he
played half-back for a time, and was
a star player principally on account Of
his exceptional speed. If he ever
turned the end and cleared the bunch
the ball was planted behind the posts
in short order. He left the bunch as
race horse leaves a plug.
During his senior year at Tech, Ar
thur Irwin. then manager of the To-
rontO team Of the Eastern league got
after him strong and tried to prevail
on him to Join his team. But Zaeder
would not give up his class with grad
uation so near. During the summer
that followed his graduation, in 1895,
he received several fattering offers to
play, but he concluded he would not
90 into base ball.
His services were in constant demand
however He played with the w. A.
c. team. of which he was captain, and
of which also he was the star player.
His best playing was in Milford in 1895,
and in East Douglas in 1897. Both teams
were made up from picked men who
were engaged from game to game. la
the majority of games. the teams were
stronger than any league teams except
the National league itself, for among
the players were several National
league men. Each team would hire
men from the National league teams
and college players, and their OppO-
nents would do the same thing. Zae-
der was played on Milford the entire
season, which place suited him, as he
did not desire to play on a regularly
organized league team.
In spite of the fact that he faced
pitchers borrowed for the occasion from
Boston. or the strongest college players
that could be obtained, Zaeder had the
phenomenal batting average of over
500 when he played with Milford. When
a man gets 800 in batting he is cOnsid-
cred the top card of the deck. Zaeder
got over 500 so his batting qualities are
hardly open to question. He is a long
hitter and his total base hit average
was greater in proportion than would
be expected from even a heavy hitter
as he showed himself to be.
Jack Curtis is another Worcester
boy who has been signed by Mr.. Rice.
Curtis will do the catching for the
Cambridge team. He has played on
several teams Of this city, the best be-
ing the Sacred Heart Lyceums. that
always had an excellent club. Curtis
has gained in weight during the winter
and Mr.. Rice thinks he will make a
good backstop.
Mr.. Rice announced yesterday that
his team will be made up as follows:
Catcher, Curtis; pitchers. Joe Eagan
and Napoleon Tester: first base, Zae-
der; second base, Richie: short, Glenn;
right. Arthur Tessier: left, Mcmahon.
Murptv Of Na.l.t viii probab play