The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-19
The NATIONAL GAME,
Many Of the Stars
Learned First Les
sons Here,
WORCESTER PRODUCTS FAMOUS
Burkett, Anderson, Bonner,
Bransfield and Many
Others in the List.
WORCESTER PRODUCTS FAMOUS

Every day the newspapers through
out the land are eagerly perused for
their accounts of the great national
game of base ball, and among the
doings of players no greater interest is
taken than in the work of men who are
Worcester products.
Some of the best men in the business
are Worcester products Some were
born in this city while others first ac-
CURED their reputation in the base ball
line while playing on a Worcester team.
Worcester has players in every league
of the country of any Importance ex-
cept the western, and there would be
Worcester men in that league if they
wanted to play there. There are Wor-
cester boys in the National league, in
the Eastern, New England, Connecticut
state league and New York state
league. But Worcester men are not
alone connected with the game as play
ers. Two of the best umpires on the
field today are Worcester men.
One Of the greatest batters of the
National league today is Jesse C. Bur-
kett of the st. Louis team. Burkett is
a Worcester man from choice, and also
made his professional debut as a mem
Der of a Worcester team. His first pro
fessional work was with the Worcester
team of the Atlantic league over a de-
cade ago. Ten years ago this time Bur
kett was holding down the rubber al
the Grove street grounds. He was a
good pitcher, but made his mark as a
fielder when he Joined the New Yorks
of the National league in 1890, during
the year of the Players league, Burkett
was youngster and did not stay in
New York long, the management OF
that team making a frightful mistake
in ever parting with Burkett. He has
led the league in hitting and has al
ways been one of the most consistent
batsmen of the country. There is not a
more scientific batsman in the country
today, not even the great Keeler being
his superior, although the latter's speed
In getting to first at times gives him q
better average.
Another ball player of the big league
OF which Worcester has reason to feel
proud is John Anderson of the star
Brooklyn team. Anderson is essentjalIv
a nome product as he began the game
In worcester, playing on the amateur
teams Of the city. He played his first
professional game with the Worcester
New England league team of 1894, but
ne didn't play long as he started In Ia
pltch and did not make a success of the
art. John Irwin, now manager of the
Manchester team Of the New England
league, deserves credit for bringing An
derson out for he took up the PLAYER
on his release by Worcester. However
Anderson himself deserves all the
credit. He was discovered by President
Burns of the Brooklyns, who went to
Fall River to see Freeman OF the
Haverhills play ball Anderson put ur
better game than Freeman, and Il
was his ordinary game at that, because
he never knew one of the league mag
mates was watching the game.
There Is In the big league another
young man who was born and bred In
Worcester. and he is Frank Bonner Of
the Washngtons. Bonner earns the
honors which attach to his position
He has been in the big league before
and should have been kept there, bu,
had 10 compete against fast men. and
was letiout to a smaller league. Bon
ner was with Baltimore several wears
ago. when that team was winning the
pennant, but Hugh Jennings was nlgc
with the team, and he displaced Bon
ner. The latter went to Wilkesbarre
and kept playing great bal. together
with hitting among the topnotchers OF
the league. He started in for Hartford
this year but his playing was faster
than other men Of the Eastern league
and soon attracted the eyes Of The
Washington magnates. Bonner was
purchased from Hartford and since