Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-25
INORFOLK's TEAM
Sketches Of the Men Who Compose
Our Strong Ball Club.
rhcy nrc TaIcnted rIcn nnd Have
ali Won Good Name. for strong
Work on tho VIII soon
boilers.
BIO II err.

folk baseball team for 1900:
| Harry W. Nelson, catcher, was born
at franklin Falls, N. H., where he re-
sides. He played his first professional
| engagement with the Newport team. of
the New England League. season Of
1888. The following season he was
signed by the East Douglass (Mass)
semi-professional team and his fine
work attracted the attention Of Mana
ger Seele, of the Boston League team
and Nelson was offered Il position on
the Boston team for the season OF 1900
| Nelson. however, decided that he needed
| more experience in minor league com
pany ana cast his fortune with the
Norfolk team. He is batter of ability
ana is noted for his fine throwing; so
much so that 1t is rarely that base
runners purloln base.
WNI. Il. SHINCEL, CATCHER.
William Il. Shincel was born and re-
sides in the city of philadelphia. Pa.
His first engagement of note was with
the heading Pa.) team, of the Atlantic
League, season '97. Being n catcher of
apiilty. young and ambitious, and not
desiring to be bench player, he asked
Tor and received his release. The same
season he received Il trial with the Nor
|
made u decided impression The last
Two seasons he has been playing with
the strong semi-Drofessional teams in
the vicinity OF Philadelphia, Pa.
THOMAS FLANAGAN, PITCHER.
Thomas Flanagan, Portland's premier
pltchef last season, who was with the
t.all River tenm- in '9S, and whose re-
inarkable feat of shutting out the Taun-
h ton team in two games In one day, and
allowing them only four hits, stands as
one OF the great events in the history
of the game last season. The same
| week he held the strong Pawtucket
team down to one hit. and in the TWEEN
ty-lour innings that he pitched during
| the week only five hits were made off
him, The year before he shut out the
strong Brockton team, of the New Eng
| land League, without Il hit or run.
flanaSan has played since 1883. In that
year he joined the Kalamazoo (NIich.)
| Cub. of the Tr-Statc League. The
elongated twirler did some splendid
work in that initial season of his
| career; so much 50 that the Cleveland
team. of the National League, made
haste to sign him for the following sea-
son. lie went to Cleveland, but was
sold TO the Sioux City. Iowa. club of
the western League. He was with the
! Milwaukee team, of the same league,
the following season. In 81 he came
East and played on the Lowell team,
OF the New England League That
league disbanding in August, Flanagan
Joined the Elmra Club, of the New
York State League. In 90 he was q
| member of the Reading team, OF the
pennsylvania League, and for the two
following years he was with Scranton,
! OF the same league, while in '95 he
pitched for the Carbondale team, of the
same league. The season of 96 found
| nm with the fiagerStown team, of the
Cumberland Valley League, and in '97
and 9S he was one of the pitchers of the
| Fall River team. of the New England
League. Flanagan is quite a gentle
| many fellow and 1t was mainly due to
his fine pitching that the Portland
| (Aleo team won the New England
| League championship last season.
HARRY M'CLOUD, PITCHER.
Harry McCloud, whose good work last
season was no small factor In winning
the flag for the Portland, New England
League. team, was born and resides in
| philadelphia, Pa, and Is % years old
| He has played on the several teams
near his native city. but his first pro-
| fessional engagement was with the
| Portland last season He is a pitcher
| or great promise and had remarkable
| success, winning Is games of the %
| games he partlcipataa-in.-s. "Mae-&is
also n good batsman and helps win
many games with his stick.
| CIIRISTY NfATHEWSON, PITCHER.
| Christy Mathewson, who did such
splendid work for the Taunton team, of
the New England League, last season,
| was born near Scranton, Pa, and is but
20 years of age. He has remarkable
speed. and with a little more exper-
| fence. will rank will the best pitchers in
the country. Besides being baseball
pitcher. Mathewson is an all round
athlete. and one of the best full backs
n tlne nnnn
his great punting. The past season he
played with the Bucknell College team
of Lewisburg. Pa, where he is attend
Ing college
Turney. OF Wilmington, Del, and
Dannehower of Philadelphia, Pa, are
pitchers of great promise. and with a
little experience should come up to en-
Dccta tions.
PATRICK CONROY, FIRST BASE.
Patrick conroy. who played his first
engagement with the Portland. New
England League. team. last season, was
one of the finds OF the league and in
| the opinion of most critics who have
| seen him play has Il career before him.
lie has played on teams about Port
land for several seasons. always as
pitcher. 1t was in that capacity that
he was signed. Manager Smith soon
saw that he was n bntsman of wondcr-
full abilities and he was played on first,
where he remained throughout the sea-
son. lie is strong. sure hitter and his
work with the stick helDcd win Port
land many games. Conroy is young and
his habits are of the best. New York
was after his services for the season.
WM. SPRATT, GENERAL IN
FIELDER.
Wi3iam S. Spratt was born at Spring
field. H., and is % years old. He played
his first engagement with the Rock
ford team. of the Western Association,
in 1895. lie was with Denny Long at