The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-12-05
4 FAST BALL PLAYER
iiE RAY OR NAY NOT HAVE PLAYED
VITA THE 7oARERs.

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The fastest base runner eyer saw"
sald the TAT ex-mascot Of the Lightfoot
Lilies IN comparing baseball of the
present with that Of the old days. "was
little Sammie Salmon of the Ti,,as Rrt
the fastest base runner ever heard OF
was, or wasn't as the case may have
been, Steve Speed, who played, or who
didn't play, I don't know which, with
the Ringtail Roarers. At any rate.
wnetder he ever played with the Ronr-
ers or not, he was certainly the fastest
that ever came over tine crossways.
You don't understand? Well, I'll tell
you all about him.
re afternoon about d month before
the last game we ever played with the
RtEgtal Roarers the boys were all Sit
ting round IL the postoffice discussing
our chances for the big contest. Cap
tain Slu9ger Burrows. whn .gas tend
ing postoffice that day, was over in the
corner reading the ball news in Jones
County Courier that had accidentally
slipped its wrapper before delivery.
suddenly he clutched the paper tight
ly and sprang to his feet. For heavens
sake, boys, listen to this: we have it
from high source he began to read
Dreathlessly, that the Roarers have
unearthcd a phenomenal base runner
with whose services they feel confident
or wrestling the Jones county laurels
from the erstwhile invincibie Lightfoot
Lilies. The newcomers name is Steve
Speed. His extraordinary ability was
first discovered while he was in the
box one day last week. He stopped IN
easy grounder and tossed 1t over to
first to catch the rnnner. The ball had
no sooner left his hand than, to his hor-
ror, he discovered that first was uncov-
cred. Without moments hesitation
he made dive for the bag and sue
ceeded In reaching 1t just in time to
catch the ball that he had thrown but
an instant before, thereby scoring a
put out and an assist urassistcd.'
Boys said the Slugger, crumpling
the paper savagely in his fists, ito Lily
park with you. Practice begius al
once. Hustlev
We'll, Sir, that week we practiced.
In the morning the boys would nll go
down to the station and race the trains
as they steamed out of town After
moons they'd ease up bit and just in
duige In short sprints paced by the
town trolley car. At night the daily
practice would conclude with n brisk
CROSS country run around the town.
ship. The work began to show. at
the end Of the week we began to have
some hopes Of beating the Roarers aft
CT ali. And then came a second copy
Of The Courier knocking our hopes
higher than taxes.
The wonderful baseball feat per
formed by Steve Speed the article
said, which was published exclusively
by The Jones County Courier, has been
eclipsed by an even more astonishing
performance by the same player. We
have 1t from the same high source from
which we obtained our former news
that Speed has now become SO prof.
cient in running that he is nble to
pitch the ball from the box and by an
Incredibly quick start reach the Ctate
in time to catch the bnll behind tho
bnt. The Roarers have released their
catcher Wouldn't that haste,. your
pulse? 1t did ours
"And the next weeks accounts were
even worse. The Courier got straight
from their own private high source
that this guy Speed was even better
than the week before. He was now so
super at the game that he not only ran
down behind the plate and caught the
balls that he pitched, but IN case the
batter knocked fly he darted out in
the field and caught 1t himself. The
Roarers had, according to The Courier,
released their whole outfield. When
we read that, Bull Thompson wanted to
cancel the game, but the Siugger
wouidnt hear Of 1t. THE Lightfoot
Lilies he said, may be made to look
like tarheel thistles, but we won't
wither before we're picked
when the big game finally did come
of, the Roarers certainly had us on the
run. For three innings they piled I'D
runs almost at WILL But then we be-
gan to get wise. Where was this fast
running phenom? Cy Priest was still
In the pitchers box, and the whole out
field seemed to be In their usual places
Perhaps he was sick. The thought |
gave us courage, and we began to pick
up a bit. You all know how we finally
pulled the game out Of the fire In the
last half Of the tenth. That's a mat.
ter Of history now. Well, after 1t was ,
over the Slugger went up to Cy Priest.
Say, he asked. where's that hot
base runner Of yours, Cy?
"'You mean Steve Speed? replied
Cy, with funny lock in his eye. oh,
we couldn't pay the salary he demand
ed and had to let him go. The lust
heard ef him he was touring the north
west, playing exhibition games to enor-
nous crowds
"Yes, sir; he was The hest that ever
was-if he was. AS SAID, don't real
iy know. or course The Courier said
that they had 1t from high source,
but then Well. you know Cy Priest
was over six feet."-New York Sun. 4
Arts Happy Discovery.
ssDauber has hit 1t at last. He's mnk.
Ing fame and monpvO |