The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-09-21
BRYAN AS A BALLPLAYER
est. Louis Republic.)

est Louis Republfc.)
That William J. Bryan was a ball player
way back in the sos when he com
menced the practice of law in Jackson
Vile. ILL.,. would probably have never been
known, at least not authenticated, were
it not for a tell-tale photograph that was
unearthed by his old friend and fellow
campaigner, John w. Springer. president
of the National Livestock association,
and one of the leading business men of
Denver.
In the course of moving household eff
fects a few days ago, the photograph.
faded and begrimed with age, was found
by MIR. Springer encased in an old scrap
book containing press notices of maiden
campaign speeches made by Bryan and
himself when Illinois was a solid Demo-
cratic state and the latter's uncle was a
candidate for reelection to congress. The
picture, which is perhaps the only one in
and the finding Of it recalled to Mr..
Springers memory the existence of the
Jacksonville IH.) baseball club of the
Morgan county bar the members of
which are now more or less prominent in
political and business circles in various
Bryan, the Democratic nominee for the
greatest honor in the gift of the American
1t recalled the day the picture was
taken 1t was after the club had partici-
pated in vigorously contested game. one
of series of charity games played in
Jacksonville in the summer of 1884. The
day the picture was taken, Mr.. Springer
was pitcher and himself catcher had been
victorious over a team made up of the
He also recalls that victory was pulled
out of defeat in the ninth inning bv
Bryan's home run hit.
remember the incident perfectly"
said Mr.. Springer The score was Is to
20 against US, for we We're not in the
habit of playing 1 to 0 games in those
DAYS. There Ia
when Bryan came to the bat. Bryan was
not the sturdy built man those days that
he is now, but the way he swung his bat
on the first bail pitched over the plate
was surprise to all the players, and the
800 or 600 spectators who viewed the game
from a point of vantage along the first
and third base lines, and the foul ground
back of the catcher Bryan knocked the
bail clear over the center fielder's head
and into another lot in the distant back
ground.
Around the bases he went driving two
other men ahead of him and the game
was won. Bryan played with as much de-
termination and enthusiasm as he has
looked upon as good amateur pitcher
in those days, and often after the game
my swollen hands attested the speed he
There were plenty of rooters then as
growth of whfskers he wore. which 9ooiSee
ed decidedly off in connection with his
makeup in baseball uniform, was the
of him telling me that if he continued to
play ball the rest of that summer he
would shave his beard, but he dislfl1e1 To
part with il, as it gave him more elderly
and dignified appearance, which was NOT
a disadvantage in dealing with a certain
class OF clients.
While it can hardly be said that tho
picture resembles Mr. Bryan as he looks
today, it is he, however, as he appeared
IN a baseball uniform along with fha
rest of US in 1884. Judge WhitlocL vVbo
is still practicing law and prominent in
politics at Jacksonville. when in Denver |
short time ago. on his way to Canvon
City TO spend the summer was shown
the picture, and we had good chat ana
laugh over ii. The judge PLAYED first hasa |
Tor US, but we never could Induce him TO ,
attire in uniform. He preferred 70 ef,-iy1
off his coat and waistcoat. roll mn he |
trousers and go at il, William Brown. |
son of the great solicitor of the C,hics o.,
& Alton Railroad, 1 believe was -Se
youngest and one of the best PLAYERS on |
the team I understand Lew FIatffel5 o,,-
third baSeman, is now in Kansas 'Csetr. 1
pracjcing law MCGEE. who PLAYED ceTrfsyy
Jacksonville o.