Smyrna times., 1900-11-28
A FAST BALL PLAYER
HE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE PLAYED
WITH THE ROARERS.


'The fastest base runner 1 ever saw"
said the fat eX-mascot of the Lightfoot
Lilies in comparing baseball of the
present with that of the old days, twas
little Sammie Salmon of the Lilies. But
the fastest base runner l ever heard of
was, or wasn't, as the case may have
been, Steve Speed, who played, or who
didn't play, don't know which, with
the Ringtail Roarers. At any rate.
whether he ever played with the Roar
ers or not, he was certainly the fastest
that ever came over the crossways.
You don't understand? Well, I'll tell
you all about him.
Zone afternoon about month before
the last game we ever played with the
Ringtail Roarers the boys were all sit
ting round in the postoffice discussing
our chances for the big contest. Cap
tain Slugger Burrows, who was tend
ing postotfice 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 1t
from a high source he began to read
breathlessly, that the ROarerS have
unearthed a phenomenal base runner,
with whose services they feel confident
of wrestling the Jones county laurelS
from the erstwhle invincible 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 an
easy grOunder and tossed it over to
first to catch the runner. The ball had
no sooner left his hand than, to his hOr
rOr, he discovered that first was uncOv-
cred Without a moments hesitation
he made a dive for the bag and sue
ceeded in reachi Q: it just in time to
catch the ball that he had thrown but
an instant before. thereby scoring a
| put out and an assist unassisted.'
boys said the Slugger, crumpling
the paper savagely in his fists, to Lily
| park with you. Practice begins at
once. Hustle"
"Well, sir, that week we practiced
In the morning the boys would all 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
| dulge in short sprints paced by the
town trolley car. At night the daily
! practice would conclude with a 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
er all And then came a second copy
of The Courier knocking our hopes
higher than taxes.
1.-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 it 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 able tC
pitch the bail from the box and by an
incredibly quick start reach the plate
in time to catch the ball behind thu
bat. The ROarers have released theil
catcher Wouldn't that hasten yOul
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 81
super at the game that he not only raj
down behind the plate and caught thu
balls that he pitched, but in case til,
batter Knocked a fly he dartcd out il
the field and caught it himself Th
ROarers had, according to The Courier
released their whole outfield. Whel
we read that. Bull Thompson wanted t,
cancel the game, but the Slugge
wouldn't hear of 1t. The Lightfoo
Lilies he said, may be made to lool
like tarheel thistles, but we won
wither before we're picked
"When the big game finally did com
off, the ROarers certainly had us on tn
run. For three innings they piled IL
runs almost at will But then we bC
gan to get wise. Where was this fas
running phenom? Cy Priest was sti
In the pitchers box, and the whole on
> field seemed to be in their usual place
! Perhaps he was sick. The though
Q gave us courage, and we began to pic
: up bit. You all know how we final
pulled the game out of the fire in IL
Q last half of the tenth. That's n ma
D ter of history now. Well, after it w5
J. over the Slugger went up to Cy Prizes
: "'Say.' he asked. where's that III
+ base runner of yours, CyT
n "'You mean Steve SpeedY reptile
/ Cy, with a funny look in his eye. %
we couldn't pay the salary he deman
ed and had to let him 90. The last
heard of him he was touring the mort
h west, playing exhibition games to enc
1t nous crowds
Y Eyes, sir; he was the best that ev
n was-if he was. AS | said, don't re;
le ly know. OF course The Courier sa
d that they had it from a high sourC
m but then Well. you know Cy Prize
al was over six feet."-New York Sun.
1r
Arts Happy Discovery.