The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-12

tion VIII widen the gap greater than ever
between the two organizations IN Iact.
ft means that IL Is war to the bitter end
and that whatever chances there were OF
peace being declared between the two
leagues has now vanished completely.
Chris Won der Abe had chance to
annex McGinnity once. but the Teuton
let the iron man pass BY and picked
1896 or 1897 and the two twIrlers were al
1idirg honors IN the semf-professional
class In eastern Missouri and southern H.
linois- McGinnity was playing with Mike
Wrighfs Springfield club and winning
big percentage Of his games lie was arx-
1ous to enter the major league and agreed
10 come down to St Louis and pitch
trial game for round trip ticket and
the same time. agreeing to come at his
t - 5it ~ ~ Sso WI Sfc@ 81 NJ ~ ~
mail that there was nothing doing" Ac-
ccFdingly Hin came to League park, took
else but astonish the faithful McGin-
nifty continued with the Springfield club
and kept on topping over tins minor teams
Mciinnity is a native OF Illinois, hav-
Ing been born at Rock Island on March
Is. 1874 He first began playing base
ball at Decatur and in 1898 entered the
professional arena as q member Of the
Montgomery. Ala, club Of the old South
ern league. Jimmy Manning gathered
Blues the following season. but Ill health
led to his release early in the campaign
and before he had a chance to show his
wonderful effectiveness 1t was in the
summer of that year that he removed to
Springfield. The next summer he was
q wei man again and, having a paying
job in that city. made up his mind to
stay at home and pitch for. Wright's team
OF Sennis." de continued with SPRING
neld until 1887. and the Benes. the Ghios.
the AcSWeeneys, the Sherldans ana the
Stewards who batted against him can
vouch for his wonderful effectiveness He
was then using his underhand delivery
VINO faced him. In 1897 he helped pitch
Peoria into the American association
cnaImpionsnlp. The season in that or
ganization closed somewhat abruptly but
as long as it lasted the iron man" per-
formed splendidly, winning thirteen cut
or his fifteen games. On June 81 OF that
sensational game Of hrs career. Peoria
was playing St. Joseph and for twenty
innings the score was ~ The Saints
went to pieces In the twenty-frst inning
and Peoria Tailed four runs, while Nc
Ginnity allowed but a single count He
heIo his opponents down to eleven safe
outs, ten assists and one error. The
Saints tailed one run In the third. two
IN the fourth and one In the twenty-first
inning. thus drawing sixteen consecutive
blanks. Ned Hanl0n signed lfc(sinnity
In the winter of 1888, and the following
spring when the champions were removed
4 bunch Of supposed second-raters left in
Baltimore and placed I'm charge Of Johnny
McGraW, the iron man was made one
Of the latter lot As the fans all over
posed -dubs'' set a sizzling pace through
out the campaign and were the sensation
Included besides McCsfnnity. Kifson. How
ell ana Nops. all Of whom had been con-
sAdered inferior men by Hanlon. That
quartet went through the race, alternate
ing daily. and meeting with splendid sue
cess. OF course AIcGinnity was the star
or the bunch Handled by Robinson, the
Illinois lad gained a remarkable record.
He ofaciated In forty-five games, with the
following result.