Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-08
Totals. -. ~ 80 81 Totals. -. II
THIRD GAME
Official Standing of the Clubs.
"DEL'S" FIRST GAME.
Senator's Captains Experience on En-
tering Fast Company.

Capt. Ed Delehanty of the Sena tors is
now entering upon his fourteenth year in
fast company. The big fellow is now we'll
on to the ways of the world and ball play
ers, but his first experience was a rough
one and would have driven most men to
the woods.
In 1888 Delehanty was sold by Manager
AL Buckenburger of the Wheeling Club to
Philadelphia, Harry Wright paying 1900
for the big second baseman who could hit
the ball a mile. Del had been the hero
of the Tri-State League, and he was doing
well in Wheeling. He didn't want to try
the big league, but was persuaded and went
to Indianapolis to play his first game
Quaker. Del had been the hero of the Tri-
State League, and he was not prepared for
the rough treatment handed him by the
Indianapolis gang. One who has followed
base ball for the last fifteen years can i'm
agine the troubles of this young man, when
it is recalled that at this time the Indiana
polls infeld consisted of AL McKinnon, first
'Tank Robinson, second; Jack Glasscock,
short, and Jerry Denny, third. Truly, the
way of this young base runner was beset
with thornS.
Henry Boyle pitched for Indianapolis that
day, and the first ball he handed Del
was soaked hard. 1t went humping against
the short right field fence and seemed good
for two bases. Full of joy the youngster
started round In the little league infield-
of the young giant giving him all the room
he wanted, so he was not prepared for the
line of deadfalls dug for him by McKinnon
and his gang.
McKinnon stood with his heels close to
the line by first base, apparently absorbed
in the flight of the ball, but just as Del
reached him he stopped If to tie his
shoe. Delehanty caromed off the big first
baSeman's bent form like billiard ball,
blowing forty feet on his nose in the dirt
just beyond first. He scrambled back just
in time to save putout This was dis
couraging. A moment later he got the sig
nal to steal, and was away like shot. He
had had the regulation of being the king
of slders. He always went in head first.
His slide into Robinson on this day however
will never be forgotten by Del. He got
eyes thrown deity by "Yank' with the
right hand while with his left Robinson
tried to cram the ball down the youngsters
throat Robinson also tramped on Del
twice to complete the job.
When this player. destined to set the big
league af1re with his playing, limped to the
bench he asked Harry Wright for his re-
lease, saying he wasn't so much afraid for
himself as for the other fellows He
thought he would kill Robinson within for
ty-eight hours. The old manager smiled and
told Del to get in and play their own
game against these fellows. Two innings
later Del" got another hard smash and
by skillful lodging got past McKinnon
with his life and landed on second. AS he
came in he hit Robinson with his shoulder
SO hard that "Yank' bounced twice when
he landed on his head.
On long hit Del started to score from
second Just how high he went when Glass
cock gave him the hip is not known, but in
stead of scoring Delehanty, now thorough
ly frightened at the way he was being
handled. scrambled into third on his hands
and knees He heard the the voice of Har-
ry Wright admonishing him to score on a
fly. Soon the ball went whirling into the
outfield and big Del set himself for the
start, watching the outfelder. AS the ball
touched the hands "Del' went-rather
started to get away-but Denny was stand
ing on one Of his feet and holding to his
belt. Del made vicious swing at big
Jerry, who jumped back grinning, his end
accomplished. Before Del could recover
and get in stride the ball was coming true
to the plate and he was caught by ten feet
Denny's interference had been so neatly
executed that the umpire would not allow
the claim and the run was lost
That night. with his soul filled with bit
terness and his body with bruises, Delehan-
ty wrote ball player friend in Wheeling
as follows:
Don't banker for the big league, my boy
Stay in Wheeling. It's safer"