The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30
Frank Chance Tells Of the TrOu-
bles of Catcher.
Has Been Knocked SenseIess
Now Eight Times.
HE RATHER ENJOYS IT.
But Broken Fingers and Stiff
Hands Causes Halt.
Goes to First Base Where He Is
Il Success.

Chicago. May 30.-The News says:
seThere is a vast difference between
catching and playing first base says
Frank Chance of the Chicago National
league team. who is really a catcher.
but who is being broken in to play first.
Both positions are hard and require
activity and headwork. 1t is not easy
for a player who has always played one
position to be changed to a place d.
rectly Opposite to the one he has al
ways played and liked.
Z liked to stand behind the bat from
the first day I caught a ball until the
present time, and the thought of ever
playing another position permanently
never entered my mind. If I hadn't
been so unluclxy. catching I wouldn't be
playing first base today or any other
position either outside of catching.
have been asked by every manager the
Chicago National league club has had
IN the last six years to play other posi-
tons. and I have tried several different
ones. but I have never liked any of
them. I was asked by Manager Selec
to play first base last summer after
the season was half over He had no
one to put there but me and I CON
scented to try it until he could get some
one Tor the position played there for
a month and one day in Chicago. I fer
got to get out of a runners way and
consequently he Clipped a piece off my
season. Last week I told President
Hart and Manager Selee that 1 didn- [
want to play first. and I did the best
l could to get a first baseman, but had
no success until the team went to Cal
ifornia for spring training.
I had known Bill Hanlon for years,
having played ball with him when we
We're kids, so I knew him to be good
about him. The result was that he was
signed. Bill played grand ball, but he
Couldn't bat, so here I am, playing a
position ] have always fought against
even during the winter months. and I
must confess that the longer I play it
the better I like it. as I am in the game
every day and I never enjoyed playing
50 much in my life as I have this sum
mer, for 1 haven't any bones broken yet
ms IS very unusual for me, for I never
remember of catching game since
coming to Chicago that at least one
finger was not swollen stiff or / had
tape on one to keep it together
Two years ago had the second
finger on my right hand split open seven
times in two months and each time the
flesh was torn away from the bone for
half an inch. This ought to be enough
TO make q player get out of catching
Il think before the season is d month
Older that l will never want to catch
again, for l feel I viii make a success
1T HISL DaSe ana l. am t1red OF always
getting hurt and being out of the game
OF course there is danger of getting in
iured in any position. but catching is
the most dangerous. Since I have been
playing ball I have been knocked sense
/ less eight times and three of these times
the doctors gave me up; but I am still
alive and good for a long time yer.
While catching is a more dangerous
position than first base. it isn't harder,
for a catcher always has the play in
front of him, which, of course. makes
it easier. while the first baseman has
plays coming from all sides. A catcher
with 4 good arm and luck has no kick
coming. but I have been catching long
enough and have been hurt times
/ enough to know that 7 can do more good
I to a team in some other position.
7 find that first base bothers my arm
! some. A catcher throws directly ahead
4 of him all the time. while first base
man has most of his throws to his side
and has TO get the ball away with an
underhand movement to make fast
play, as it takes time to bring the ball
over your head, which is the way I al
ways threw While catching. 1t is the
most successful throw a catcher can
make"