Rock Island Argus., 1903-02-18

fans of Chicago, and among league
nagnates is regarded as sure scout
for promising young blood. He is at
present connected with the Texas
league He uncovered Pitcher joss,
now of Cleveland, and recommended
Catcher John King, of the Colts, and
Sammy Strang, when they came here
from St. Joseph Sullivan, too, has
put the sign of dead rabbit on many
exploited youngsters who looked good
in their home cities, but never made
good in the major leagues.
LOTUS, who was captain at Du-
buque, was one of the Browns, but
soon after dropped out Of active base
ball, as his arm went back on him in
1884. He engaged in business at Du-
buque, which has since been his home.
He was one of the old guard in the
Western league, the predecessor of
the American.
LOTUS owned the club at Columbus,
and later at Grand Rapids. He was
manager of the Colts during the sea-
son of 1900 and 1901. Last year he
became part owner of the Washing
ton franchise in the American league,
which he converted from loser TO
winner from the financial view
point.
Career of Comiskey.
Comislley, who was only an extra
man" at Dubuque, has had an even
more spectacular career than Lotus,
because he remained actively in the
game longer. He first played at Mil
in, ho inS q
added information that he was only
II years old at the time-and was the
only man paid ON the team. In 1877
he was at Elgin, and the following
year at Dubuque. He began as pitch
er. and Ted Sullivan says he was not a
bad pitcher either, but he felt the
strain on his arm too much, and after
wards played the outfield, finally
floating to his natural position on the
initial sack. He played at Dubuque in
1879. and then was in commercial
business for two years. When Sui
Ivan went to ST. Louis as manager of
the Browns in 1882 he took Comis-
key. and in 1885 the latter became
manager when Chris Won der Abe and
Sullivan had one of the tits for which
Chris was noted. "COmmy" remained
with the Browns through all this pc
riod of success until 1890 when he
Joined with the brotherhood move
ment and was manager of the ohlca-
go Players league team.
In 1891 Comiskey went back to St.
louis. and for the three years follow
ing that was manager of John Brush's
Cincinnati club. Comiskey was al
WAYS a friend to Brush until last Win
ter, when he became convinced Brush
was trying to spirit away George
Davis for his New York club. and
Comiskey seldom @forgets or forgives
an injury. He was never considered
great batter. but he was great
base-runner and fielding basenian.
Comiskey took the st. Paul fran
chise of the Western league in 1895,
and remained there until the invasion
of Chicago in 1900, when he transferr-
ed his team there and won the first
two pennants of the new American
league.
Charley Radbourn, pitcher, has
been dead nearly six years. He went
| from Dubuque to Bloomington. to
Buffalo, to Providence and finally to
/ IBoston. His name is one of the great
est among the pitchers of the game,
and some think him the greatest
pitcher who ever lived.
''Brudder" Bill and Others
William Lapham, first base, was a
Chicago boy, who died ten years age
Of tuberculosis. He never figured
prominently in the big leagues.
Tom Sullivan, catcher, went to Buf'
falo and then to the st. Louis Browns
He was noted for his ability to wing
the ball to bases. He now has &
political position at ST. Louis in con
nection with the police department
Laure Reis, pitcher, was also Chi
cago boy, and at present is an EN-
ploye of the Pullman company. He
played on the Chicago league clul
of 1878 and was considered a good boz
artist until he snapped his arm ant
put himself out of it.
i Al Alveretta, center fielder, was al
acrobat and cross-country runner
and continued his acrobatic worl
with show companies after leavin:
the diamond. He is at present mana
ger of the Trocadero theatre in Phila
deIphia.
William Gleason, shortstop, was
great hitter and was one of th