Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-13
Great Ball Player Taken to His Final
Resting Place.

The funeral Of Edward DeIahanty the
ball player who was drowned in the Mag
ara river. held in Cleveland Saturday
at the Church Of the lmma culate Concep-
ton. High mass was sung by Mgr. T. i.
Thorpe. who was assisted by Right Rev.
r.. J. Mosely, who acted as deacon of the
mass. and Rev. Thomas Walsh. subdeacon
of the mass. The remains were later in
tered at Calvary cemetery.
When the history of the national game
during the decade from 81 to 1900 is writ
ten the name OF Ed Delsthanty will occupy
a conspicuous place among those who Will
be conceded to be its most distinguished eX
ponents. says Frank HOugh in the Phlad del
phia Inquirer Delahanty may not have
been so great player many of his ad-
mirers thought. but he was far greater
player than many of his critfcS-especially
those in cities outside of Philadelphia
would admit. Probably Del's chief claim
TO base ball distinction his hitting. ard
yet there was not single department OF
the game in which he WAS not strong. IN
less it was bunting. and yet in his latter
years lie learned to bunt fairly we'll. Prob
ably no man ever stepped to the plate who
was more successful in pulling them
around to third or pushing them through
to right than Della hanty He had IA world
of patience at the bat He not free
ba tsman in the ordinary acceptance of the
term. He waited for good balls. and when
backed up with all the strength of his arms
and the weight of his body. He will always
be remembered along with Arson. Conner.
Brouthers. Thompson. Lajoie and many
others whose batting featS are part of the
history OF the game.
Because of his great bulk and his ungain-
~ stride in negotiating the bases Della
hanty was never seriously considered a
base runner: yet matter OF fact he was
one Of the very best that ever Phila-
delpiiia uniform There We're probably Il
dozen others who stole more bases during
their connection with the PhillieS than did
Del. but If the records had been kept it
would be found that he had stolen more
bases when they We're necessary for the
winning of game than any Of the others,
and m not nnmindfu, of the fact that
Billy Hamilton was considered the king of
base runners. Had Delahanty been
speedy as. say. Elmer Flick he would have
been in class by himself in that particu-
lar department of tie game He rarely got
IL bad start. He seemed to know intuitively
when the pitcher was going To deliver the
ball and was under full sail before it had
left the twirler's hand. Then his feet-tirst
slide tended to rattle whoever covered the
base. and If it happened that Del'S legs and
the ball hit the base about the same time.
it was better than even money that he
would be safe, if he did not get extra
base.
When at his best Della hanty had but one
equal as thrower-Big Sam Thompson.
No pitcher ever took better care of his arm
than did Del of what he called his whip.
When he started playing left he WAS warn
ed by Harry Wright never to extend him
self when throwing. except when necessary
TO cut off u run or hold man base.
After making catch Deiahanty Invariably
returned the ball easily to the ined But
If he had to line il to a base or to the plate
. no one could do it with, greater accuracy
or with greater speed. 1t was the fear that
his arm was going bs ok ON him that led
Del to. play first base. His arm did really
start to bother him during the season of
!H. NJ the close of the sea son of ~ he
told the writer that he thought he had only
two sea sons of good ball playing left in him.
and that IL why he Insisted upon the iron
clad contract with Washington. by which
he to receive $1,000 IA season for the
years 1902 and 1903. He employed Louis
HUT. est., of this city to draw up that
contract. under the terms of which Del
would. have had to die in between seasons
to lose aany part of the $4,000.
Poor old Del has been called out by the
inexorable Umpire. but his deeds the
diamond will be long remembered.