The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-25
Has Been Actively Engaged
in Baseball Since 1873,
When He Joined the Bos-
ton National League Team.
Whereabouts of Other Vet
Grams, Who Once Stood in
the Limelight of Publicity.
Van Haltren Still Playing.

With the return of the baseball sea-
son and the revival of popular interest
IN the national sport, not a few of the
fans recall the old timers who used TO
be star players and who have disap-
peared from the public eye. they also
wonder where these veterans are. il
they still live. and what occupations
they are engaged in.
The average professional baseball
player does not last many years. espe-
cially If he is pitcher or a catcher
If he helps form a battery ten or twelve
years is a comparatively long time for
him to remain in the Ifmelight, although
many pitchers and catchers make ex-
cellent fielders after they have outlived
their usefulness in the box or behind
the bat Ffelders last much longer,
because they are not under such a
physical strain but if a fielder plays
ball continuously for a score of years
he is regarded as a veteran.
George Van Haltren, or "Old Man
VAN as he Is called, is generally con-
sidered veteran, yet he has been play
ing in the big league only about six
teen years. and when he made his first
appearance in the East in the latter
COS he was considered a colt
Jim O'Rourke's Record.
The most remarkable veteran of them
all. viewed from the standpoint of physi-
cal preservation, is Jim" O'Rourke
who caught for the New Yorks in the
sos. He is still playing ball and catch
ing behind the bat.
In 1873 he joined the Bostons of the
National League. and he continued to
play with various clubs of the big league
till 1893, when he aided in organizing
the Connecticut Valley League. and at
the same time organized the Bridgeport
Club, which played in the new league till
it was merged into the Connecticut State
League
OsRourke has owned, managed and
captained the Bridgeport Club. in addi-
ton to doing practically all the catch
ing, since he first organized it. He not
only owns the club but he also owns the
grounds on which the games are played.
In addition to being a ball player
O'Rourke is a practicing lawyer, having
received the degree from Yale College Of
LII. B. He is member of many secret
orders and at present he holds the Office
of fire commissioner of Bridgeport. He
is married and has large family One
of his sons, James S. O'Rourke, is n
student in Yale and a famous athlete.
Recently when the Bridgeport Club play
ed the Yale Club the spectators wit
messed the novel sight OF seeing James
O'Rourke, ST.. catch for Bridgeport,
while James O'Rourke, jr, played short
stop for Yale
O'Rourkes career is exceptional when
it is considered that most Of his work
has been as a catcher, and that even
now he occasionally catches two games
in one afternoon. He has never used
liquor or tobacco. He is not prohi-
bitionist, but he says liquor and tobacco
were always repulsive TO him. He was
born in Bridgeport, well-a good many
years ago; and he first played ball i'll
fields and vacant lots of that place. The
present generation of baseball enthu-
siasts know Jim O'Rourke by reputation.
When he was with the Bostons he
Harry Wright. George Wright, AL Spald-
ing, Joe Stark, Billy Mathews John
Hatfield. Arthur Cummings, Bob Fergu-
son. and other noted players. After
being with the BostOns for six years he
joined Providence and afterward he
played with Buffalo. Washington, and
New York, all of the National League.
Usually he played either as catcher or
outfielder, and in the four years he was
with the Buffalo club he was the man
ager.
Eight Years a Giant.
From 1885 to 1893 Jim O'Rourke was
with the New Yorks and he caught many
an exciting game for the Giants With
him in the team were such famous
players as Roger Conner. Mickv WEIGH,
Joe Erhardt, John NJ Ward. Tim Keefe
Buck Ewing and others.
O'Rourke does not appear to be more