Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-06-26
WHAT IS GOING ON N BASEBALL CIRCLES

best in the business. In his palmv
days was one of the crack inf1elders
III the Southern league, and he is still
a good player at any position on the
lnneld. He has played at second dur
ing all the games played by his team
this week and while not as fast as he
;; once was is still safe and sure.
Robert l.. Pender was born in New
orleans, La, in 1867, and learned to
play ball in the public schools of that
city when but boy His first pro-
| lesslohai engagement of any note was
with the Lee team, crack semi.pro.
/ 1essional team of his native city, when
lie was elgteen years old. The Lee
team was in the Gulf league, which
was composed of four teams. two from
New Orleans and two from Mobile.
render started out playing at third
base with this team. In 1856 he
] played third base for a team in lack.
! SON Miss, and in 1888. entered pro
fesIonal ranks with the San Antonio
team in the Texas league. He PLAYED
ehlfd base for San Antonio. but was
gradually developing his arm for pitch
! ing and the next year signed as n
pl'chef Tor Atlanta in the Southern
league. The year 1890 found Ponder
III Galveston, where he was still pitch
ing and doing fairly we'll bur he was
never as great a success in the box
as he Was on the bases.
In 1891 he made his first trip north
OF the Mason and Dixons line when
he signed with Lincoln in the Western
league, and he pitched a few games
ioi thdt team When the season !
was about half through. he wrenche.i
MS arm and had 10 quit box work. He /,
then returned to third base and finish
ea 'he season out with the Lincoln !
ciuO. His services on third Verl. I
satisfactory aud he was signed fer.
'iie next season with the same cluh
ad dld good work, especially with the
suck. He was never heavy hitter.
ont soon developed the ability to place
the ball, and this made him a valuable
man TO any team. But Pendu5 :,la
not like the north, and. in #1<4s= t,ol
hlhselt back to Dixie. sgrfaa with
mobile III the Southern league H.
went back to his old H0siion AZ thir,
'"Se ana gave good service for Ne.
bile in 1S92: and 1894. In 1895 he as.
sulned the management DT the paroro.
oefs team III the Virginia league. amt
played through the season at secona
oaSe making as good a record on tha
hlihale sack as he did at the far cor.
Hef Oh the diamond. Richmond in
me same league. made bid for his
services the next year that vas ,,onl
"''eeflhS and he was made the cantain
ana manager of that team in 1896
IN 1897 he journeyed across the
Mississippi and took up his abote at
ieuston. Texas. where he PLAYED third
base under the management of George. Z
heed, the present manager Of the Pine
Eluff team. In 1S9S Charleston got
the big fellow for a captain and sec
ond haseman, and he was again a
prominent figure i'll The Southern
league
Another trip north was made in 1899
when he signed with Youngstown
Ohio, as a third baseman. Schnec-
1ady. in the New York State league
obtained his services for the next
wear He alternated between third
and second during this season.
In l9ol. he signed with Selma as
the manager of the team and went
around to first base to get a better
view of the situation.
Baton Rouge secured his services in
1902. when the Cotton States league
was organized. and he has been with
that club as manager ever since The
first year he was with Baton Rouge
his team came within a few games OF
winning the pennant and the next sea.
son captured the flag This year the
team has not done so well. but is still
being counted in the winning.
Pendpr is one of tho hest minor tom
que managers in the country. for he
knows how to treat his men and get
the very best article Of baseball from
them, When not playing basebali