Evening star., 1905-09-24
GLADIATOR BROWNING
WAS UNIQUE CHARACTER

one oy one the central figures of the old
schooi or ball players are passing out of
slght Last week saw probably the most
picturesque character In base ball laid
aWay-Louis Rogers Browning .'Old Pete"
and The Gladiator as he was known
from coast to coas, decade ago.
Old Pete's" eyes are dimmed forever
,.u. pus lne stars reputation and playing abii-
lty VIII 1--we as long as the national game
Louisville, where he played in his bright
days, OF an affection of the mastoid bone.
from which he had suffered for years.
FOR more than twenty years Browning
was one OF the games most conspicuous
ana unique players. He occupied the same
eccentric place as Rube WaddeIi does to-
DAY. There was no one who could hit like
oia Pete when the hits were needed and
the tan, awkward Browning rarely disap-
pointed the faithful when they cried for
timely bingle. Today the great batter
would be the Idol of the country. so able
was he as an opportune hitter. He prlded
iiimser on his eyes, which he called his
lamps When they were out OF order
Pete invariably complained and told his
captain that he would do no hitting
He swung the heaviest bat he could find.
He would spend all winter hunting a stick
which pleased him. Green ash was his
favor1te wood. He held the record for
the longest hit ever made In n game. 1t
was at Atlantic City In 1882 Browning was
ciub which was playing an exhibition
game with the Atlantic City club Brown
ing hit ball on a line drive which cleared
the fence and landed in the ocean 100 wards
beyond. Pete walked about the bases, and
IN speaking of his feat afterward said:
THAT was an ali-around the world hit.
The ball is going yet"
He was one of the first players to master
the curved ball While a member OF the
Louisville Eclipse club In 1873 In a game
with the Louisville National League club
he strut out the big ieaguers 4 to O.
He famed the famous batters Devlin and
Hail.
Whenever he went to the bat Browning
would always wet his right forefinker and
plaster the long hairs to his brows. Brown
ing was q rfght-hand batter and II the
pitcher handed him one where he liked II
he always landed the bali safe out In the
field.
| Browning was very eccentric. and few
managers could control him. In his later
| years he would not sign contract unless
| II was presented by John Dyler in whom
| he had implicit confidence.
IF you say it is all right I win sign. y
| he would tell Dyler, and when assurance
was given the players name would be af-
fixed to the contract.
/ 1t Is said that Browning's hitting ca.
| pacity brought more money into the cof.
| fers of the Louisville clubs with whfcl
| he played than the services OF any Other
| star player. He was very superStitious
| and In coming from the field he would al.
4 ways touSH bdSt NItH his feII I0Qt.
Browning was born July IT. 1861, In
Louisville. and his base ball career begar
| when he was fourteen years old. He be.
came. member, Of the old Eclipse team
| about 1878. He played second and thirs
! base and his first salary was $50 a month.
He played third base when the Louisville
1 club joined the American Association, IL
1 1852. and held the position for two years
when he became frightened at the bass
runners who injured him in sliding to bases
/ and was transferred to the outfield HI
| would never slide himself. saying he wa!
afraid he would break In two. He led tht
| club IN batting In 1883 and 1884, and Ii
1889 he played with Pittsburg In the Ma
| tional League
In 1880 he was q member of the CLEVELAND
4 team in the Brotherhood League, and drew
| a salary OF over $1,000. He led In batting
| He was member of the Cincinnati Ma
tional League team in 1891 ana 1892 Afte
playing IN minor league clubs he returned
to Louisville In 1885, and. sIined en- out.
for the National League club.
"Pete's.' eyes were getting bad, and hi
| hearing was growing worse. 30 he decide.
| to retire from the game. Fer while IA
| was q cigar drummer, and then he on
GaGed In the saloon business. He did no
md liquor selling profitable, and, havinI
saved hte money, he decided 10 rest.