The Washington times., 1905-12-17
CLARKSON'S CAREER
TRULY REMARKABLE
Was Coolest Pitcher in the
Country.
STARTED AS A CATCHER
First Professional Engagement Fail
STARTED AS A CATCHER
First Professional Engagement Fail
ure-No Good in 0utheld-Cost
Boston $4,000.

PROFESSIONAL baseball, star valued at
$4,000. John G. CIarkson. the former
Baltimore. Chicago. and Boston twirler,
is now a physical wreck. was the burden
of a dispatch from Flint. Mich, last
week
His sad condition parallels the tragic
ending of the career of king Kelly.
the famous catcher. who formed with
Clarkson the famous $4,000 battery
Kelly died pneumonia after a four
days Illness in 1894, after ne had grad
ually drifted down the ladder to the
minor leagues.
Now Clarkson. after year spent in a
sanitarium. is in such poor health that
it is said ne cannot live many months.
Few pitchers have ever equaled Clark
son in GOODNESS. steadiness. and endur-
ance. An intelligent man, he carefully
studied the weak points in the batsmen.
and invariably had the sluggers at his
mercy.
When the famous Detroit team was at
It's best. and numbered among its play
ers some of the greatest hitters that
have ever played ball. Clarkson aston
ished the baseball world by the facility
with which he defeated this team. In a
game against Detroit on August q. 1886.
Clarkson shut out ti:is heavy batting
aggregation without a hit.
Never Ratified
No matter how many men occupied
the bases Clarkson was always the same
cool, easy pitcher. He haa sood COM
mand Of the ball, a complete assort-
ment of all the curves shoots. and
dro- balls known to the art. and he
used them with considerable judgment
i'm III
way along In the minor leagues for sew
: eral seasons, he carefully studied the
work of a pitcher and finally broke
into fast esar.= i,&=.=sy- =.=sy. where iIo made a
success from the start
he frequently pitched two and three
days In succession. and oftentimes land
ed all the games
Clarkson was born in Cambridge.
Mass. July 19. 1861. He began his ca
reer as catcher for the Webster School
team. and a few years later Joined the
Beacon team. of Boston.
Here he attracted the attention of the
veteran George Wright. who, after
studying the youngster. decided that he
would make a better pitcher than
catcher. He Immediately took him in
charge, and Clarkson developed rapidly
under his teaching.
FIST attempt a Failure.
: He was engaged as a catcher and util-
ity man by the Worcester Club OF the
National LeagueA This was his first pro-
fessional engagement but II did not
prove q success.
After six weeks OF pitching he was
bothered by sore arm. and was laid
off for the remainder of the season. Ar
thur Whitney became acquainted with
as pitcher. engaged him for the Sagi-
nav club. AT the start OF the season
he was used In the outfield. but his
work was so poor that he was slated for
his release The season was almost at
close. however. and Saginaw and
Peoria were battling for second place
in the league The Saginaw pitchers
were all in poor condition. and as a last
resort Clarkson was pressed into service.
In the final series he pitched the
three games against Peoria. and after
shutting them out In the first two
games. held them to a single run in the
third. and landed his team in the posi-
ton
In Chicago and Boston.
Clarkson remained with Saginaw TN
I'll the club disbanded in 1884. Then he
went 10 the Chicago club OF the Ma
tional League. and remained there until
1885. when Boston made the famous deal
paying $4,000 for his release.
During the following three years his
fortunes were closely related to those
of Mike c'King'D Kelly, who had also
been purchased for a consideration OF
$1,000.
His phenomenal work with Bostor
even surpassed that done in Chicago
and his strategic skill was an important
factor IN the championship standing OF
the club.
Broke Down in Baltimore
In no season did Clarkson pitch with
more telling effect than in 1889. and II
was not his fault that his c!sio I'D no
land the championship that season. fol
he pitched I'm more games than any
other man I'm the league.
Clarkson remained with Boston unit
June, 1892. when ne was UNCONDITIONAL,
released. owing TO an injury 10 his arm
He was immediately signed By Cleve
land. with whom he remained until ex
changed to the championship Baltimore
club for Tony Mullane I'm the spring o
1884
Here he refused TO play. his old skill
having disappeared. He was releases
In August. after which he opened
cigar store in Bay City Mich. In 1Ss
he organized and managed the Bay Cit,
club. OF the Michigan State League. bu
he was forced to give II up owing {,
the disappointing showing OF his team.
From that time until he was takei
TO the sanitarium he kept his ciga
store at Bay City.