Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-08-12
Rock Island r "reminiscences
Baseball.
Baseball.

The league reorganized in 1894, and
again Rock Island won the league
championship pennant.
Remarkable Team.
The team of 1894 was a remarkable
team. as a glance at the list of those
who composed it will show. They were
first class men, and most of them were
signed later in the major leagues. Bill
Kreig. now Three-Eye league umpire,
played first base; Joe Cantillon, man
ager of the Milwaukee team of the
American league and the Des Moines
team of the Western league, played sec
Ond base; Paddy Lynch, recently umpire
of the Three-Eye. played at short; and
Belden Hill. Cedar Rapids} manager,
held down third Others wepe Putty
Zeis, not now playing, reAding in
Beardstown: Dan Sweeney, uiving at
Louisville. Ky, who after leaving Rock
Island was in the National league sew
eraI seasons; Joe KatZ, present mem
Der of the city fire department at Grand
Rapids, Mich. and exceptionally good
batter and the star man of the whole
team: J. Andrews, later with Chicago,
western league team at Seattle; Harry
Sonier, pitcher, who later pitched great
ball with Indianapolis; Al Mott, pitch
er; and Harry Burrell now an umpire
i'll the Western league.
In 1895 another team was organized,
under the l. & l. league. under a low
salary regulation. the salary list being
held down by rule to $3.50. The people
Of the cities composing the league
were used 10 better ball than could be
furnished at such low salaries, and the
league did not last long. Rock Island
people did their share, but did not care
for a poor game.
In 1896 l, together with Lynch, went
TO the Texas league, playing with
Sherman. A cyclone struck Sherman.
wiping out a good portion of the town,
and with it all interest in baseball.
The team disbanded as a result. We
Joined the DenisOn team. in the Texas
league, and played there till a few
weeks before the season closed when
the team went 10 pieces. l came home.
and have worked at the Rock Island
arsenal since, except when managing
Rock Island teams in 1898, and 1899
and a portion of 1901. Barney Ander-
son started a team here in 1898 and
after a few weeks he turned over the
management to me. The team was in
the Iowa-Illinois league. but the league
did not last the season, and the team
disbanded.
Another Great Team.
In 1899 Rock Island had the finest
team that has ever played professional
ball for Rock Island Strickletts. now
in the National league, and Jack Hart,
a young player from northern Iowa
VIII BOtenus. who later managed in
the Northwestern league. played first;
Rob ROtheTmel. sold to Baltimore in
the National league was on second;
Arthur Ball, who has been playing
good ball in minor leagues. was short
stop: Tim O'ROurke, then an old Ma
tional league third baseman, played
that position; Harry Bay, another man
who went to the American league and
has been there ever since. was left
fielder; DR.. Brott. who was studying
while here. and now practices at Wa
terlOo. played in right field. Joe
Wright and Charles Doom were two of
the teams strongest men. Had il not
been for bad habits. and particularly
excessive drinking, Wright would have
been a star major league man, but his
habits kept him in minor league COM
pany He played good ball. and was a
fine batter. Charles Doom. who is a
brother of the Doom who played a
while with Rock Island early this year
was the star man of the team He
came from Cincinnati. and is now
catching with the Philadelphia Ma
tionals. l managed and caught for the
team.
In 1900 it will be remembered there
was no baseball here, but since then
Rock Island people have had a first
class articles in the Three-Eye league
games. Personally. | have been out of
the game since 1899. but I maintain the
greatest interest in the game, and in
the Rock Island team.