The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-12-03
BALL PLAYERS FREAKS
BY HUGH S. FULLERTON.

Most professional ball players start
into the business either as pitchers or
catchers. This is because it is natural
for two boys. baseball enthusiasts. 70
throw the ball back and forth Moons
and evenings. One becomes an adept
at throwing, the other at catching. and
they start out as a battery. Later they
probably find that they were meant
for basemen or outfielders, and drop in
to their regular places.
The country towns send the most
batteries, and the regular teams are re-
cruited from city ball players mainly,
a.'FHgh floln cities come many
pitchers who have learned the art of
pitching and catching by working to-
gether in streets and alleys.
Developing ball players is largely a
matter of available playing space.
Pennsylvania sends out the largest
number of professionals, Massachusetts
next, with Illinois third. The bottoms"
in Cincinnati, the praiTies in Chicago
and the commons" of Massachusetts
towns have sent their graduates into
every field in the land. Wherever
there has been found room for playing
good ball players have been developed.
50
The popular idea that any club that
puts up the money TO buy players can
set q wipninS team Is one of the great
fallacies of baseball. AS a matter OF
fact money will not buy a really first
class player, and the man who finds
one is as lucky as the man who finds a
gold mine.
In all my experience I never discov-
cred but two ball players from among
the hundreds and hundreds that have
watched as a mother watches her
babe. One of these was a hnky, red
headed Irish lad named Carroll
pitcher. That was early in 1898. l had
watched him for nearly two years as
u boy. pitching with an ar lteur team,
and thought l had landed on a wonder.
He was all arms and freckles and had
speed that the -racehorse men would
call dazzling.
That spring I thought he was ripe,
so l framed it up with Tom Lotus,
who had the Columbus club, 10 give
the youngster q trial. He Joined the
Lotus team and pitched the first game.
letting down the opposing team with
two hits and no runs. And that night
he went out to the State fairgrounds,
saw the boys from home" preparing
TO war against Spain, enlisted and
went TO Cuba. ] never heard of him
afterwards.
The other fellow was q lanky Mis-
sCurian, an outfielder named Clancy,
who was about nineteen hands high
and rangy. Jimmy Manning gave him
4 trial, but he ran against the outfield
fence while chasing a fly, broke a leg,
ana went back TO the farm.
One great trouble is that q good ball
player may never be recognized as
such even by the most astute mana
gers. For managers may have their
prejudices as well as common white
folks. I remember distinctly that An
son thought poor Jiggs Parrot was
good ball player.
Also, / remember that Arson releas-
ed one Of the best second basemen that
wore a spike, on account Of one of the
best plays ever a baseman made. The
victim Of AnsonS wrath was Bad
Bill' Egan--and never a better bail
player wore shoes.
Egan was playing his usual sloppy
but wonderfully effective game at sec
ond. and perhaps his style. contrasted
with Pfeffer's brilliant and snowy play
ing, was too much for Cap" Anyway
he didn't think much OF Egan. One
day, in a close game. with q man on
second. some one hit a slashing bound
er TO Egan, who fumbled it. He
blocked down the bail, but could not
recover IL In time to throw out the
fast runner at first. He knew this,
and, pouneing after the ball I'm q flash