Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-15
THE GRAND OLD MAN
OF THE NATIONAL GAME

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. April 14-Sixty-
three years old and still In the great ma
tional game, James II. O'Rourke of this city
is the oldest living player of professional
league base ball in the country. He is the
grand old man of base ball and he wears
his laurels modestly and well. But. though
he is within seven years of having reached
the allotted time of man upon earth, he is
not playing upon the strength OF his repu-
tation but upon real merit of present per-
fcrmances.
James O'Rourke is the owner and man
ager OF the Bridgeport base ball club or
the Connecticut League, and each day that
his club plays around the circuit, which
takes in Springfield and Holyoke Mass,
and Hartford. Meriden, New Haven. New
London, Norwich and Bridgeport. Conn, he
may be seen wearing a gray uniform with
bridgeport" across the breast warming up
with his boys" as he is pleased to call the
players who make I'D his club.
Behind the hat is where Jim, as all base
ball fans delight to call MIN, shines when
playing. though he occasionally plays In
right field. In the position of catcher this
veteran of the diamond is at home. There
Is no batter in the League whose weak points
he does not know, and many a youthful
pitcher he has developed into an enigma
for batsmen to solve. simply because he
signed" for the balls that would fool the
man at the bat And as for throwing to
second base when aspiring runners attempt
to steal there is no catcher in the Connec-
ticut League who gets the ball away quick
err and more unerringly than this veteran
of the diamond. II must be Splinter who
can steal second base on Jim O'Rourke.
And how he can WELD the Willow Batting
the season through up among the $50 men,
Jim Is terror to the pitchers who face
him He doesn't essay to kill the ball, as
so many players do but he just strives to
meet il squarely and drop 1t between the
fnfeId and outfield His Just meet it,
singles have won many a game for his
team. His eye is undirmed by his years
of playing, and 1t is considered great
feat for pitcher to strike him out. When
II is done the pitcher who accomplishing
the feat never forgets to tell of 1t through
the entire season.
For over forty years Jim O'Rourke has
played the national game. and naturally the
question arises why this man has been
able to hold his own in the game so long
while others drop by the wayside long be-
fore they reach his age.
why is it, Jim the writer asked him.
that you are still able TO play the game
as well as the youngsters, and so many or
your oldtime ballplaying colleagues have
dropped by the way?
..I'll tell you why" he answered. and he
became desperately IN earnest. The rea-
son is they did not live a clean life and
did. 1 never touched liquor In any form.
nor did l ever use tobacco. | always took
care of myself. That's the reason | am
playing ball today. apd that's the reason
why L enjoy life. When I was member
of the big league teams l made big money.
and l saved It I did not sport il away as
so many of the boys do. and then when
their playing days are over have nothing 10
keef, them from want.