The Washington times., 1906-03-18
NISPLAY DRIVES
STAHL FROM FIELD
Washington Manager Gets
His in College.
RUNS IN ON HIGH ONE
Coach Uproots Him From Gardens.
Gets Big Mit-Afterward Made
First Baseman.
By THOMAS S. RICE.

CHARLOTTESVlL March H.
Errors sometimes produce strange re-
suits in bail players life.
One misplay changed Manager Jake
Stahl, OF the Nationals, from an out
fielder to catcher. Circumstances after
ward made him first baseman, a posi-
ton which he had never filled until he
Joined the Washington club. StahI tells
of his switch from left to behind the
bat about as follows:
When L first entered the University
of Illinois 1 thought l had the making
OF a good outhelder in me-and / still
think so-but fate .decreed otherwise. /
was a freshman. but big and strong and
when l had worked out as a candidate
for left field Coach HUFF liked my looks
and gave me the job. Our first opponents
that year were the Chicago National
Leaguers, who played us a whole week.
and our showing against the profes-
sionals was first class. L was particular
" impressed with my own work in the
outer garden and kind-faced friends
told me the same thing
Gets Stage Fright.
The first team We met for intercoI-
legiate honors was the University OF
Michigan. and Falkenberg, the present
Washington pitcher was in the box for
Illinois, He pitched great game and
In the ninth inning the score was 3 to
IN our favor. They got two men on bases
with two out and then came the crisis
in my career 1 was in left field. doing
as we'll as could have been expected Of a
freshman. but excited and afflicted with
the stage fright common to a vast ma
Jority of freshmen in their first big
game
A Michigan man caught one square
on the nose ard sent il TO me I was
playing deep for him. and if L had stood
still the ball would have come straight
into my hands. 1 would not have had "a
move out Of my tracks
Then the rattles got in their work
Instead of adopting policy of mastery
Inactivity, lost my head and ran in on
the ball. Before 1 could realize what had
happened that spheroid was saiIine
twenty feet over my head. 1 jumped
about nineteen feet-so it seemed TO me
q but IL WAS no use When 1 struck the
ground | ran my tongue out trying to
retrieve the mistake. The ball was COINS
straight toward the entrance and some
d'sSusted Illinois rooter yelled: 'Oper
the gate and let him keep on gong so far
that he never will come back JUS
about the time | caught up with the
ball the batter finished making his home
run and bringing In the other two men
and We lost the game by TO 3.
Huff Was Not Polite.
That was too much for Huff. There,
nobody 1 think so little Of that I would
say TO him what Huff said to me about
my abilities as a left fielder Also. the
things he promised to do to me IL he
caught me there again would make the
1nquisihon look like taking laughing gas
sun, was hitting pretty good and he
decided 70 give me a chance with the
pad and big nit I caught the whole
-FOUR years Of my college career in base
pall. went 10 Boston as catcher. Joined
Shln2t0n as a catche~ and went on
hrst In Washington only because the
particular man to iii it,
Finding of Parent.
An interesting story Of the discover,
OF Freddie Parent, the great shortstoT
or the Boston Americans is told by Toe
Quirk. trainer Of the Washington team
who claims to have been the first man
TO unearth him.
Ouirks story is to the effect that he
was with the Providence team as 4
trainer when Billy Murray, at that tim,
mana ger OF Providence, but for the last
three years manager of the Jersey CITY
team. told him TO go up to Dover, n. H
10 drive a horse for him on the Dover
track, which has a wide repute in har-
ness circles Quirk is a well-known and
capable driver of harness racers: thal
was how he happened TO be sent on such
a mission
Parent Eats EN- Up.
While in Dover the day before the race
he took IN a baseball game between thai
town and another, both being semi-pro-
fessional teams. The feature which
caught his eye was the work of the
Dover shortstop, who speared everything
that came his way, was all over tbs
diamond, made four outs and twelve
assists, to say nothing of getting thret
doubles and a single. Quirk. accord.
ing to his story, was wonderfully taker
with the work of the comparatively un.
known youngster, and after winning the
rece next day hurried back 10 ProVi-
dence TO inform Murray of his find
A. that time Jim Cooley; now dead, wa:
ay was looking for a man to take his
place He was fond of Cooley and re
fused TO get rid of him that season, bu
wanted man Tor the next year Ac
cordingly he sent Quirk back 10 fish fol
Parent
Looked Good to Him.
Parent said he was getting IS a game
for playing for Dover. and was doing
two games a week. If he could get &
steady job he would work for $50 pei
month Quirk told him the Providence
team would give. him s75 per month, anC
Parent signed the papers. He wa.
farmed out to New Eaven that year. and
more than filled the bill. The next yeai
he was with Providence at S125 pei
month. and was largely responsible fol
that team winning the Eastern Leagu'
pennant- For the next year he was
offered s175 per month. but some one pu
him wise and he refused to sign for less
than $3.50 Murray couldn't afford Il
pay that price
In the meantime the American Leagus
entered the field. and Jimmy Collins was
building up a team for Boston. Parent
was suggested 10 him. and they begar
10 dicker. The Providence phenom
wanted $500 n wear for his services, but
finally compromised on a three-yeaI
contract at $1,000 per year. Later he got
1900 per year, and now is supposed &c
be getting 50. 500.