Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-11
MORE BASE BALL STORIES.
BY Hugh 8. Fullerton.

dead, but probably the Buck Ewing stories
will continue to be- told for generations.
Here is one. perhaps never told before,
which Is true:
1t happened back in the days when the
players Of the different clubs were friendly
and met at night to discuss and argue over
their games instead OF sulking separately
and discussing their woes. On this night
In New York. Buck met Mike Kelly and
q joshing match ensued, Mike had stolen
q couple OF bases of the king OF catchers
that day and kept harping on It until Buck
was bit nettled. Finally Buck remarked:
We'll, Mike. II Danny Richardson plays
second tomorrow I'll bet you $50 you don't
steal q base"
You're on" remarked Mike The bet
was duly witnessed-and the discussion
ended.
The next afternoon three or four Of us
who knew OF the bet sat together in the
stands In the third inning Mike got his
chance. He cracked out hit, and, on the
first ball pitched he tore for second with a
fair start. Buck threw. The ball went Ike
q shot, straight toward the bag, perhaps
three feet up the line toward first, a per-
Kelly. Richardson got the ball five feet
ahead Of the runner. He was stopped over
and swung his body quickly to tag Mike.
he expecting the king to make one Of hts
famous twisting slides. Instead, Kelley
leaped, jumped clear over Richardson and
lighted fiat on his back on top of second
base.
Above the roar of the crowd arose KEEL
1y's voice, and what he said was this:
Fifty bucks, Buck
Every obituary notice printed of the
great catcher credits Cincinnati as his
birthplace. As a matter of fact. Buck was
heart and soul Cincinnati man and lived
the greater part of his life in that city.
but has was not born there. and did not see
Porkopolis until he knew a lot of base
ball He got his finishing touches in Mill
Creek bottoms. but he learned the game
out on the farm This is how I happened
to find out the secret Of Bucks birthplace.
We were hunting one fall UP near West
boro. in the level, swampy country sixty
or sixty-five miles out Of Cincinnati, In
Highland county. Ohio. Late in after
noon. being thirsty. we approached mod
est little farmhouse to get drink from
the well.
AS we came near we saw a heavy, rather
well-made man, lounging at the side of the
house. He was attired in overalls and
"wamus," and evidently had been doing
some work around the barn. AS we came
up he hailed. calling me by name, and.
looking up in surprise, l saw the star
catcher attired as a farmer.
AS we drank the milk he got from the
spring house, Buck confessed that every
fall, while he was supposed to be off some
where hunting. he was spending we'll
earned vacation with the old folks on the
farm He still called the farm home, al
though he had gone into Cincinnati as
boy to work. and, developing his love for
base ball. jumped into fast company and
to fame.
Crazy Schmidt feels badly The old star
left handler, inventor and press agent of
the "slow ball." did not get to pitch against
either the worlds champions or the Chi
cago National League team when they
went transforming after the regular season
and played Callahan's Logan Square team.
of which Schmidt is a member.
Callahan wanted to beat the two greatest
teams in the country with his semi-profes-
sional team. SO he decided to pitch one
game himself and Long Tom" Hughes
the Washington recalcitrant. to pitch the
other He left Schmidt of the books. On
the first afternoon Schmidt appeared. and
approaching Cal. inquired:
ers?"
"Why," said Cal. "I've got Hughes to
beat the sox and I'll pitch against the Ma
DO not pitchr"
mo You see 1 want you to Jump in and
save the game If either Of us Is knocked
DO I not pitch elder today or tomor-
"No. + told you want you to be in re-
serve. ready to save the game"
do I not pitch elder gamer?
"No-unless we are knocked out.
II am dissatisfied" remarked Schmidt,
turning away.
For two days the left-hander sat on the
bench and saw the Logan Squares beat the
champions Of each league. After the Sec
ond game Cal. in high Elee. called out:
Come on Schmidt come and go down to
the banquet"
Me to der banquet?" asked Schmidt
"Of course. Why not? Come on
ME to der banquet? Am I expected to
der banquet?"
'of course. You're a member Of the
team
Schmidt shook his head sadly and turned
away.
Come on, Schmidt, go with u.s.
Me at der banquet" repeated Schmidt.
Il am no hypocrite. Me to der banquet NIT
my bleeding heart? Ach. no.