Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-21
RISE OF HUGH JENNINGS.
By J. C. Morse.

BOSTON. October 2O.-'I look to see Jen-
nings at Detroit make a fine showing in
base ball next season. said the well-known
former crack player and manager, John c.
Chapman, who was recently in this city.
He is great boy. Detroit did well to Sc
lect him to my way of thinking and in De-
troft Jennings is in fine ball town. Jen-
nings Is very ambitious young man. He
is the son of a miner of Moosic. Pa. which
is six miles from Scranton happened to
be in Philadelphia one day and while read
ing one of the Philadelphia papers my eye
struck the name of young catcher named
Jennings, who catching at that time
for the Leighton club The score had it
that he had some fifteen put outs and
made four hits and 1 read in the summary
of the score-'home run-Jennngs So re-
marked to Charley Mason. one of the own
ers of the Athletic club forgot to men,
ton 1 was managing the Louisville club at
the time-that this young Jennings looked
pretty good to me. He is a good man.
Jack, said Charley. So l wired Jennings
an offer of SITS per month to join the club
and directed him to wire his answer to
Boston as that was our next stopping place
When 1 reached Boston I found out that
my offer was accepted, SO 1 wired Jennings
to meet us at Louisville as we would jump
directly from Boston to Louisville.
well, when We reached Louisville there
was Jennings. My, but he was a green
youngster. but 1 liked his looks and felt
confident he would achieve success. in
tended to try him behind the bat as Jack
Ryan had been hurt and 1 would have put
the youngster in to take his place, but
Jack came around all right. However,
one day our first baseman. Harry Taylor.
now the president Of the Eastern League.
got hurt. and said to Jennings: Young
man. you will have to go in and play first
base for us today
81 Tlnn~ y~,n ,fctn hn cot ~J@
first base. l never played first base in all
my Mfe.
Well, you just go in and do the best
you can. We have no one else to try in
your place
"'All right was his reply. I'll go in
and do the best l can and he made de-
cided success. How he did gather them in
and dig them out of the dirt. and it was
not the last time he played the bag either.
Well, some time afterward our short-stop,
young man named Cahill, was unable to
play and again l was obliged to have re-
course to Jennings
Jennings said to him. you will have
to try your hand at short stop today. Ca
hill is hurt and there is no one else to try
in the place
But. mister said he. I never played
that position in my life
Never mind that I retorted, go in
and do the best you can
All right, mister, was his answer.
'Wel he went In and put up a great
game. He went after everything. He COW
cred the ground IN grand shape and mad
the spectators agape by his work. He
wasn't afraid of errors and he made
great hit. At the end of the season. said:
Jennings. 1 want to sign you to play
for me next season. What salary do you
think you ought to have?
~ do not know, said he. I'll leave all
that to you.
How will 81 400 strike your said to
him.
THAT will be very nice was his reply.
so sat down and made out a contract
for 81 $50. Now. jennings I said to him,
it reads all right. So he took the contract
in his hands and began to scan it, and
when he came to the figures he said,
Why. Mr.. Chapman. this calls for $1.75O.
intend for you to have
Mr.. Chapman, said he, TIL try very
hard to work for you for this. And he
did. You probably know the remainder
of his career how he was chosen to go to
the Baltimore club and how he figured so
extensively in the three championships that
were won by that club. how he was asked
to coach the Cornell team and what sue
cess he made in that capacity and thereby
secured the opportunity to educate himself
and went through the Cornell law school
with credit to himself. and was afterward
admitted to the Baltimore bar, and last
year hung out his shingle in that city.
When he was younger and first started
out In the game he was eager to secure
an education. and went to commercial
college in his own town. Jennings Is of the
stun that makes good. He made good as
manager Of the Baltimore club of the East
ern League. and Mr.. Hanlon will find out
what he has lost after he has gone Jen-
nings just kept that club in the race.
Jennings knows the game in all its angles.
He knows how to handle men and how
to get the work out of them. / do not