Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-06
Grewsome Souvenir.
FASTEST BASE RUNNER.
Marty Hogan's Record Stands as the
Rest

Marty Hogan who made his major
league debut with the st. Louis Browns
and is now manager of the Youngstown
(Ohio) team. was sprinter and Is anx-
ious to have his base-running record of
Is is seconds placed on safe basis
Hogan was credited with this perform
ence in the New York World Almanac OF
1906 and 1t was made under proper con-
ditions. During the recent gathering Of
the base ball clans in New York city Ho-
gan told how he made the record.
In 1898 I was playing with the In
dianapolis team said he and was con-
sidered orackerjack base runner. I had
been q professional Splinter for two years
before played ball. George H. Smith Of
my tutor. He also gave instructions In
sprinting to Billy Sunday and Tom
Brown, both members Of the Pittsburg
club at that time. Smith always claimed
that Brown was the fastest man in the
world.
"a prominent tobacco house was about
| to issue card giving the best on record
for all events, and their representative
asked me to go against the base-running
| record Of Harry Berthrong. made in
Washington some years before 1898.
When I made the trial one morning on
the Indianapolis ball grounds Harry New
of the Indianapolis News was the starter
and judge. Nine watches timed my first
trial. Among the timers were a Mr..
Brown, who was the official timer on the
trotting circuit and Jack Newell. ball
player.
Fast Trials.
My first attempt was timed at from
IL is seconds to II AS. I thought this
was too fast and went around the bases
once more after instructing the timers to
start their watches when 1 moved my
arm and not to stop them until I had
passed over the home plate. This time
some Of them again made IT as low as
II 2-5 seconds Newell timed me at ID is
seconds, and took his time. w. H Wat
kins. then manager of the Indianapolis
club, timed me at II 40 seconds and de-
clared his timing was correct
Connie Mack. now manager of the Phil
adelphia Athletics, gave me q valuable hint
on base running about that time. Most
base runners touch the bags with the right
| foot. Macks idea Is to touch with the left
foot because you can make the turn short
er that way. I found Macks theory the
correct one. The distance around the
bases. actual measurement. is 12o yards,
| but in making the circuit a runner will
cover at least 1913 yards. The question,
| What Is the base-runing recordT is fire.
quently asked. 1 think my explanation will
| convince base bali men that am entitled
| to the record
Hogan was not the only sprinter who has
worn a st. Louis uniform. Barney Wefers
| having been on the Robisons' salary list
| Donovan dAd all he could to teach the
| Georgetown crack how to catch flies and
! bat but the collegian did not make a sat
! isfactory showing in either batting on field
| ing and was released
Tried to Teach Wefers.
eff Wefers could only learn to bunt
would keep him." said Donovan, "for even
with the best of inhelders ne would beat
| out majority of the balls that he would
| lay down, for he is the speediest man who
ever put on a base bali uniform After
| Barney reached first he would have the
battery. the shortstop and the first and
second basemen up in the air. He de-
velops speed on his second stride, and the
catcher who can stop him from stealing
would deserve to have his salary raised.
But base-running ability is not an asset to
a ball player who can't get on first base
and Wefers dropped out of the game.
Hogan was another speed marvel, and
while manager OF the Pttsburg club l kept
an eye on him. but the injury to his leg
put him out of the business. But speed,
while desirable. is not essential in a base
runner. Men " no could lose Buck Owing
Mike Kelly and Dick Padden in a sprint
were not half as successful in getting
around the bases. Padden never had an
equal in anticipating q pitchers delivery
Dick would not wait until a dumb twirler
was on duty to pull off a startling stunt
but numbered the best thinkers among the
twfrlers as his victims. He stole home at
League Park on Christy Mathewson and
won game for us. St. Lousans never ap-
preciated how valuable Dick was TO the
Browns