The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-13


 the sporting editor of the Ladies' Home Journal.'
 Some day they will establish a hall of fame for baseballers. When they pull off this trick they will have to reserve niche for Roger Bresnahan. After the present day fans have made their last base hit and the generations to come will go to the ball games in airships, when the different brands of wireless tele- graph will be named after baseball heroes of the past or their statues adorn the girders of the grandstand, the people will discuss Good Old Roger" They will quote from the baseball encyclopedia that Bresrahan was past master at Kicking on everything the umpire decided-until the year 1907 A. D.--and how he used to wear football toggery and bring the ball to the uncut timber when the Giants needed a hit.
 But that which makes Brosnahan la nous now, and will always keep his name fresh In the memory of the fans is the significant fact that Bresnahan has been through the entire mill, so to speak, Tn baseball. He is one of the miracles of baseball if you want to call it thusly: During his practically brief career on the green diamond he has played every po- stion and has done well in each case 1t may not be universally known that Bresnahan first broke into print as a pitcher. This was in Washington. Being a big, husky young country boy, he had the strength to hurl the ball with the velocity of a shot. His first appearance in the box was against the St. Louis team and he shut out the Missourians by a score of 3 to O. After that Bres- nahan drifted from the box He was am- bilious and wanted to play in every game and this led him into the catching de- partment of the game.
 It was in Baltimore that Bresnahan first donned the catchers harness, and 1t was yours truly, Johnny McGraw, that taught him whole lot of things that he never knew.
 Since he joined the Baltimore team Bresnahan has played, at various times, every position on the diamond With the Giants he has been used everywhere but in the box. and never has been found wanting He is, today, the best general utility F.ayer in the profession.
 McGraw for long spell played him in the outfiell when Bowerman was avail able He did this because of Bresna- | hans hitting qualities. He could not ar ford to keep Bresnahan out of the game. This sterling player Is heart and soul in the game all the time, and Is player feared by every pitcher that ever faced
 him.
 Elmer Foster was the grandest joker that ever broke iuto the business. His sense of humor was so keen that any thing short of manslaughter seemed tame. | His range of jokes extended from justi- 1 fable homicide to assault with intent to | kill.
 | Foster wasn't a bad fellow-indeed. he | was one of the best-but he had been | endowed with about POO pounds of extra steam and no safety valve. One had | l,i, a time | to prevent compound fractures or some ] thing of that sort.
 1 One Old Defender5s Day in Boston | Foster came to me with an extremely
 serious face--which in itself should have l been a warnng-and commenced In the l most impressive way to tell me and some others about certain men who were dis graces to the profession. | "No wonder" he said, impressively l that some people look with loathing | and contempt upon ball players. Such men disgrace the entire profession" 1 This from Foster portended something l Finally he charged that Jack Luby was l the man. and furthermore that said Jack was then asleep in his room and In bad 1 shape.
 l Come with me- I'll teach him a les | son." he said.
 l Luby was sleeping peacefully in hi: room when Foster arrived. l .,There he lies.'' he said. dramatically "A disgrace I'll teach him. 1 He drew huge cannon firecrackei | from his pocket lighted the fuse, threw :, it under the bed. locked the door anc , threw the key over the transom. An in | stant later there was a terrific explosion l and Luby was yelling for help. Help. help" he yelled. "The hote ] is afire."
 ! He reached the door and found it locked | and began yelling again. 1 .The key is on the floor,' said Eos 1 ter, coldly. "This will teach you not tC l break the rules
 | It required a chemical engine to ex l tinguish the blaze, but as the hotel man 1 ager never discovered the origin of thu 1 blaze the club escaped.-Hugh Fullerton. Charley Comiskey has the record of hir l ing the cheapest ball player that ever
 wore a major league uniform He got l him for 75 cents
 1 It happened that the St. Louis Browns 1 were scheduled to . .ay an exhibition game