Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-03
WILLIE KEELER'S
RISE BRILLIANT
GREAT HITTER WAS ALWAYS A
CLEVER PLAYER
Carried, Baseball Bats to School and
Incurred Wrath Of Teacher,
Who Predicted Vaga-
bond Career

when Willie Keeler was a small lad
ne was not in high favor with his
teacher, Miss Emma Keeler. for many
80 , q teacher in public school No.
90, on Gates avenue, BROOKLYN.
she declared that he would never
5l,vuht 5 10 much; and would, beyond a
uoupl' become worthless vapa bond
As prophet she, as later events
nave proved, was a rank bush leaguer.
~, ior Ine same little chap turned out to
be one of the most scientific batsn,en
baseball has ever produced. and TO-DAY
he is not only wealthy man. hut a
respected citizen.
am very sorry to Acknowledged.
declared Miss Keller to the vounpster
on this particular occasion, that YOU
are n namesake of mine. hut am
however, thankful to know that vo1
are not of my kin.
You ought to be ashamed of YOUR
self to say that the rhinoceros. an
animal, the hide of which cannot be
pierced by bullet, is noted for it's
fine feathers.
"A boy who pays no more attention
to his studies than you will never
amount to much when he gets to be
a man. l also wish to add" concluded
Miss Keeler, who was a strict discip--
linarian. that l shall no longer toll
crate the bringing of baseball bats into
this school room. If you do not stop
the practice l shall send you to the
| principal"
Released from School League
The lad who was being dressed down
in such a scathing manner before a
roomful of giggling scholars sat Sc
| renely in his seat. His coat pockets
were bulging out, a baseball in each
of them. He only grinned.
After the teacher had declared her
self her namesake lost no time in Sc
curing his release from the school
| league and in the summer of 1890, or
thereabouts, he was holding down third
base for the Crescents at Plainfield,
N. J.
1t was the first time Keeler had ever
performed in inclosed grounds. He
played In Jersey for a season and then
came nearer home, accepting a job at
Flushing, a Brooklyn suburb, where
he astonished the natives by the man
ner in which he stopped hot drives
and shot them over to first with his
strong south wing.
A minor league in New York state
soon grabbed Keeler. He rapidly de-
| veloped into a crack outfielder and by
the time he broke into the big circuit
at Baltimore he was a marvel at the
| bat.
The youngster at the start outshone
the leagues star stickers, leading them
| all for four consecutive seasons, his
| record for one year being .476. Many
baseball students declare that Keeler
is still the worlds boss hitter, average
| to the contrary Notwithstanding. The
great sacrificing he does for the Yam
KEGS, it Is claimed, tears his average
all to pieces.
Handy with His Fists
There were few boys in Brooklyn
who had anything on Willie in boxing.
He was a clever lad with his dukes.
| AS strong as an OK, he could, at wrest-
/ ling, throw man twice his weight.
He can still go some, too, at either
of these pastimes.
Had the Brooklyn boy decided to
earn his living with his clenched fists
there is no question that he could have
done so easily. But Keeler's baseball
tendency was born in him and he
comes by his wonderful ability in this
line honestly enough.
His father chased flies for many
years Not on the ball field. tits true,
but flies, nevertheless, even If they
were chased from the backs of horses
! that pulled a street car over the old
De Kalb avenue line. Keller ST., was
the Oldest driver, in point of service,
in the company's employ.
During his semi-professional days
Willie played every position on the
| u.
skill. A feat he performed in the box
during those days is still fresh in the
minds of Long Island old-time enthu-
siasts.
The Star-Athletics OF Eagles Nest
were meeting all comers and wiping
up the earth with every team that
came their way. For whole season
these fellows had never been beaten.
Their pitcher, a big fellow named
Swift, was unhittable.
The Rivals, from the neighborhood
Of Green avenue and Broadway. Brook
lyn, sent Swiftly" as the pitcher was
nick-named, and his wonders chal-
lenge. All of Long Island and half
of Brooklyn turned out to see the two
teams come together.
The game aroused as much interest
in that section of the state as did the
recent worlds series in other parts of
the country. Keeler pitched for the
Rivals and won by the score of IL to
O. To this day Willie considers it the
most gratifying thing he has ever done