The Washington herald., 1907-09-29

Thirteen years ago what may truth
fully be said "all Baltimore" began
TO prepare for a period of baseball
alteration that made other interests
take 10 the background. Business, and
even pleasure. was forgotten in the
united desire Of local residents TO do
honor to the great team that for the
first time in BaItimore'st history had
won a National League or any other
baseball pennant
Ten years ago in the last game of
the famous series between Baltimore
and Boston a grave was suddenly
opened and, without warning. Balu-
mOre's baseball fortunes were buried
50 deeply that despite strenuous ef-
forts from time 10 time, this city has
been ever since regarded as practically
baseball dead,
But for four years Baltimore was
very much on the baseball map. IN
fact. Baltimore and the pennant-win
ming Orioles of 1894, 1895. and 1896 oc-
Cupied the center Of the baseball stage
OF the country. Baltimore and the Ori-
oles were constantly in the thought and
on the lips Of every one who had ever
heard Of a baseball game, from the
Great Lakes 10 the Gulf and from
Maine to California. The team. the
manager, the play, the worship of play
gTs won from Baltimore the auatheulas
they g0t from opponents. the amaze
ment they caused rooters in other
Cities-the whole thing was wonderful.
One is pretty safe I'm predicting that 1t
viii never be repeated in baseball his
tory There were so many conditions
that seemed to be just right during
those four years any one of which if
wrong would have caused a failure.
that II canno, be hoped that the proper
combination will ever occur again. II is
also wonderful that after a lapse Of
dozen or so years these conditions can
be practically reproduced in Baltimore.
II only for a week. but such is the case.
and the week of October i 20 l9-Old
Home Week-when Baltimore viii well
come back again her wandering base
bail heroes, and again tender a baseball
ovation which only Baltimore has given
and only Baltimore can duplicate, win
become baseball history wherever base
ball is known and loved.
American Association.
For years Baltimore was in the old
American Association. which had many
q stirring battle. and the late Billy"
Barnle was the manager. The National
League was. Of course, in existence and
though the American Association was a
major league, on a par with it, the older
organization was always held in rever-
ence, and il was the dream Of Balti-
moreans to one day become connected
with IL. The American Association finally
went TO pieces, Baltimore made a shift
for a few months in an Atlantic League.
and then the sun rose. Baltimore was
full-fledged member of the National
League twelve-club circuit. dating from
1892
With added responsibilities as a member
OF the baseball elect, Baltimore became
dissatisfied with its manager and not
without cause Barnie was a manager
OF experience but he hadn't it I'm him TO
pilot "a winning team. He was a good
fellow too good a fell0w-and could not
hold up his men 10 the proper form be-
cause he lacked the frmness and mastery
over the players every successful man
ager must have. Time and again the
stars of the baseball armament were
brought here at what was then consid-
cred great cost, but a few weeks con-
nection with the Oriole team would sink
them TO the level Of "dubs" This city
had always been sure to come I'm at or
near the bottom in American Association
times. and II began keeping up the same
kind Of work in the National League.
Finds Ned HanIOn.
So Barnie was asked TO resign, and for
some months Van Haltren was the tenn
porary manager. The late Harry VOn-
derhorst, then the head of the Orioles.
kept his weather eve open for the right
man, and in the middle of the 1892 sea
son he believed that he had found him
IN Edward HanlOn, then a resident Of
PittSburg, formerly a member of the
most famous team. next to the Orioles
that were to bc-the Detroit teant Han
Ion had had charge of the PittsbuTg
Brotherhood team Of 1890, and had given
evidence of brains and other managerial
ability. Mr. Nondcrhorst brought Mr.
Hanlon to Baltimore toward the latter
part of the 1892 season and his real work
with the Baltimore team began I'm 1893
Few of the men on the team in 1892
suited Manager HanlOn. and he began TO
build up a championship team in 1893.
and to train the material he had TO be
champions. At the end Of the 1872 season
Baltimore ranked tenth among the twelve
clubs. AT the end of the 1888 season the
Orioles had risen two places-to eighth:
but that was Just the beginning During
1888 the Orioles had been as follows: Mil
legan and Taylor, first base; Reitz, sec
ond base; Shindle, third base, McGraw.
the principal Shortstop, with O'Rourke
and Jennings substitutes; Kelley.
O'Rourke. Brodle, Treadway, Stovey. and
Ward, OUthelders; Mcmahon, Mullane.
MCNabh, and Hawke. pitchers; Robinson
that the ieayen Of the HanlOnlan man
agement was working The next year,
with only slight changes, the Orioles won
their first pennant
Nowadays, if a manager wishes to make
sure Of 81 championship club. nine times
out OF ten he will purchase, for what
seem fabulous sums in comparison with
prices in former days, players Of great
reputation as batters and fielders. Per
haps they did then, but the Baltimore
club had not a big fund TO draw upon
owing 10 the poor standing for years and
consequent poor business SO Manager
Hanlon began TO seek out players Of no
reputation OF whom he believed he could
make gOod players. 1t was from that
time that he began 20 earn the reputa-
ton for unerring accuracy in sizing up
the worth Of "a player and of never let
ting him go until the last bit Of useful
ness had been drained-and always letting
him 90 for a good, round price He left
Baltimore a star, and In practically every
case he never played well again So
Manager Hanlon became Gold Brick
Ned" and Foxy Ned" sObriquets that
hung to him for years.
Signs the "Big Four"
Manager Hanlon signed four men-Bfc-
Graw, Keeler. jennings. and Kelley
destined the "Blg FOur"-the greatest
quartet Of all-around players the game
has ever known. for practically nothing