New-York tribune., 1907-10-07
DEAN OF THE TWIRLERS.
Long Career of "Cy' Young IN
Professional Baseball.

..pIa1.ers come and players go, but 'Cy Young
ntcbes on forever" is the way the Boston ian re-
2 ds the .Dean of the Twirlers." For seventeen
Years "Cy'' has been playing major league base
hall and although he has intimated that his days
are over it is more than likely that next year he
will get the "giad hand" as usual when ne walks
across the diamond for the first game at the Bos-
ton American League grounds
They call him "Old Cy' now to distinguish him
from young Cy' Young, pitcher on the Boston
National League team. He certainly is "Old Cy
hotb in years and experience but his ability is as
great as ever. And that is saying Considerable.
When "OId Cy'' finally retires. his will go
down in ba seball history to with that of Dan
Rrouthers Kelly. Pop Anson. Buck Ewing
Ward and other great stars of the diamond
At the best, the days OF professional baseball
player are comparatively few. AS a general rule
about ten years is the length of a players career
in major league company Then he IS releGated
to a minor organization or retires from baseball
altogether. Once he strikes the downward path he
travels fast. No one fears the 'chute" worse than
the bail player.
OF all the followers Of sport none is more tickle
than the fan. The player realizes this. A fielder
makes wonderful running catch and retires the
side with three bases. The fans cheer and
howl with glee. The fielder in and lifts his
cap in acknowledgment Of the applause. Then he
takes his bat and makes three vicious lunges at
the ball. but misses it. lie retires 70 the bench
crestfallen. Now the same fans who were cheer
Ing him moment ago hoet and laugh at him
But it's all in the game. and the players know II.
No one ever teers "Old Cy." 1t does no good. He
can't be ratified"
Upon the shoulders of the pitcher falls the bur-
den of the battle. He is master of the game. and
does the most work. The strain is great His
| is in constant for nine innings from hour
and half 10 two hours. generally. Naturally his
career is shorter than that of the other players.
But odd Cy' has been pitching continuously for
seventeen years. and with success. lie was toss
! ing them up" when some of the stars of to-day
! were playing in the back lot
With few exceptions the baseball hero remains
| on the pinnacle Of fame not longer than three
four years. Wagner. Laioie and Keeler are excep-
tions but they not pitchers. "Old Cy'' is still
popular Idol up around Boston. He is a little
! more than forty years old. and native Of Ohio.
over six feet tall and tipping the scales AT about
two hundred. "Od Cy" is one of the biggest men
| playing. He is always In condition and always
! ready to take his turn in the box Although not
! teetotaler 'OId Cy' has never made the mistake.
| 50 common baseball players. of indulging heav-
! ry But the "oid Roman would feel lost If he
| went into game without a big "chaw' tucked
| away in his mouth.
| "Oid Cy' never has much to say or OF the
| diamond. Even when he is the coaching line
| tho rauco!s cries Of Take lead" Now. my boy
| and Get away off, missing But there was
never moro earnest or harder working player.
! When he is pitching and his team Is IN a tight
| place "OId Cy" reaches around 70 his hip pocket.
! draws out the old plug takes hitch in his belt
and probably the side IS retired without run fi!s
| little actions please the Bostonese-
! lie is an odd character In that he never dis
c1,sscs his past performances ms baseball record
/ began on an amateur team out in Nebraska. At
tina. time he had not attained his majority, but
he soon showed his ability pitcher. So in 1890
he was engaged TO pitch for the Canton tOhio)
| team That season he played In thirty-seven cham
pionship games. pitching thirty of them Cleveland
was looking for good pitchers that year and Young
was drafted In 1892 Cleveland had champion
ship team and much OF the credit in winning the
| pennant was due the mesterful work Of "Cy
| Young He was not "Oid Cy'' then for that
| fifteen years ago That year in game with St
Louis which lasted sixteen innings only two hits
were made of his delivery. But that record did
| not e1ugs he made while with the Canton team
one day while playing against Mckeesport. he shut
the team out without hit, ana struck out eighteen
batters.
| Baseball players and baseball writer's always
| looking for no hit no run game. They don't
come very Frequently and when is played IT
proves an interesting topic for the fans discuss
| for weeks. "OId Cy" has been the hero OF several
| In his long career. AMI three or four have gone
! extra innings before they have been decided
But he has done oven better than pitch no hit.
| no rum game. The baseball begins IN
| April and the pitchers are not supposed 10 he in
the best OF condition until the warm days OF June
Fourteen years aftor his two-hit game against ST.
Louis. or on May :, l9oi Old Cy' accomplished.
perhaps his greatest feat On that day In a game
on the Boston grounds he selected to face the
hard hitting Philadelphia Athletics. That mighty
arm Of his was in superb condition that day. Not
a Philadelphia player hit the ball safely in the
nine innings. not one az the QuakeTs reached frs:
| base. and. course the Athletics did not n
run. 1t OF the very few no hit.
no reach first base games record.
The great national game has changed consider
ably in the last few years. 1t is faster and
blood" is constantly in demand. The old players
drop by the wayside to make Tor future
stars. There is more pltifu sight IN the sport
ing world than when gr "a player hits the
"chUJe" and drops from "A ma, ~ a minor league.
and then goes from poorer 70 poorer team. Maybe
"Old Cv'' viii be tho Boston American team
next spring. IL he isn't there he Will be on his
farm in ohio. lie has said the moment he finds his
arm has finally failed he will retire. The grand
old Roman viii never hit the chute