Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-28
WHEN 0LyMP|CS
MADE THEIR TRIP
Many Discomforts Suffered in
Order to Keep Their En-
.:. gagements.

''The modern high-priced ball player
travels around the country like a steel
maSnate, and the luxurious comforts he
enjoys are much in contrast with the style
that the pioneers of the sport enjoys ed
back In the days when long trips were first
made By the Nationals and Olympics." was
the way odd Has Been" started Off his
talk last night.
Nowadays nothing Is too good for the
modern athletes. and II 1t falls below the
standard set by these worthless huge
howl is Immediately raised and the affable
and diplomatic manager is kept stewing
until he gets things to suit his heavy
hitting right fielder. but in the days when
every player had his heart in the game,
so different.
The history OF the long trip made by
the Nationals in 1867. the one following in
1859 by the Red Stockings and the same
year by the Olympics of this city would
MI volumes If the mishaps, accidents and
various plans made and successfully car
RED through to make connections in order
TO Keep engagements We're recorded.
There were no prearranged schedules,
every team had its own private arrange
ments and went ahead and made dates
without taking into consideration any
other team, hence "jolts" sometimes took
place that at the last minute had to be
changed, trips revised and schemes worked
out to reach the points where the next
games were dated. The pioneer trip of
the Nationals in 1867. which was arranged
by Mr.: Jimmy" Patterson. was carried
through admirably because the advent of
the Nationals into the west was novelty
and days delay made no great differ
ence. Still the players had trouble on the
western roads that If experienced today
would send the modern gladiator over to
the home on the hill beyond Anacostia
Il was one Of the hardy patriots that
went along on the trip of the Olympics In
1859. the longest of It's kind up to that
| time, as the club visited more cities and
played more games than did the famous
Red Stockings. who had previously made
a tour the same year, and defeated every
team they met.
I'VE had trouble everywhere. even In such
small jumps as from Cincinnati to Mans
field. Ohio. nothing went properly but oul
worst time came when turning our faces
eastward for the return trip. we ran up
against snag Of huge dimensions at Gin
cinnau.
"On that trip the Olympics played the
Red Stockings four games. In the last
one they defeated us, 10 to Z, the game be-
Ing delayed by rain storm Our boys
imagined they had a chance Of defeating
the unbeatables Well, the game was
played out, but the train we were ex-
pected to take for Philadelphia was at
that time many miles to the east and
there was no other train out that night
for US to take in order to reach Philadel-
ph1a in time for our next game But right
here came In the do or die spirit of tho
Olympic management, Secretaries n. F..
Young and Fred Schmidt in particular
A freight due to leave Cincinnati
at 1 am. and after many consultations
with the agent of the railway company 1t
was decided to add a box car for the
players. Say. you haven't any idea what
q box car of those days was, nor can you
imagine what a trip Of 700 miles meant over
a rough mountain road. for such was the
Baltimore and Ohio In those days. 1t was
the days before the use of air brakes, but
rough as the ride, and tedious as the trip
proved to be. the band never walled, TIE
only desire being to reach Philad elphia in
time To keep their word with the Key =
tones Of that place
They arrived in Philadelphia one hour
ahead of the time set TO- the game, but
every one of the players took a portion
of that hour for a bath in the waters of
the Schuykill river But they presented a
sorry sight when they appered on the field
to play the Keystones. then the best team
in the city Of Philadelphia. Though
fatigued they played wonderful game
against their opponents, that is for that
period of ball playing
Now | wonder" continued old Has
Been" how many of our up-to-date high
salaried players would have undergone all
of the dscomforts of such d long trip on
hot August nights, just to keep engage
ments for the honor of the club and moth
ing else. How many
hn hat 4