The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-04-03
keller WAS ONLY
A BALL PLAYER
But, OH NY
Paid No Attention to Studies
But Has Had a Brilliant
Career.
SPHERES GREAT HITTER
"Wee Ones" schoolmates
Who Laughed at "Call
Downs"


teacher. a Miss Emma Keller, for
many years teacher in public school
No. 26. on Gates avenue, Brooklyn.
She declared that he would never
amount to much; and would, beyond
doubt. become a worthless vaga-
bond. AS a prophet. she, as later
events have proved, says the Sport
ing Life. was rank bush Lacquer,
for the same little chap turned out
to be one of the most scientific bats
men baseball ever produced. and to-
day he is not only wealthy man but
a respected citizen.
Il am very sorry to acknowledge"
declared Miss Keller to the young
ster on this particular occasion, that
YOU are a namesake of mine; but l
am, however. thankful to know that
YOU are not of my kin. You ought
to be ashamed of yourself to say that
the rhinocerOs. an animal the hide of
which cannot be pierced by bullet,
is noted for its 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. I
also wish to add" concluded Miss
Keller, who was strict discipline
arian. that l shall no longer tolerate
the bringing of baseball bats into this
schOOlrOom. II you do not stop the
practice. shall send you to the prin-
cipal."
The lad who was being dressed
down in such a scathing manner be-
fore roomful OF giggling pupils sat
serenely in his seat. His coat pock-
cts were bullying out. a baseball in
each of them. He only grinned.
Willie's Start In Life.
After the teacher had declared her
self, her namesake lost no time in
securing his release from the school
league. and in the summer of 1890,
or thereabouts, he was holding down
third base for the Crescents. at Plain
field, n. j. 1t was the first time
Keller had ever performed in enclos-
ed grounds. He played in Jersey for
a season, and then came nearer home.
accepting a job at Flushing, Brook
Ign suburb, where he astonishei the
natives by the manner 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 Keller. He rapidly de-
veloped into a crack outfielder. and
by the time he broke into the big
circuit at Baltimore he was marvel
at the bat. The youngster right 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 Keller 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.
Some Other Accomplishments.
There were few boys in Brooklyn
who had anything on Willie in box
ing. He was a clever lad with his
dukes. AS strong as an OK, he could,
at wrestling, throw a man twice his
weight. He can still go some. too,
at either of these pastimes. Had the
Brooklyn boy decided to earn his liv-
ing with his clenched fists. there is
no question that he could have done
so easily. But Keeler's baseball ten
dency 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, it's true. but flies, nevertheless
even If they were chased from the
backs of horses that pulled a street
car over the De Kalb avenue line
Keller, ST., was the Oldest driver, In
point of service. in the company's en-
ploy.
An Incident.
During his semi-professional days
Willie played every position on the
diamond. He was a pitcher of rare
skill. A feat he performed in the box
during those days is still fresh in the
minds of Long Island old-time en-
thusiasts. The Star-Athletics, o.
Eagles Nest, were meeting all corners
and wiping off the earth every team
that came their way. For a whole
season these fellows had never beer
beaten. Their pitcher, a big fellow
named Swift. was unhittable. Thu
Rivals, from the neighborhood o
Green avenue and Broadway, Brook
Ign, sent Swiftly" as the pitcher wa,
nicknamed. and his wonders a chal
lenge. All of Long Island and hal
of Brooklyn turned out to see the twt
teams come together. The gam
aroused as much interest in that sec
ton of the state as did the recen
worlds series in other parts of tn
country. Keller pitched for the Ri
walls and won by the score of IL to Q
To this day Willie considers 1t tn
most gratifying thing he has eve
done in his eventful baseball career
Times Revenge.
One of Keeler's classmates witness
ed a game on Washington, Height
last summer, and during the contes
| the little fellow struck out-the frs
time in over a hundred games. TIL
trick was turned by big Ed Walsh
the conqueror of the Cubs. AS Keele
walked back to the bench his fac
wore that same grin of twenty year
ago, and it reminded the spectator o
Miss keeler's best bet that wen
wrong.
OF the Wee Ones schoolmates nov
traceable. those who laughed at tn
teachers call" so many years age
not one of them, according to the ma
who knew Keller in his school days
Is earning in week what the crac
right fielder of the New York Ameri
cans is earning in a single day. o.
Pulaski street, in Brooklyn. betweel
Stuyvesant and Lewis, where Keele
has always lived, most of the house
in the block now belong to him. TIL
interest alone on rents from thes
dwellings and other Brooklyn prom
| erty in his name will keen him com