The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-12-31


right field to change places with 'Cy-
clone Miller. At that time it was not
permissible to take pitcher out of the
game. Whereupon Sweeney promptly
walked out of the game, leaving the
team with only eight men and with
one pitcher, Charles Radbourne.
Two men tried to cover the field,
with the result that Providence was
completely showed under. meeting
Of the directors was held to decide
whether or not the club should be dis
banded. Certainly professional team
was never in a sorrier plight.
Radbourne was approached and the
proposition put to him. II can win it
all right" said he quietly and in a
matter OF fact tone.
And then followed the most remark
able battle for a pennant that the
world has ever seen. Radbourne es-
tablished q record that has never been
equaled, one that will live when more
expensive contests will have been
blissfully forgotten. OF twenty-seven
consecutive games Radbourne won
twenty-six. In four games with Bos-
ton he had three shutouts, only one
run was scored and only seventeen
hits were made This defeat was suf-
fered at the hands of Buffalo by a
score of 2 to O. and even then only
five hits were made off him, showing
that the defeat was not due to poor
pitching. Needless to say, Providence
won the pennant, or, rather, Rad
bourne won the pennant.
But the great player had to pay the
price. No arm could stand the awful
strain without great agony. Morning
after morning when RadbOurne arose
be could not lift his arm as high as
his waist. He had to brush his hair
with his left hand. But he did not
give up the game. He would slip out
to the park about two hours before
the rest of the team put in an ap-
pearance and would begin the excru-
ciating process of limbering up. He
would pitch the ball only a few feet
when he would first go out, but he
would keep on trying time after time.
Sometimes his face would be drawn
up into cOntOrtiOns, bat never word
Of complaint left his lips
Half an hour before the game was
to begin the players would slip out to
see how "Old Hoss'' was getting along
They would sit silently on the bench,
waiting for his arm to get into condi-
ton. WheTEhe was able to throw
from secondHfo home base a rousing
cheer would go up. for they knew
that meant the winning of the game
for them.
Bloomington, Ill. After his great sea
son with Providence managers ali over
the country were upon his heels. Flat
tering offers poured in, and he was not
| under contract with Providence for the
| next season either. When the contest
was over the late Ned Allen. president
Of the team that season, sent for Rad
bourne. He laid the release before
| him and close beside it a blank con-
| tract Radbourne looked at them both
| for several minutes and then slowly
| took up pen and filed the blank out
for sum only $4,000 higher than he
had been getting and tore up the re-
lease. Allen almost fell on his neck
and wept for joy.
Radbourne's last year in baseball was
with Cincinnati in 1891. but it was a
| sad year. It seems a pity that the ca
reer of so great a ball player should
end SO sadly That year his work
showed great deteriora ton, for the aw-
ful strain made in 1884 was beginning
to tell on his arm. At the end Of the
season he was too proud to go into
minor league baseball and so entirely
| withdrew from the game. He return
ed to Bloomington. where he opened a
billiard hall He had little to say and
in unwinking silence would sit in a
corner and watch the young men laugh
as they played. He would talk about
himself only when cornered, and then
| but for few short words. He had al
ways been ali ardent fisherman. hunter
| and sportsman. but he gave up the
open life Each year his taciturnity
increased until he became almost sui
len.
After a time he gave up his billiard
hall and retired into the obscurity of
his home. seldom letting people see
him. At last, in 1897. he fell i'll and
soon passed away. Portland Ore
gonian.