The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-12-15

d my euOfls lullg appreciated.
Yes. l could always hit the ball. ]
was with Troy five years ago and hit
ting at a 43O clip when I was taken
down with typhoid fever and this put
me out of the game for a short time"
Mcconnell was born at North Pow
nal VT, a short distance from VIII
Jamestown, Mass, and his first ball
playing was done while working in a
wooden mill in the Vermont village
Saturdays and holidays he played with
an independent team at Dalton, Mass
He was finally picked up by Jack Hol-
lister, the old Williams allround play
er who took him to Rutland to play
summer baseball and in the fall in
duced him to 80 west for a years
schooling at Beloit college with view
to Strengthening the-ball team Of that
institution The result was that Be
lott defeated all the strong university
teams they met the next spring. Nc
Cornell became the talk of the Yves.
tern college world
After one year al college Mcconnell
went back for a summer season at
Rutland, w., from where he drifted
TO Troy, in the New York state league,
then to Rochester, in the Eastern leag-
ne where he developed a sickness and
was later farmed out to Utica. Two
years ago Providence secured the boy
and under the mastery handling of
Hugh Duffy, Mcconnell was soon the
star of the Eastern league and his re-
lease was purchased for fancy price
by the Boston Americans.
Mcconnell is below the average size
but a remarkably fast runner
Now then, to the domestic side of
the picture, the real test of a ball play
er for the valuable athlete is pretty
sure to agreeably surprise the ones
not in full sympathy with the game.
This was not my case however for
had visited ON many occasions the
great players at their winter quarters
and was ever and always received like
prince and this visit proved no ex-
ception.
1t was after 6 o'clock when we
reached the Mcconnell home and the
little tots were delighted TO think they
were allowed to remain out of their
little beds longer than usual Roy, a
boy of years. and Irene a little miss
over years OF age, bore the Neon
nell imprint ON their sweet faces
The little girl showed her older broth
er the way from one end Of the house
TO the other ending by giving an exc
hibition Of daddy sliding to bases.
20, we like Boston very much, said
the happy young wife of the ball play.
er. 81 was i'm Boston with the chill
dren for three weeks last season and
we had a lovely time. We hope TO go
there for a visit again next season"
found Ambrose McConnelrs
mother one of the old school of
mothers, dignided and considerate of
every one
Mother has great patience" re-
marked the ball player "If YOU want
to see a live wire wait until you see
father"
It wasn't long before father appear
ed on the scene. He had arrived on
his bike from his daily toll as rail-
road man.
Il like the exercise he remarked
"as it keeps one young have pass
ed my 9th birthday and never felt
better in my life" and he looked Il,
for a finer specimen Of humanity /
never laid my eyes on before.
/ should say he stood feet 10 in.
ches, weighing l7O pounds with jet
black hair and a very heavy black
mustache. He bubbled over with
good nature and was very proud Of his
son Andy" That was the name
mostly used when addressing the cley.
er ball player
During the two hours spent at the
Mcconnell home ] had the pleasure OF
warm shake hands from four sisters
and q little later a brother aud an dis
played genuine pleasure at meeting d
baseball man from Boston. The treat
ment OF Ambrose by the Boston base
ball public was a theme the Who'll,
family were anxious to talk about
The loving cup occupied a conspicu
Gus place. There were scrap book.
filled with cuts from papers and read
ing notices that were more precious
than any OF the giltedged lItcratur,
In the modest library.
Can It be- true that you have pass
ed your 67th birthday" / asked IN,
father. and the answer came with
smile: Yes. indeed and We have /
children. an alive aud well. Some
times It bothers me TO remember al
OF their names. They are all grow
ND with the execution of one miss