The Detroit times., 1908-06-03

AMATEURS OF PAST AND
PRESENT, ENTHUSIASTIC

Chairman Joseph NJ Weiss. OF the
Elks baseball committee. In charge
OF the amateur baseball demonstrn-
tion attendant on the raising OF the
Detroit clubs pennant. June II. an
nounces the appointment OF John
Lodge. OF the ID. a. c., one or the
city's near-veteran players though
still on the active list. as his score
tary and the chairman OF the commit
tee which will have charge or the
presentday clubs that will parade in
uniform. AS additional committee
men In charge OF this department.
Mr. Weiss names c. w. Schnook OF
the Packard Motor Car Co.. John Roe
sink. OF the Good l.ucks. and c. w.
Mceker. OF the Burroughs Adding Ma
chine Co. Invitations TO the celebra-
, ton will be rendered Presidents Ban
Johnson and Harry Pulliam. OF the big
leagues. as well as Gov Warner and
Mayors Thompson. OF Detroit and
Wiele. OF Windsor
Mr. Weiss Is daily adding TO his
collection of data regarding early
baseball in Detroit. the most recent
contribution being from w. 5. RATA
bone. captain OF the Alerts. who fig.
ured prominently in the great tournd-
ment OF 1867. Among Mr.. Rathbone's
data is list OF members OF the club,
including many men prominent in
Detroit and business life today. as
well as many who are now dead, Mr..
Rathbone still holds as one OF his
most priced possessions a medal won
in that tournament as the best batter.
+ The competition was open to all class
es entered but fell 10 him though he
was but boy OF Is.
Another member OF the Early Ris-
ers. Detroits first baseball club. a
member OF which--Gen. l.. S. Trow-
bridge-will raise the pennant, is at
hand In a letter from the venerable
/ DR.. George l.. Field. who writes as
follows
Hon. Joseph NJ. Weiss My
Dear Sill see by the papers that
on June ~ that there is 10 be
what is styled flag raising" day.
when there Is to be a reunion OF
the old ball players OF this city:
and have been wondering
whether my name would register
far enough back TO entitle me TO
be considered one OF the bunch"
| was one OF the organizers OF
the Early Risers." which, II |
am not mistaken. was in 1858. We
played on what Is the widened
space which is the beginning OF
West Fort-st.
We were on the ground at
O'Clock a. m. where odd Man
Stone" was awaiting us with his
little cart In which he had big
tin can filled with hot coffee and
also a supply OF doughnuts. One
cup OF coffee. and two doughnuts,
five cents. in silver; no nickels in
those days. Then we began our
play, the inner man being we'll for
titled for the battle. Every little
while we would send a ball
through Russell house window.
possibly breaking up some ones
early morning nap. as well as the
window. Then during the day
some time, our secretary would
call and ascertain the amount OF
+, damages done and foot the bill;
but in time that was not neces-
sary for we had learned just how
much each particular window was
| valued at and sent the amount
without any investigation. AT
| ABOUT { O'CLOCK We WOuiu StdttSt
10 our different homes in time for
our morning meal.
Shortly after this | became a
member OF the old Detroit Club"
| In 1868 the club numbered SO. and
OF that number. as near as | can
get at II, Nc are still alive, and 20
| have passed over to the great ma
jority; OF the other IL, | cannot
account for.
| At that time the officers we're:
President, Dr. J. NJ. Van Norman;
| vice-presdent, Frank J. Phelps;
secretary, J. NJ. l.. Campbell;
treasurer, w. c. B. Teller; direc-
tors, Eugene Robinson. r. II. An
derson, Geo. l.. Field. Andrew Nc
Pherson, ID. NJ. Ferry.
/ alone am left OF the officers OF
the Detroit ball club OF 1858.
Those were the days when there
was little II any buying or paying
for players. or the 90 members OF