The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-12-17
MANY HEROES
Of 0. & p. League Passed
in Their Chips in
Season of 'O8
OTHERS HAS-BEENS

This is one Of the saddest features
OF base ball season. Heroes of for
mer years pass out each year and
others who in times to come must
themselves walk the plank, enter
amid the furry of noisy roofing and
fine mentions of the press. While
there were but few who passed out of
the game for good in 1908 there was
a number who visibly went back and
only little time is needed ere they
will be completely down and out.
OF the old war horses who practi-
cally went their last game during the
year was the veteran Jimmy Cooper.
He started with Canton and then as
sisted on two occasions with the Pot
ters. He finally finished the season
with New Castle. Though yet a very
fine player at times, Jimmy has slow
ed up wonderfully from previous
years and it is doubtful if he will
star again. In his day, Cooper was
one of the best minor league players
to b efound anywhere. He never
rose to fast company but was always
considered one of the best who stay
ed just a few notches down the line.
lINhSlo uOuldS anu htuHtuy -
former Youngstown players, saw evil
days during the season. The latter
had seen the running bad in the pre-
vious season. There was thus not so
much surprise when he finally gave
up the game altogether and went to
umpiring. Of Thomas, however, bet
ter things were expected. He had
finished the 1907 season in a blaze of
glory. 1t was his stellar work that
put the champions in the lead in the
closing days of the season. Deserved
promotion came to him and he went
to Columbus, Things broke badly for
him there and he finally returned to
Youngstown after trying his hand in
GAINESVILLE, there to finish the season
in the outfield. Now it is announced
that he will never more return to the
game which brought him fame.
Outfielder Blake, former Potter, was
another player who had bad luck dur
ing the season. At McKeesport he
failed to show at any time the form
that characterized him in previous
years. He. finished last in the fielding
among the left fielders. He batted
low, too, .227 being his figures. Shee-
han was out of the game several
times because of injuries. Whether
he will return to his old standard
again is prOblematical.
One of the biggest disappointments
of the entire season was Manager
Murphy of Canton. Both as a field
leader and as a player he failed to
make good in the manner predicted
for him by his admirers. Before he
became a manager it was customary
to say that Murphy was the brains of
the star Steubenville team, and that
during the first p. o. M. season it
was he and not Manager Seaman who
had kept the Senators high in the
race during the greater part of that
season. 1t was thus much of a sur
prise when he seemingly failed in
Canton. He at another time took his
place among the dangerous hitters of
the league and finally had to give up
the reins of the team altogether.
Pitcher Joe Oil, of Youngstown,
was kept in preference to some other
twirler at the beginning of the sea-
son. He was touted as coming star.
Instead his arm went bad and he had
to quit the game. Then he went fish
ing after an unsatisfactory trial at
Wheeling, and one day fell as he
jumped across a stream. He thought
that the injury was cured by the ac-
cident fall and so, for a time it ap-
peared He again returned to the
game. He failed again as a twirler,
however, and ended the year by sub
stituting at first base and in the out
field.
Outfielder O'Hara who in 1907 had
management of the Erie team, went
of the outfit. With Cooper. Perry
and Bailey the team seemed formid-
able in this department. Later O'Hara
was sent to Butler. He was later re-
turned to Canton and finally sent to
the P. and W. Va. league. His show
ing in this organization was anything
but the kind of ball expected of the
veteran.
Pat Eastley, supposed to be all but
ready to become a major league pit
cher, made a poor showing on the
whole at McKeesport. The trials of
a manager together with miserable
support on his part. Though he did
not do as well as in previous years,
he will doubtless return next year and
become as invincible as of yore.
Catcher Redman, of Youngstown,
was expected to become one of the
star back stops of the o. and P. In
stead he was sent to Uniontown of
the P. and w. Va. team to get ex-
perience.
The season proved the undoing of
the Indian Wahoo at Canton. His
marriage in mid-season attracted
more attention than anything else
that he did. He finished with an in
dependent aggregation.
Manager McCay's southern laurels
got him nothing in the north and he
had to go back to his beloved south
land where he will probably remain
in the future though Columbus draft
ed him.
Manager Porter lost prestige as a
leader; Catcher Irwin failed to come
back in his trial at Youngstown, like
wise Charley Grow; Pitcher Jessop
heard the tinkling of the can from
many clubs. First Baseman Kemnier,
Of McKeesport, after two trials, found
the pace too fast and there were 9TH
ers who managed to hold on simply
by the skin of their teeth.
A TRIPLE HOLIDAY.
There is considerable agitation in