The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-07-30

"AounO' GVCiy CluU mas certain rules
for the players that are enforced as far
as possible. Among them may be
mentioned those that require the play
ers to report for morning practice,
abstinence from intoxicating LIQUOR.
and to retire at certain hour.
The players are gathered from all
walks of life, and include college bred
men, doctors, lawyers, dentists, engi-
neers, and the coal HEAVIER who didn't
know he could play ball until he tried
some Sunday on vacant lot. Iu the
latter class stands Lajoie, who for a
long time was supreme at the bat.
He was drayman before entering
professional baseball. Pitcher White
of the Chicago White Sox is q doctor
Third-baseman Grant of the Philadel-
phia Nationals is a graduate of the
Harvard law school. Pitcher Lund-
gren of the Chicago Nationals is a
graduate of the Illinois University.
and there are others too numerous to
mention.
The greatest batter in recent years
was the late Delehanty of the Phila-
delphias. As home run hitter he
stood alone. In one game he made
four home runs. Some years ago l
witnessed game at st. Louis in which
he played. Now the grounds there
are very large and will accommodate
20,OOO people. The center field fence
is so far back that no one has ever
been able to hit the ball over it. Just
inside of the fence stands the club
house. This game had proceeded to
the ninth inning with the score to 0
in favor of st. Louis, when PhiIadel-
phia in their half got man on first
and Delehanty came TO bat. The first
ball pitched he hit to the club house
and the game was over. That was the
longest hit ever made on those grounds.
1t is a noticeable fact that this year
the heavy hitters are away below their
average, which may mean either they
are on the decline, or the pitchers are
serving an entirely different sort of
curves. A team may be composed en-
tirely of heavy hitters and at the same
time occupy low position in the PEN
nant race. On the other hand tho Chi
cago White Sox are dubbed the "hitIess
wonders" and yet they are at the top
in the American League. In the ranks
of the players one may run across some
rather peculiar characters. George
Edward C"Rube') WaddeIl, when in
form, is one of the best pitchers in the
business. But he is very uncertain
quantity, and there is not a manager
with, whom the Rube can keep on
good terms very long. He has an aver
sion to the water wagon that is respon-
sible for most of his trouble. Que of
his favorite stunts is to assume the
role of bartender In some one of his
favorite haunts. This lasts for few
hours only, but it brings good many
dollars into the cash register of the
saloon owner. In 1901 when he was
playing with the Chicago National
League team, I witnessed one of Rube's
pink teas held on West Madison Street
where he was treated so often that he
finally turned TURTLE" The next day
he: pitched shut out game that lasted
twelve innings. / have seen him re-
tire the opposing batsman three in
row on strikes, and during q game
strike out fourteen men. He is now
playing with the st. Louis Americans,
and recently had the satisfaction of
pitching 10 to 0 game against his old
comrades. the Philadelphia Athletics.
When it is known that he is to pitch
it can be relied upon that big crowd
will be in attendance, no matter in
which city the game is played.
You have all probably heard of
"Bugs" Raymond, the star slab artist
of the st. Louis Cardinals. New York
offered $4,000 for him but were re-
fused. Bugs" recently attended q
reception in st. Louis, and during the
evening one of his friends asked him to
play on the piano. "You'll have to
excuse me pal" said Bugs, II can't
tickle the iyories, but Pm hill on the
hand organ" There are about as many
first-class pitchers on hand this year
as in the past, but the batting average
Of all the players is lower than at