The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-05-14
Veteran Jack Farrell, Newark's
Greatest Ball Player, De-
pIOres Use of Mitts.
BY OLD

l am more than a little interested in
the coolest in the Morning Star
as to who is the most popular ball
player in the Eastern League. Nat
urally enough no one stands in the af-
fections of the local fans like local
players. Therefore the other clubs
men are not serious contenders. Like
all contests of this character, it is more
or less of an argument with some fans
as to who is the best player. Popu-
larity in most cases, of course, goes
with ability, though very often and
n~oticeably so, it does not.
Naturally, concerned in the race for
the popularity honors, I got to think
ing who was the most popular player
that ever appeared In Newark. Way
back in my younger days l found tine
man, and he is none other than Jack
Farrell, in his time the king of second
basemen, and a ball player whose
popularity was measured by his abil-
ity. and he had friends and admirers
by the thousands. 4
Strangest thing about 1t was last
night / ran across Jack Farrell, who,
when baseball was getting it's first
grip on the hearts of the American
public, was one of it's bright shining
stars. There isn't a ball fan in any
city of the country who followed the
game twenty years ago that does not
remember the easy, graceful, wonder
full second sacker that started out on
Idhe sand lots up in R~oseville, and later
graduated to the Reserves of Eliza
beth, then one of the crack teams of
the country. There would be little
need of a contest for popularity if Far
rell was in baseball in Newark today,
as he would get the vote hands Town.
Jack n [ chatted for a couple of
hours over baseball today and twenty
years ago. OF course, the veteran sec
ond baseman has not followed the game
as closely as the everyday fan. Farrell
is now a nurse, having the care of
rich men who are broken down in
health. Too old to play the game, Jack
is contented with his new life job, and
though out Of immediate touch with
the game, he still loves the sport that
made him famous.
l remember Jack Farrell in the early
eighties, with the crack Syracuse Stars,
who had the real reputation when base
ball was young and growing. Later,
when he hit the National League cir
cult in Providence. 1t was there that
Farrell won his great honors, playing
second base with the champion Grays
of 'S4 and remaining with them until
SO, being sold to Philadelphia with
Arthur Irwin, who now, by the way,
is making his home in this city, though
he is still dickering with baseball, be-
ing of the Washington club in
the Union League.
The first time 1 saw Farrell at his
best was in the famous eighteen Inning
game between Providence and Detroit
Farrell was then at second base and
Jerry Denny was at third. Sweeney
the greas pitcher obtained from the
Pacific coast, was working for Provi-
denee that year, and in the field were
Charley Radbourne, the pitcher, and
Paul Hines. Radbourne won the great
struggle, pounding the ball out for 6
home u in the eighteenth inning
Farrelrs great second base play thai
season easily stood out from the resI
of the players in the league.
Fans in Cincinnati have raved ovel
McPhee as a second baseman, just as
! Cleveland raves over Lajoie and Chiea-
go over Evers, but the great critics o.
q lew years ago udIu tle pdin "
Farrell. the Newark lad, and the mos
successful player that ever graduated
from the sand lots of this city.
Farrell was more remarkable thar
the kings of today in that he never
used a glove. Hes vas a graceful
fielder, taking all kinds of chances an(
had in his day a great whip. He was
the key of all the inside playing of thu
old Providence Grays and Syracus
Stars. Some of the old timers here
abouts, the fathers of the young mel
in town today, tell me that they use'
to go over to New York in big bunchel
every time the Grays played the OLE
New York team. Farrell was thel
hero as he was in many other cities.
"What do you think of the game to
day compared to the times when yol
jumped around the diamond?" I asket
Farrell after we had talked about TIL
teams he worked with in Syracuse
Elizabeth, Providence, Philadelphia
Washington and New York.
"Well," he answered, THE game is,
suppose. baseball all the time. / thinl
that / win have to hand the palm t
the boys of my time, as the game thel