The Washington herald., 1908-03-29
Washington Manager Start
ed as Player in 1876.
PRAISES THE OLD-TIME STARS
Leader of Local Club in New Union
LeaEue Thinks Charley RadbOurne,
the Providence Pitcher. Was N
Peer of Any of the Present-day
TwirIers-FIrst Worlds Series.

prominent figure in baseball for more
than a quarter Of a century. in the role
Of player. manager. and club owner.
During his connection with the game
which covers a space Of thirty-two years
or from the time he broke into the game
as player on the old Boston Aetnas, in
1876. Irwin has had a varied experience,
and to-day he is one OF the best posted
men on baseball affairs in the United
States. Twenty-eght years of his career
was devoted to the professional side OF
the game, twelve Of which he played.
One of the strong characteristics of the
veteran is his loyalty TO the old-time
stars when comparisons are made with
players Of the present generation.
Getting his preliminary education as a
member OF the Aetna team. which played
on the lots in Boston. Irwin made his
entry into professional company in 1879.
when he Joined the Worcester team,
which was at that time a member OF the
National League. He played with Wor-
cester three seasons. and in 1883 joined the
Providence team, where he played three
oeasons, the Grays winning the National
League pennant in 1854. In 1856, 81. SIS.
Nationals. When the players war broke
out in 1889 he affiliated with the Brother
hood and in 1890 played with Boston, which
team. with the famous king Kelly as
captain, won the championship.
Won the Pennant.
When the Brotherhood dissolved Irwin
was selected 20 manage the club
that represented and won the pennant for
Boston in the American Association in
1891. Since that time Irwin managed
Washington in 1892 and '9s; in the seasons
Of '94 and s5 he was found at the helm OF
the Philadelphia Nationals again, and in
1895 he piloted the New York Giants. His
next move was TO Toronto in the Eastern
League. where ne owned and operated
that club in 1897, 9S, and go In 1897 the
Torontos finished second in the race and
won the Steinert Cup. The season of 1901
found him at Syracuse. 1902 at Rochester
1903 at Toronto, 1904 and O5 at Kansas
City. and in 1906 and last season with the
Altoona team OF the Tri-State League.
Irwin has been interested in college
football for several seasons and derives
comfortable income from patent scor-
the big collegiate contests every fall.
The veteran manager is in his best ele-
ment when discussing incidents in the
great drama in which he has taken a
leading part in the last score or more
years. He will not admit that the play
ers OF the present age are faster in their
play than the stars who twinkled bright
IN the eyes OF the public twenty years
ago or more. On the contrary. he insists
that the playing of all Of the departments
of the game in the olden times equaled
the grade Of ball put up to-day.
OF the old-time stars who made great
regulations for themselves. Irwin main
tains that his old team-mate. Charley
Radbourne. the Providence pitcher was
q peer Of any OF the present-day twirlers.
He declares that Radbourne was the
brainiest pitcher that ever delivered
ball across the plate. II was due TO Rad
bourne's great head. says Irwin, that he
was able to make a pitching record in 1854
which has never yet been equaled. and
is likely to stand for some time During
that season Radbourne twirled IN eighty
four games. nineteen Of which were con-
secutive contests. Nowadays" said Ir-
win, "a majority OF pitchers who play
three games put up the howl that they
are being overworked." One Of Rad
bourne's regular stunts after pitching a
hard game. says Irwin. was to engage in
throwing the ball, when il was nothing
unusual for the pitcher to hurl the leather
distance of lS0 yards.
First Worlds Series.
In recounting some Of the remarkable
feats performed by Radbourne, Irwin re-
lated some incidents in the first worlds
championship series ever played, and In
which himself and Radbourne participated.
as members Of the Providence team. The
series was between the Grays. who won
the 1884 championship. and the Bostons.
who were victorious in the previous year.
1t was probably the grandest series of
games ever played" said Irwin "The
first game went sixteen innings and re-
suited in a tie, the pitchers being Rad
bourne for Providence and Jim Whit
ney for Boston. The next da,- Provi-
dence won by a score Of TO !, ir nine in
nings. In this game Charley Sweeney,
pitching for Providence. struck out nine
teen Boston batsmen, which stands as a
worlds record to-day
We'll, out of the first eight games
played" continued Irwin, Boston won
five and Providence three. When ii came
time 10 meet for the four final struggles
Providepce was doubly anxious to win
them all, so Radbourne was assigned TO
pitch the four games on four successive
days. He was in such magnificent form
that Boston was beaten in every contest.
Radbourne was so good that the Hub
team was only able 10 score one run in
the four games"
The final game of the series was played
in Boston, Providence winning in an eley-
en-inning struggle. by the score Of l to 0.
In this game Mr. Irwin figured as the
hero when he brought in the winning
run on a home-run drive that went
through a hole between the boards in
the right field fence.
Another great stunt of Radbourne's s"
continued Irwin. was executed in an ex-
hibition game in Trenton. during the sea-
son OF 1883, which for a time was the
chief topic Of conversation In baseballdom.
The Trenton club would not allow Provi-
dence 70 play with the regulation league
ball and insisted on substituting another
Of lighter weight. Radbourne. however |
accepted the latter ball and proceeded to !
strike out every Trenton PLAYER who
came 10 the bat until one man had baen
retired in the sixth inning. Then a PLAYER
fouled the ball. which had not been done 1
before. The pitching distance was then
forty-flve feet from the plate"
EXCURSIONS NOW BEING BOOKED
FOR THE COMING SEASON AT THE
nAnHAE an ENENA nHmu