The Washington herald., 1908-03-02
OLD STARS GLIMMER
Veterans Still Playingin DIFF
ferent Minor Leagues.
O'RoURKE DADDY OF THEM ALL
Patriarch of Connecticut League
Heads Army of Ball Players Who
Have Seen Better Days on the Dia-
mOnd-Feyv Are Able to Earn Much
at Other Jobs Since Retiring.
Where are the ideals that we used to lovei
Where arc the SHOWS Of JesterdayY

Where are the ideals that We used to lovei
Where arc the nOws Of Jesteriay'
-old Ballad.
What has become OF the old ball play
ers?
Not the extremely old heroes OF some
thirty years ago. but the men whom the
fans adored around the troublous times
OF lS9O-the men who were in the big
leagues just before the Brotherhood, and
who came In that season. or within the
next few years. Where are the men who
made up the circuits OF 1880. and who fig
ured in the score books up TO. say. a
dozen years ago?
Only corporaPs guard remain in fast
company. Some are dead; some are high
in politics, like Uncle Arson, Ad Gum
bert. and John r. Tener, but most Of
them still ngure in the records. and can
be found in baseball rosters Of to-day
if you look far enough in the pages OF
the minor leagues.
A glance over the rosters of the little
leagues will surprise some Of the faithful
fans and also move them, IN many in
stances, to sympathy and pity. 1t must
be rather hard upon a player who was
once the idol Of Chicago. New York. or
Philadelphia. and earned his $1,000 wage
before huge admiring throngs, to now
work his old arm off for $50 a month in
a 1erk-water burg and for crowds that
would not fill one section Of the stands
Of long ago Yet that is the fate Of many
- ,la ~, mill h. . ha
fate Of many more
Some of the old-time stars returned 70
the towns whence they came. and doubt
less play their games in serene content.
we'll fixed in this worlds goods. and no
doubt needing much less money than
they required 10 keep them in the faster
company It is g cinch. though, that
most OF the men who sought the smaller
leagues after their chance had passed on
the larger circuits are none too we'll of
financially, and pass their leisure hours
bewailing the hard luck that forced them
from the bright lights and the scenes OF
glory.
Burkett and Hamilton.
Two real veterans who are now in the
New England League--Jesse Burkett and
Billy Hamilton-are well on, get plenty OF
money where they are. and profess TO be
happy Yet It is a question whether they
wouldn't rather show in ST Louis, Phil
adelphia, New York, and Chicago than in
Haverhrl. New Bedford. and Fall River.
In this leg le is Buster Burrill who
had quite a big league career twelve years
ago. Frank Connaughton. who had two
or three trials in fast company. and
George Barclay. an Outhelder OF compare
lively recent date. also are in the New
England League. Barclays case Is rather
sad. Touted as a great star in st. Louis
a few years ago. he has steadily slipped
down the minor league scale Of recent
seasons. and could hit only .21 In the
New England League last year.
The patriarch of the Connecticut League
Is Jim ORoIrke. daddy OF all ball play
ers now in active service. and. surely. a
happy club owner In this league. too. is
Charlie Bastian. a great infielder OF twen-
" years ago, now glad 10 pick up the
meager salary of the Waterbury club. At
" Waterbury. also. is George La Chance
who heiped the Boston Americans 70 win
the honors of the world. La Chance IS
slipping steadily away, and could hit but
253 in this light-Weight company IN this
same league. too. is Tommy Dowd. so
long a sensational player on half a dozen
big league teams. and now practically
down and out.
George Carey, the once famous Scoops. "
who had SO many big league trials. in
cluding one here, played last year at
Memphis in the Southern League Lave
Cross, one Of the grandest veterans of
them all, found refuge at New Orleans
after Ca<tillon turned him loose. Gene
De Montrevllle, the brilliant and erratic.
who started In the fastest company. and
almost spoiled one Chicago team with
his playful ways. plugged along in the
warm Southern cline. Charlie Babb, who
had some years experience with the
stars; John Dobhs, who went pretty near
ly round the big league circuit: Dale Gear.
who broke in at Cleveland so long ago;
Charlie Miller, pet OF the Reds for
quite a while; Bill Douglass, the awk-
ward but hard-hitting fellow who was
with the Phiilies for so long-an these
played South; and in the South. far from
the scenes Of earlier fame, was Theodore
once a master Of the left
handed tribe.
Western LeaRue Vets.
Out in the Western League we find
Charlie Dexter. the darling Of the fans in
Louisville so long since; Ducky Holmes.
who had a long career in faster company;
Hank Spies, once with Louisville; George
Yeager, who caught for several bigger
teams. and that rare old sport. George
Hogriever, famed even yet for speed and
ginger
Ed Mexican. Cleveland's burly shortstop
through many a season. was in the Cen
trail League last summer. Little Harry
Blake who IikaMisa nut In real ham fnr