Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-23

~HAT old noodle is always at work and that old arm is better
now than it ever was" observed Pa Rourke Is he sat in
a box at vinton Street park and saw Johnny Gonding
shoot the ball to second just in time to nip the feet-footed
Captain Fox Of the Lincoln team in an attempt to steal that
base. ut was in New Orleans in 1896 that first saw Gonding,"
continued President Rourke; Il was manager of the Birmingham
team and he catcher for New Orleans in the Southern league, and !
said to myself that day, If I ever get a team of my own I'll have
that man as my main catcher He was the star of the Southern
league and every team in the south was after him"
And Pa Rourke made good on that resolve. When he became
owner of the Omaha Western league team ne lost no time in signing
Johnny GOndtng. Gondlng Joined Omaha at the beginning of 1901,
and is therefore completing his eighth season in this city. He is the
only man on the team who was with it when he Joined it. His work
this year Is of the same high standard it has been in previous years,
and his Influence upon the individuals of the team and the team
collectively is just as inspiring on and off the diamond-indeed, it is
more SO. President Rourke declares that a the years go by the
value of Gonding q S a player and example to other players increases
In his capacity Is a catcher Gonding has never had a peer in the
Western league, and few in any league. This is not only the asser-
ton of his admirers and associates in Omaha. it is the concession OF
every town On the present II old Western league circuit-t is a
positive fact established by the record of years beyond and behind
which it is impossible to go with any regard for the truth.
In the fourteen years of his service behind the bat Gonding,
when he completes this season, will have caught about 14OO games,
for he has maintained a n average of 100 games a season. That is a
most remarkable record and it is the more remarkable when con-
sidered In the light OF the fact that throughout all that period his
work has kept him at the top of the tier of catchers in whatever
league he has been: Nor is that all. For fourteen years this marvel
of a backstop has maintained an average percentage at bat Of .226.
That staggers you? Challenges your credulity, does it?
Well, it's enough to do that and more, especially if you are one
OF those who have been lamenttng all these years, "oh, If johnny
could only bat he'd be in a big league" The trouble is those ad-
mirers OF Gondng who have been unable to discover any hitting
ability in him have never taken the trouble to concern themseles
with a study of the records. Gonding, himself. could not tell you
just What his average was for the reason that he never took the
pains to figure 1t out, but he has a mighty good idea that he has
kept IL NJ " the zoo mark. Recently he was asked why IL was
that pitchers and catchers did not bat as well as players in other
positions II 1t was because they did not try as hard.
One Catcher Who Tries
"I don't now about the pitchers" he answered, promptly and
with a amusing indication Of feeling, but 1 can say this, that no
man ever tried to bat more than a certain catcher l know Of"
Indeed. .226 8 a batting average that is plenty good enough to
land a catcher in the preferred class, other things being equal IN
average which Is above the average. A few catchers In heavy bat
tiers, but a very few, and the large majority are not as strong batters
as Gonding. Gonding reached his highest batting in 1902, when he
closed the season with, a percentage Of .271, having caught 12s
games.
John Gonding was born IN Dayton, KY, in 1873, being there
for In lis thirty-stxth year. He began to play ball about the time
n began to walk and has been doing little else since, but he has ats
tended to his ball playing SO well that it hasn't been necessary for
him to devote any time to other matters. He made his debut az a
professional as catcher for New Orleans in the Southern sagu ~
the beginning of the season OF 1895. That year, his first in profess
sional ball, he caught lis games. He remained with New Orleans
through 1896. Wnkesbarre. in the Eastern league. got him. and he
was there In 1897 and 1898. He made a great record in the ess
batting as well a catching. In 1899 he was with Kansas City. and
In 1900. that eventful year which marks the birth of the aggressive
ing with Kansas City. which became a member of the newly organ
lied league. Ace Stewart. later with Gonding in Omaha and captain
Of the Rourkes, aternated with Schaefer at second for Kansas CITY
that year. Bill Coughnn, until a few days ago captain, and still third
baseman for Detroit was covering the third corner for KawvilIe. and
Camel. now manager of Cincinnati. first. with CIngman and Wagner
caring 10 short Dale Gear. Of course, wa there.
You ask why Gonding didn't stay with Kansas city? Well ask
Bill Rourke- Bill Rourke had now come into possession of a can n
MS and he had not forgotten Gonding, nor the pledge he made
himself down at New Orleans that day.
We've got to have John Gonding, that crack catcher at Kansas
City" Bill told his brother, Jim.
Don't get too ambitious" replied the cautions lin wavs or-
serTatve' ITS well enough to want Gonding. and I would like to
have him. l agree with you that he's the greatest catcher in the
west but 1 don't agree with you that W. ought to e to the limit Of
trying u land 80 expensive a man Just yet"