Evening star., 1909-03-14

son was a major league backstop from
1886 to 1902. inclusive, while Farrell start
ed in the big organization in 1883 and last
ed until 1903.
Robinson, since catching for the Balti-
more American League team in 1902,
often has donned base ball livery. Every
spring Robby has announced that he
wouldn't play ball. and religiously every
summer he has caught for the Orioles
Last year he was behind the bat for the
Eastern League champions in twenty-nlne
games and led all his rivals in fielding.
Farrell. since leaving the Boston Amer
leans. hasn't often appeared on the dia-
mond- In Boston last year. however, the
Duke was prevailed on to go behind the
bat in a game in which old-tlmerS con-
tested and he speedily showed that he
had not lost his former cunning, handling
"Dupee" ShaWs delivery just as we'll as
he used to handle the sizzling speed of
Amos Rusie and Jouett Meekin.
Oddly enough, both men made their
start in the same league, the New Eng
land Robinsons professional career be-
gan in 1885 with the Haverhill club, While
Farrell drew his first salary check from
the Salem team in 1887. Each mans stay
in the Murnane-Morse organization was
limited to year. The Athletics heard of
Robby and snatched him at the end of
the season of 1885. Farrell was recon-
mended to Pop Anson by a lynx-eyed
scout. and joined the Chicago team in the
spring of 1888.
OF the two men, Farrell has been the
greater traveller, SO far as changing clubs
is concerned. Robinson remained with
the Athletics until the team went bank
rupt in the fall OF 1890, then being trans
ferred to Baltimore along with Sadie
McMahon and Curtis Welch Robby only
once afterward' was employed by another
team. With John McGraw and Billy
Keister he was sold to st. Louis in 1900.
He put in half a season in the Mound
or 01It -
TO help organize a stock company that
placed team In the American League.
During his major league career Robin
son caught in 1.259 championship games.
He was one of the first major league
backstops to catch behind the plate all
the tipe, and when Baltimore won the
pennant he was the teams captain. Rob
inson will not be with the Giants all sea-
son, though McGraW would like TO have
him.
"Grand Duke" Farrell.
Farrell. however. is a fixture on the
Hilltop roster. He will warm up the
pitchers prior to each game and will act
as assistant manager to Stallings. Far
rell in his big league experience, was
behind the bat in 92S encounters. In many
games the Duke of Marlborough, which
title was bestowed on him by Harry
played third base Farrell was with the
Chicago Nationals In 1888 and 1889. and
in 1890 played under Charley Comiskey
on the Chicago Brotherhood team. In
1891 he caught and played third base for
Arthur Irwin's Boston club. which landed
the American Association gOnfalon. Clark
Griffith was one Of that teams pitchers.
In 1892 Farrell was with Pittsburg, where
he made great record as third base
man. The next season he was with
Washington, then going to New York.
The Giants traded him back to the Sem
ators for "Scrappy Bill' Joyce. and later
Farrell bobbed up with Brooklyn. catch
ing for them the two years they won
the National League pennant. Farrell
hoped to the American League in 1903,
casting his fortunes with Boston. He
hit .4O4 I'm his last season in fast com
pany, playing, however. in only seven
teen games.
Jim Mcclure is one of the most noted
catchers in the business. He was born in
1865, and has been playing professional
ball since 1884, first starting with Cleve-
land He finished that season with Toledo
and was transferred to Detroit. In 1886
he came to Philadelphia, with Wood and
Casey. He played with the Phillies until
1883, when he returned To Detroit and
then went to Cleveland. In 1889 he was
with Rochester. His good work there
got him a job with Washington at the
end of that year. In 1897 Washington
sold him to Brooklyn. He remained with
Brooklyn until 1902. when he jumped TO
Detroit in the American League. He
LEFT Detroit for the New York Highland
ers In 1903, and remained there until 1907,
when he went to Boston as manager of
the Americans. Mcclure went to Cleve-
land the latter part of last season. when
Mig Clark was injured. and he has been
signed this year to train the pitchers of
Manager La iOie'S Outfit.