The Washington herald., 1909-04-04

Frank Chance, captain and manager Of
the Chicago National League baseball
club. two times worlds champions, has
finished his tenth consecutive year of
service with that organization. he has
been with one club longer than any other
professional player now in the diamond
arena. There are not many players who
have never been with more than one club.
Considering the number OF players in the
big league fold, they are few and far be-
tween
Chance has served with only one team
since coming into major league ranks.
but in that time he has been employed BY
two owners. The first was Jim Hart and
the second Charlie Murphy. Chance Joined
the Chicagos in 1928 as a catcher He also
has played in the outheld for them. and
from a raw recruit has worked his way
up 10 leader Of the strongest baseball
team in existence, and considered by
many the greatest ever organized.
His is the reward OF merit, and not be-
ing a rolling stone. he has gathered
share OF moss. Yet 70 be a rolling stone
in baseball does not imply improvidence,
player There are players who have
changed about who are performers OF the
highest class and who have laid aside
nest eggs OF comfortable size. They have
stuck 10 their work none the less faith
fully for having roamed under various
banners.
Killing an Old Warrior.
Johnny King IS another warrior under
the Cub standard who has not played big
league ball elsewhere. He came to the
ChicagOs in 1901, and has been there ever
since. catching many games each year.
taking the pounding Of many pitchers sea-
son after season and with no falling OF
IN the quality OF his work.
He is one OF those day-in-and-day-ou
catchers who do all the better work for
doing a great deal Of H. The backstop IS
the recipient OF more actual battering
than any other one man on a team and
in view of this fact IL is somewhat sur
prising that some of them-sUch as King,
Bresnahan. Doom. and Sullivan-can do
so mich work and do il so we'll
Eddie Plank, the crack pitcher OF the
Athletics. has been with Connie Mack for
seven consecutive years, and with no 9TH
er. He has come 70 be as much Of a fix
has in New York. Like Plank. Mathew
sons big league career has been confined
20 one team. He pried his way into ma
Jor company the same year as Plank-l901.
The New Yorks came mighty near los
ing MathewsOn on a couple of occasions.
once when he was about TO jump to the
st. Louis Browns during the war time
and once when he was traded 10 Cincin-
natl for Rusie. bat was traded back be-
fore the season opened. In 1905. when
Mathewson and Plank faced each other
on the slab in the opening game of the
worlds series, each had come to his re-
spective club unknown. and in the in-
terim became famous IN the same length
O. time and without changing employers.
Old Pirate Trio.
Fred Clarke Tommy Leach, and Hans
Wagner are conspicuous examples Of men
who have not been with one club all the
time they have been in the National
League. They have. however. been with
one employer all that tine-Barney Drey-
fuss
They were with Dreyfuss when he
owned the Louisville club. and went with
him TO Pittsburg. In due time they viii
pass out, possibly playing in some other
city before retiring. though that is not
likely: but when they 90 step down and
ont Pittsburgers viii feel that they have
sustained a personal loss, so firmly have
Clarke. Leach, and Wagner become part
ard parcel Of the Smoky City baseball
ana its traditions Pittsburg has helped
make them famous. and they have done
the same for Pittsburg
Fred Tenney was faithful toier for
the Boston Nationals for even longer than
Chance has been with the Chicagos. but
Tenney no longer is identified with the
fortunes OF the Hub. He arrayed himself
with the Boston forces in 1897, probably IS
as good ballplayers as he ever was. and
yet he now IS seeking his livelihood in
another field. That's the way in baseball
Two other Pittsturg standbys are the
two pitchers. Sam Lever and Deacon
Philippe They are as thoroughly in
grained in the Pirate baseball fabric as
cotton in calico. Both have been with the
Pittsburg club steadily since 1900. and
have known no other master.
Only the owner Of the PHILADELPHIA
Americans has signed the checks that
have rewarded Chief Bender's diamond
services since he has been a member OF
the national games elite. The Indian
pitcher Joined Connie Macks team In 1909.
Carl Lundgren. Of the Chicago Nationals.
and Bob Ewing, OF the Cincinnaus. have
done all their big league pitching with
one team. both since 1903