Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21
STARS Who NEVER
PLAYED WITH MINORS.
A. G. SpaIding, Patsy Donovan
and Sam Thompson Among
the Number.

Ball players who become famous IN the
big leagues 90 not always work UP
through the minors. by any means. and
this was even more so the case with Old
timers. Then there was not enough
money in the minor leagues to prove at
tractive 10 any but the players who
hustled more for the fun than for what
there was in II. Some OF the older play
ers kept away from the game as long AZ
they could resist the temptation to play.
and then broke into it without any par
ticular preparation In the way OF minor
league experience Frequently accident
played not little part in their taking
up the profession.
Sam Thompson, one OF the greatest
players the world ever produced broke
into the game through an accidental op-
ner:
Dropped Tools to Play.
He was a carpenter in Danville. Ind.
and in his leisure moments played on the
local team. One day the famous Indian
apolis team OF the National League blew
into Danvile, having arranged previous
ly to play an of date there. The Dan
VILE club lined up on the field and II was
soon noticed that II was shy one man.
This proved to be Thompson, the great
est player in that section.
AS the park was crowded and tho In
dianapolis manager wanted the admission
money. re held a hurried conversation
with the Danville magnate and the result
was that they drove down the road for
mile or SO to where Thompson was busily :
engaged in Singing roof.
When asked TO quilt work and play IN
the game that afternoon Sam claimed
that he couldn't afford to lose the &1.5o
that he would receive for continuing az
his labor The Indianapolis man offered
him S. to play and Sam just fell of the
ladder, he was so eager to get into the
game.
He hit the ball all over the lot that
day, and 1t was HIS terrific batting that
caused Danville to beat indianapolis
The manager OF the Indianapolis club
signed him before he left the grounds az
salary of 800 month. and when they
put Sam into his first game at Philadel-
phia he made two home runs In success
sion. He afterward played with Detroit
and Philadelphia and was a slugger year
| in and year out.
No Minors for These Players.
Cy Young was another player who got
into the game without going through the
minor league schools.
| George Browne Of the Boston Nationals
and formerly a Giant. one OF the best OF
natural ball players, got his chance
1
Keliher who was Georgetown star ana
about the finest base ball player OF his
day outside Of the major league. re-
ceived an offer from Ted sullivan; VINO
the Virginia State League. TO report TO
his team. Keiiher was willing to 60. but
! his father objected to the move, and SO
Tom sent George Browne IN ms pace
and Browne made good from the start.
Pat Donovan had no more idea or BE-
coming a professional ball player than
he had OF becoming a parachute jumper,
as he was dsuss fsr \, hir,s Lawfen Ts
played on the local club until ne was
1 past manhood, and then one day came
/ the turning point in his life.
| There was to be q game at Lawrence
that day between two rival clubs for
the championship OF the city. and Pat.
who was busy at the store. mao hos
thought of entering into tho contest
until some OF his teammates came down
to his place and entreated him TO
help them defeat the other fellows Fat'
1 after hesitating for long while. con-
scented to take part In the game. ano py
SO doing changed the Wnole course oi
his latter life.
1 In that memorable game at Lawrence
Donovan performed so many wonoerful
feats. both in the batting and nelding
! line that the following week score OF
managers were besieging him. Finally
he listened 10 the siren song. embarked
on his professional career. and thus made
a page in base ball history.
How Spalding Started.
| The first time in his life that Al Spald-
ing. the millionaire sporting goods man.
who once was a great professional pitch
er. ever heard of the national game was
i in 1853 Then. as youngster OF ihir-
reen he met soldier at his home IN
| Illinois, who explained to him how they
4 played a game in the army called base
/ ball. Young Spalding became interested
1 and had the soldier show him all the
points in this new game. After he had
mastered them lie formed two teams from
/ among the boys in the neighborhood. and
soon the whole community was head over
! heels in the game.
/ -Four years after his meeting with tho
| soldier Spalding was clerking In Chi
cago grocery store. Base ball had ire
mendous hold on the people there and
Sunday games were a feature. SO. In
company with other lads OF his age. he
went out to the grounds one afternoon
4 to witness a game between two leading
| teams The pitcher OF one OF the con-
testing clubs twisted his leg early In the
game. and some one, knowing Spaldings
proficiency recommended the boy as
being a good pitcher
| He filled the bill to the letter. holding
ease. All Chicago spoke of him next
lday as the hoy wonder" and he was
given a contract to sign which called for
| $40 a week. which was q big salary In
! those days.