The San Francisco call., 1909-06-07
DEAN OF DIAMOND
RELEASED BY
OAKLAND
Van HaIfren Dropped From the
Rolls After 70 Years of
Active Service
By WILLIAM j. SLATTERY


George Van Haltren. the dean of the
baseball world. went the way of the
other grand old men Of the game yes
erday. when ne was handed his re-
ease by Manager William Reidy Of the
Oakland Team. For 25 years Van Hal
ren held his own on every diamond
The Emitted States that boasted an
important place on the baseball map.
His name has been a baseball byword
in every city from Maine to California
during the quarter of a century that
he has been identified with the great
American pastime and he never knew
what the word release really meant
until the fatal slip fell his way yes
lerday.
of renoWn who held their places in the
sig leagues and battled against time
and sc. but Van Haltrens record will
stand out against any of them He's
The g1and old man of the diamond
Since the year 1858. when he first came
into prominence. Van has been one of
the mainstaTs of the green field. He
porting and ne never failed to make
gOod until yesterday.
Van Haltren was playing ball when
Pop Arson. Charley Comiskey. John
Ciarkson. Mike Kelly. John Ward and
the other past masters of the game
were in the heyday OF their glory.
have long since gait the base lines,
hat Van Haltren never faltered. Until
.he WAS officially counted out the pride
Of countless great bail teams was true
10 his profession re never fingered
and le never ran out. no matter where
his team stood in the pennant race He
was true and faithful TO his calling
Just as long as his services were re-
quired.
Van HaItren first broke into the
game in 1883 as catcher for the old
d. - "a sf = Ian zs-iaf oh fr1-r
wears later bloss0med out as the Green
hood and Morans Of the ancient Cali
fornia league. After years expert
ence behind the bat Van developed
into sOuthpaW pitcher, and ranked
- one Of the best men in the lea que
Tor the next TWO years. He seemed
IN . Class by himself and his fame
travelled far and near.
When the old st. Louis Browns came
70 california in 1855 Van made his
first big nick in the column OF fame
by striking out about I6 of them on
the old Alameda diamond. From that
moment he was famous man in base
BAH. Pop Anson heard about him and
immediately signed him a pitcher
Tor the original Chicago White SoX
The California southpaW took the
east by storm on his first visit eft
handed pitchers were scarce in those
days. and Van was a good one But
his control faitered before the season
OF 1885 was over. and. being a good
INTER- ne was put 10 work in the out
neld- Here he made. good from the
start. and his services Were in demand
by all the clubs.
After playing several seasons with
chicago Van cast his lot with the
Baltimore club. When the war be-
tween the players and the magnates
broke in 1890 the old boy was Ioyal to
the tOssers. casting his lot with the
BROOKLYN nine of the Brotherhood
league. with whom he did great work
ia the outfeld for the season.
The next year found him on the Job
IN Plttsburg uniform. He was so
popular and such a great drawing card
tliat New York went after him in 1894
and succeeded in buying his release
from the Smoky City club For the
next ten years Van was fixture in the
center garden for the Giants. and he
held down the post to the satisfaction
OF managers and fans alike.
In the middle of the season of 1903
Van broke his ankle sliding into sec
ond base on the Polo grounds. On ac-
count OF his advancing years. the doc
tors who attended the veteran gave
ut al hope Of fitting him for active
service again, but three months later
Van was back in the harness and put-
ting up Just as good game as ever.
When the season of 1904 opened Van
left. the New York club. with the re-
Srets of the mana gers. and came to the
coast 10 take charge of the Seattle
team. He was a success as a manager
from the first day he took the reins
and the next year found him at the
helm OF the Oakland team. which posi-
wen Berine McCay replaced him.
e fact that he was deposed as the
lean7r ~ the Oaklands did not deter
Van lie iayeC just as good ball as a
plain. simple out 1elder. He was in the
Salne al the time. and he was known
10 eTerK fan who visited the Oakland
and Sar Francisce grounds. It will be
many year efore another such name
'Nanf viii be shouted from stand
and bleachers.
Throughout his wonderful career
Pm HaltTen was always a fine hitter
and a great outfelder He was never
found wanting al the bat, or in the
held. and a harder working PLAYER
could Iaot be had in any lea que. Why
s.e Wais released is q question hich
must 2 be answered later Certainly
his work Gid not warrant such action
frdm0r has it that Van and Manager
Reddv clashed on several occasions
since the latter took charge of the
5team- but If there is anything in these
stories, the veteran denied them siren
uOusly last night. He did not have
word TO say. He was game to the last
IT is probable that Van will be signed
bN one Of the other teams of the
league. The rumor was out Last night
that Danny Long was after him for
the Seals. Surely the old timer would
make a good card for san Franchises
team. He can still hit and field, aad
he still knows more baseball. than
many OF them now in the game ever
viii learn Van is too good man even
yet TO be passed up.