Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-22
GOSSIP OF The STOVE LEAGUE
Tom Mcvittie Tells How Jack Has.
kell Met King.
Two YEARS PRIOR LATTER's KICK
jack Patterson Puts One over 20
show Pop Wallace o. the
Goods with Manager
nance.

whats the name. please?'
Such was the question Jack Haskell,
chief OF the umpires Of the Western league
staff. put to King when he first began to
show signs Of being a real ball player"
said Tom Mcvittie, former owner Of the
Omaha team.
The thing was quite comical and shows
that Haskell not only can size up the
qualities Of a ball player, but. more than
that, It shows that King was beginning to
feel at home. For two seasons he had
cavorted for the Omaha team, playing his
part as he was told and as best he could,
but showing none OF that pugnscity which
characterizes a real ball player. one day
Haskell called a strike on Welch at a
critical stage of the game and King was
on his feet in a minute. Rushing to Has
kell, he protested against the decision. Has
kell, as usual, was not pleased, but stood
with folded arms arms and surveyed little
King from top to bottom.
whats the name, please?' he asked
with disdain. This is the first time I
ever saw you in this league
King may not be as bolsterous as some
of the players, but give me seven Kings
and l will promise to get you more runs
than any team in the league would be
able to pick up" said Frank Moriarty, the
South Omaha banker, who had strolled in
and had heard Mcvittie's anecdote Of the
little fellows first sign OF pugnacity. He
IL a run-getter of the first quality. with
his noodle always with him, and 1 don't
know a man in the league more ready to
grasp an opportunity.
He is a heady player in the field, too,
.Al 7 ho.a. 3d. a. -uka- .NAalx H.
pitcher like Sanders with control was at
work King could size up just about where
the ball would be hit, and with a regular
Keller instinct was in the right place. He
Is not as brilliant a player as Graham, but
1 think he will make a splendid fielder,
and his hitting and base running will be a
valuable asset to the team this year"
1t was a peculiar coincident that King
was under discussion the same night
around Brother Dawes glowing fire of
corncobs down at Pas Smoke house, and
the composite opinion was that King was
the goods.
II like his judgment in hitting" said Ike
Hall, as he ordered Brother Dave to bring
him some "Heidsick." II have often
watched that boy at bat and l can tell just
about what ne Is going TO 90 Dy watching
the fielders. II the infield comes in close
he is going to hit the ball hard right on
the nose, and if the infield stays out he
will try to bunt. Other players may think
they try to do that. but they only think
they do"
"You may think that Stove league gossip
about Dad Wallace and Frank Chance was
hot air, but | know It was not, said Jack
Patterson at the Stove league gathering
Wednesday night. II know what Chance
thinks of Pop. l was over to Chicago with
Colonel Wallace and we figured on going
on a day when Pfeister was to pitch. When
we reached the West Side park we saw the
name Of overall posted. Pop volunteered
to find Chance to see what he could do.
He went to the Cubs bench and, calling
Chance to one side, said, Frank, ]
brought some Omaha fellows over today
on purpose, to see Pfeister Pitch
well. then, Pfeister will pitch" was
Chances reply as he ordered the big south
paw to warm up.