The Washington herald., 1909-07-11
FEW PLAYERS RETIRE.
Those Who Leave Before
Their Time in Minority.
LURE OF DIAMOND IS STRONG
Love OF the National Game Grows
on n Player as Years Roll On.
Finds Task Difficult One when
Forced TO Quft-FfeIder Jones IL
One OF the Few Exceptions.

The lure of the diamond IS so strong
that few. very few. professional baseball
players have retired from the game as
Fielder Jones did IN the heydey OF his
career. says the New York Sun. Jones.
who was the captain and manager 81 the
Chicago Americans and once led them 20
victory IN worlds series after winning
the pennant in his league. made a com
plete remuneration Of the game. He said
he was going 20 Qult and quit he cid.
All the persuasion and Inducements n
the world could not coax him back.
With Jones 1t was purely matter OF
business. he had interests in Oregon
which demanded mis- personal attention
His partners wanted him 10 be with them.
and 5is there was no more conscientious
OF straightforward person to be found
he felt that he ought 20 do so. Much as
he loved the national game and strong
as was the hold II had on him, he was
firm in his intention 10 say good-oy 70
the diamond.
Jones' Loss Felt.
SO he voluntarily gave Up a fine post
ton as a ball player and az the same
time deprived the game of one OF the
best players II ever had. IS an out
fielder he was al the time Of his retire
ment the very best IN the big leagues.
he was above the average as an all
around player There have been a good
many retirements from the big leagues.
but not OF the players own preference.
as IN the case OF Jones The causes
which take players from fast company
are manifold. Sometimes they grow TOO
old. sometimes they never had the abu-
sometimes they are sold back 70 the
minors, sometimes injuries abruptly bring
their careers 10 n close
John Ward was another OF the few
who gave up baseball when he was on the
top wave. He was manager and captain
OF the New Yorks when they won the
Temple cup IN 1876 and could have served
several years more OF usefulness both
as manager and a player. He was
playing well AZ second base when he
retired and was as skIllful as ever with
the bat, but he had made up his mind
that Il was tine 20 get 10 his law prac-
tee. and nothins couid induce him 20
stay in the game. II wasn't easy shedding
at first, but he had the determination 20
carry it through
Stage Claimed DonIin.
Nike Donlin passed out as q diamonS
celebrity when riding on the highest
wave OF popularity. The stage claimed
him and the diamond lost him. Like
Jones and Ward. he was fond OF the
game. but as a thespian he thought he
kr-tr~
could provide. particularly as the New
York club would not come 70 his terms
IN the matter OF salary. he has stuck
20 his guns. and the chances are that
the national game no more viii see this
splendid hitter His case IS not alto
gether analogous 20 that OF Jones and
Ward, for money would have persuaded
him 10 stick.
Il wasn't money, however, with Big
Bill Lange, who. when he was with the
Chicago Nationals a few seasons ago,
was a fine batter. a fine fielder. and a fine
base runner. Lange was head and
shoulders above the general run OF ball
players. he was SO good a PLAYER
that Is was a pity that professional base
ball had 70 lose him. He married Cali
fornia girl, went into business, and has
not played bah since. He. too. was IN
bis prime as q player when ne stepped
down and out
Others Who Retired.
Danny Richardson. the former Giant;
Dave Fultz. OF the New York Americans;
Billy Lauder, last with the New York
and Jimmy Callahan. OF the
Chicago White Sox. are four more players
who gave Up the game when they were
at the top OK their ability. Richardson
quit to attend 10 his dry goods business
IN Ellira; FulJz quit 70 take Up the
practice OF law. Lauder went into
business. while CalIahan's
Affiliations with so-called outlaw teams
drew him from the big league fold.
Nike Griffin was as good as ever when
he terminated HIS connection with pro
fessional baseball The Brooklyns sold