Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1909-07-16

Tho baseball Diamond Strongly Ap-
peaied to Him.

pcRied 90 lt'n.
Recent archaeological researches
have unearthed the fact that Frank
Isbell, the second baseman. general
utility man. and heavy svatter Of
tho worlds champion White SoK.
served his time In college. Issy's
rrre. fair old college days were short,
but extremely exciting and fall Of
incldoLs.
Tho scene OF 1sbell's academic act
iyities was Manchester college. a
Presbyterian Institution in Minnea-
polis, Mlnn. The short time that
Isy spent within its walls. are rod
letter Gays in the baseball history Of
the place. The silent cloisters OF
study had no charms for the er:ani
athelete. and the~ball grounds wess
his real Joy. When lsben started
his college career he had been some'
pumpkins In baseball ct Isis homo
IN Pine Lake, MINI. II Is related
that Upon his first appearance at
Manchester he entered a class room
with a bacolic-looking carpet bag in
each hand. and inquired the nearest
way to she ball ground. The Tail
Pine,5' ss he was Immediately duh
bs1 by his college friends, was shown
the way to the diamond. He exam
iRed ;he field closely, and stood at
home plato looking on toward tho
outaeld.
when I so. to bat" said the
country youth. lit will be necessary
to move those skylights In that
building yonder,"
The sophisticated college men
laughed at this naive statement. and
informed tho newcomer that no one
had ever hit the ball anywhere near
that same skylight. TO the sar-
prise of all, the Pine Lake phenom
smashed the glass in his first game.
and made the longest hit ever seen
on the Manchester gre Inda.
Mscalsster's greatest rival in all
lines OF sport was II. niine unlver-
slty in st. Paul. This was a Metho-
dist school, and when the two got
together there we're some doings.
The feeling between the two schools
wss exceedingly strong. and often
resulted in free-for-aIl fights during
the annual games.
Issy pitched but one game against
Hamline, aad the Me.ho lists never
i;new what had happened 20 them
Before twi-ling his game the "TaG
Pine" cleaned up two Hamline stud.
ents. The trouble came about in
the following manner: There was a
long, narrow alley between two dor-
nltories at Manchester. While pass
Ing down this lane on the way to
the bali field two Hamline players
were drenched ~ith water turned
on them from windows OF one Of the
buildings. Ths only Mscalester nan
IN sisht WIS q s-ho,arly looking
rhs5, who vss Immediately pouace3
p;on by tho ens.ny. They were
sb9ut to administer q series OF treat
meats to the young fellow vixen a
loud cry OF let mo get at en-"
rang ont on the still afternoon air.
ana the "'Tall Pine" with his long
RIMS working like fails. sprang into
the midst of the excitement and pro-
ceeled to thrash the two men from
| Uanillne.
Alter disposlng OF the two young
men In summary fashion, Issy went
into the box and pitched Manchester
+, TO an easy victory. Soon after this
game Charley Comiskey heard of
isbell and secured him for his ST.
PAIL Western league team. lssy has
remained with Comiskey ever since
then. with the exception OF the short
time he was with the West Side
team. Roy Patterson and Isbell are
the only men who have been with
the White Sox ever since their start
in Chicago in 1900.