Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-13
OMAHA SUNDAY BRE


y playing the game for forty-two years
continuously. There's a record
never. yet and probably never will
be equalled. O'Rourke is an old man, but
the number Of his years Is his secret; ne
would never tell his age. He must be close
to 60. And yet he is sound and active and
could, so Ear as his physical condition goes,
play several seasons more. Strangely
enough, he quits now, eight years short
OF his cherished ambition to round out half
a~eentury on the diamond, because Of OPP
p%esttion to his leadership in the Connect
cut State league, of which he Is the father.
He has sold his Bridgeport team and will
. apply himself to his law practice. Hand
some Jim" O'Rourke, as he was known In
the heydey Of his National league career,
win stand in base ball history forever as
one Of the really great players. He was
one of the men who composed the original
New York Giants. There are many re-
markable things about this remarkable old
man, but TO his wonderful achievement In
the realm Of athletics he gives this one
key: II lived q clean life. l never touched
liquor in any form, nor did I ever use
tobacco. l always took care of myself.
That's the reason I'm playing ball today,
and that is the reason why / can enjoy the
game. When 1 was a member of the big
league teams, ! made good money and
q saved 1t. 1 did not sport 1t away as many
Of the boys do now, who then find them
selves, when their playing days are over,
with nothing to keep them from want"
The men who are living the reckless life,
sach as O'Rourke eschewed, are the men
No in base ball, as in all other spheres Of
athletics are giving out in their youth and
falling short of the mark of greatness.
O'Rourke's recipe Is Identical with that
4 fapnItar bounfIy 40 ofton nraarbad NV the
Nunique Farmer Burns. dean of the
wrestling world. This old man at
80 is as fresh, as strong, as active and
far more so than most Of the wrestlers
4 half his years. and IL the fact is known,
stands today the peer of any man in the
business, except Gotch and possibly Hack
enschmldt. The Farmers quaint preach
ment about his abstemious life is too well
known to require repeating, but after all
II Is q wholesome sermon which young
athletes must emulate If they expect to
achieve what Burns and O'Rourke have
achieved. And incidentally It appears that
both these dauntless Celts in achieving
athletic greatness by conserving moral
powers have not missed the acquisition of a
snug financial competence for the future,
Other ball players and other wrestlers Of
as Areat physical and mental powers have
coma and gone, but many Of them lacked
this one element OF greatness which Burns
and ORourke possessed. In short they
wanted the good, hard sense to enable them
to keep their heads as these two sturdy
Irlshmen have done. Both the O'Rourke
and Burns example has not been in vain.
Today, as never before, ball players and
wrestlers are sober, frugal men; indeed
the charge Of frugality might be preferred
with som objection against some wrest-
lers.
We are coming up to a crux in base bali
law in this King case, II the National
Commission reinstates Killing 1t will sub
Ject all base ball TO the peril Of common
contempt; II the Commission outlaws the
great catcher It will establish a precedent
and warning beyond which no ball player
will ever care TO go. To exclude from
organized base ball such a brilliant player
as POhn King would indeed be a blow to
the game and no doubt be q severe dis
appointment to thousands Of fans. But
base ball law must be upheld and respected
II the game is to endure and it would bC
for better TO sacrifice even King than tc
bring reproach upon official authority
king deliberately jumped a contract anC
then played with outlaw clubs, This Is
the highest crime in the category of base
ball offenses. The fact that 1t was com
mitted by one Of the greatest players can
Nnot possibly mitigate the offense, bu
y rather It tends to magnify 1t. If sta
players can violate law with perfect i'm
punity what is there to deter the mos
ordinary player2 While we should natural!
4 hate to see talent of the King sort cas-
aside, we cannot yield to the belief that 1
King is found guilty It is either wise o
safe to forego a penalty in his case. On
thing is sure-if an object lesson of lhl
sort were made, the other Kings Of tn
game-and Hal Chases-would be mucl
slower the next time about Jumping con
tracts and rubbing 1t in by playing Will
outlaws. A. ]. Flanner. for many year
ndltor OF the Sporting News, and now o
PIE office OF Ban Johnson, has been com
nflssloned to gather the data and make tn
report to the commission In the Killing cas-
and we may confidently look for a fal
and full basis for a verdict, at least, 70
Mr.. Flanner has no peer as a student an
authority in base ball. Flanner will, o
course, have nothing to do with formtn
the decision.
khe steps taken at Grand Island towar
, Organization Of a state League in NJ
braska are encouraging. The spirit dom
mating the meeting was Of the right sol
ana there appears 10 DC htlit uouul oL u
new league getting a good start. II
good to have the personal backing
President Rourke OF Omaha, for his rT
experience, sober judgment and standin
in the world of base ball win be tangibi
assets most valuable in the managemer
OF the league. AS The Bee has urged Il
several years, Nebraska affords a mot
fertile field for this sort OF an Organize
tIon. 1t has the towns, the talent and II
enthusiasm and w shall expect TO see II
league a thorough success in the first yes
OF It's existence
Our old friend, Miner Brown, Is a holt
out. Well. here's a wager that he'll be O
hand when the first game is called. r,
member, Murphy has told us that Trims
are entirely in Chances hands.
! Roger Bresnahan at least, seems to |
making some good trades. In which roI
J he Is sustaining the David Harum reput,
tion OF hts predecessor, MeCloskey.
BY the way. let's nope that Oman